Your father's memory is slipping and the bank has started asking questions. Or your daughter with an intellectual disability is turning 18 and you are not sure what comes next. Someone suggests you get a social worker. You call the CLSC and hear about a waiting list. Can you just hire one privately? Yes. Here is how it works, what it costs, and when the public route still makes sense.
Can you hire a private social worker?
Yes. In Quebec, many social workers work in private practice. You can contact one directly. You do not need a referral from a doctor or the CLSC.
A private social worker must be a member of the Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec (OTSTCFQ). That is the same order CLSC social workers belong to. The same professional standards and code of ethics apply.
What I do in private practice
Private social workers do many kinds of work. It helps to know what a particular person focuses on before you call. My practice centres on two things.
- Psychosocial assessments of incapacity. When an aging parent or another adult can no longer make safe decisions, the court needs a psychosocial evaluation from a social worker before it will homologate a mandate of protection or open a tutorship. This is most of my work.
- Support for families living with autism or an intellectual disability. This includes help before and after a diagnosis, finding your way through services, and planning for the move to adulthood.
I work in English and French across Greater Montreal and the West Island. I have more than ten years of experience.
What a psychosocial evaluation is
A psychosocial evaluation is a written report by a social worker. It describes how the person manages day to day, who supports them, what risks they face and what kind of protection they really need.
For homologation or tutorship, the court requires two reports. A doctor provides the medical evaluation. A social worker who is an OTSTCFQ member provides the psychosocial evaluation. Both are required, and one does not replace the other. Neither the doctor nor the social worker declares a person incapable. The court makes that decision, and our reports give it the evidence. More in the psychosocial assessment for mandate homologation.
Private social worker or CLSC?
Both can do the psychosocial evaluation, and the court accepts both. The differences are practical.
- Cost. The CLSC is free. A private social worker is paid by the family.
- Wait. At the CLSC, the wait for this kind of evaluation can run from several months to more than a year. Not every CLSC takes them on consistently. That reflects demand on the public system, not the quality of the work. In private practice, the report is usually ready within a few weeks.
- Choice. In private practice, you choose the person, the language and often the timing of the visit.
When the CLSC route makes sense
The public route is a good fit when:
- Your parent already has a CLSC social worker who knows them well.
- Nothing urgent is waiting on the decision, and the family can be patient.
- The cost of a private evaluation would be a real strain.
In that case, ask your local CLSC whether it can do the evaluation and how long the wait is. Then you can decide with real numbers in hand.
Families usually look to private practice when time matters. A bank has frozen an account. A residence needs a signature. A house has to be sold to pay for care. Some families also simply want someone who works comfortably in English. See English-speaking services for elderly parents in Quebec for other resources.
How much does a private social worker cost?
Fees depend on the service. For incapacity assessments, these are the usual ranges:
- Psychosocial evaluation for homologation of a mandate: usually $1,500 to $3,000, depending on the file.
- Psychosocial evaluation for tutorship: usually $2,500 to $4,000.
- Total professional fees for an uncontested homologation (notary, doctor and social worker together): usually $3,000 to $7,000.
I give the exact fee in a free 15-minute consultation, before you commit to anything. For a closer look, read what a psychosocial assessment costs in Quebec and the full cost of homologation.
Does RAMQ or insurance cover it?
RAMQ does not cover private psychosocial evaluations. Some private insurance plans reimburse part of social work services. Coverage for an incapacity evaluation specifically is rare, though. The simplest step is to call your insurer. Ask whether services from an OTSTCFQ-member social worker are covered, and for what kind of service.
How to check a social worker is an OTSTCFQ member
Before you hire anyone, check their registration. The OTSTCFQ has a free public tool on its website called Vérifier le droit d'exercice. It lets you check whether a person is on the Order's roll. If a name does not come up, the Order's secretariat can do a more thorough search.
I am a member of the OTSTCFQ. My permit number is GOLK1511060TS. For other questions worth asking, see how to choose a social worker for an incapacity assessment.
What to expect when you work with me
- A free 15-minute consultation. We look at your situation, which path applies and the fee.
- Intake forms. You send me basic information about your loved one and the family.
- A family meeting, often by video.
- A visit with your loved one, 45 to 90 minutes, wherever they live. That can be home, a private seniors' residence (RPA) or a CHSLD.
- The written report, sent directly to your notary or lawyer, usually within two weeks of our first meeting.
For a non-complex file, plan on three to five weeks from the first consultation to the report. I ask that the medical evaluation be done, or under way, before we start. To see what the visit itself looks like, read what to expect during a psychosocial evaluation.
Common questions
Can you hire a private social worker in Quebec?
Yes. Many social workers in Quebec work in private practice. Families hire them directly, without a referral. Check that the person is a member of the OTSTCFQ, the professional order for social workers in Quebec.
How much does a private social worker cost in Montreal?
It depends on the service. For a psychosocial evaluation for homologation of a mandate, private fees usually run $1,500 to $3,000 depending on the file. For tutorship, the psychosocial portion usually runs $2,500 to $4,000. I give the exact fee in a free 15-minute consultation.
How do I get a social worker in Montreal?
There are two routes. Through the public system, contact your local CLSC. Services are free, but waits for some services can be long. Through private practice, you contact a social worker directly and can usually start within a few weeks.
Will the court accept a psychosocial evaluation from a private social worker?
Yes. Any social worker who is a member of the OTSTCFQ can complete the psychosocial evaluation for homologation or tutorship. The court accepts evaluations from CLSC and private practice social workers alike.
Does RAMQ or insurance cover a private social worker?
RAMQ does not cover private psychosocial evaluations. Some private insurance plans reimburse part of social work services, but coverage for incapacity evaluations specifically is rare. Call your insurer to check.