Social Work & Attendance Services is responsible for investigating, assessing, and providing interventions in situations where a student is habitually absent from school, refusing to attend school, or where a parent is failing to cause a child to attend school. All schools have access to the services of a Social Work & Attendance Services Counsellor.

Referrals can be initiated by school administrators, teachers, school teams, parents, students, agency staff, or members of the community. Referrals are generally made after school staff have provided initial intervention and contact with parents regarding the issue of concern. A Principal is required to refer students who have not attended school. (Section 28(1)) Students missing more than 15 days of school, and situations where unexplained absence is a concern should be referred for consultation or intervention.

Social Work & Attendance Service counsellors are itinerant Program Services staff, with responsibility for 12-25 schools.

Social Work & Attendance Services counsellors will attend secondary and elementary school team meetings in high call schools, and other team meetings on request. Social Work & Attendance Services counsellors should be invited to attend any team meeting where a referral for service is being discussed or initiated. Team meetings provide our staff with the best opportunity to discuss the range of services and options including coordinating agency referrals, case management, group programs, alternative programs, and parent communication.