OASW-Ontario Association of Social Workers Insurance Program

Social Workers help people and families solve complex problems in their daily lives. The job is rewarding, consuming, and challenging. Unfortunately, when such sensitive issues are in question, it can be hard to control for every possible risky outcome. Despite how skilled or experienced you are, unpredictable situations can arise that could leave you liable for a lawsuit. While you look after other people’s best interests, you must also make sure that you are protected, too.

We can help. At PROLINK we want you to feel free to do your job without worrying about your professional exposures. So we’ve partnered with OASW to develop a customized insurance program that addresses the specific risks faced by Social Workers in Ontario.

Our tailored solution is offered at unparalleled rates and includes:

• Professional Liability Insurance: defending you from claims others make against you within the scope of your professional activities. Policy highlights include:
• FREE telephone legal advice by calling the Trisura Legal Assistance Hotline at 1-866-945-5207. You can access this service from 8 AM until midnight, seven days a week. Have your policy number on hand when you call;
• $200,000 in funds for disciplinary defence costs with the College;
• $1,000,000 limit for abuse coverage;
• Options for Yoga services and Equine Assisted Therapy at additional premiums;
• And more!
• Commercial General Liability Insurance: protecting you from exposures associated with third-party injuries and property damage caused by your work-related activities. Policy highlights include:
• Covers incidents that occur on your premises, at a client's home, or other facility;
• Libel and slander coverage is included;
• And more!

For 2019, we have moved your online application to a new platform. CLICK HERE to request access to a link to apply or renew.

• FAQ

  • 1. What does Professional Liability insurance cover?

    In general, Professional Liability covers you against allegations brought by a third party (i.e., a client) seeking damages resulting from a negligent or wrongful act, error, omission or arising from your profession and within your scope of practice.

  • 2. Will the Professional Liability policy protect me if a complaint is filed against me with my Regulatory Body?

    The chance of having someone file a formal complaint against you is greater than the chance of being sued. There are different regulatory bodies in each province; however, this policy will provide access to lawyers who specialize in defending professionals being investigated by a regulatory body or authority due to a complaint.

  • 3. Will the Professional Liability policy protect me if I am charged with a criminal offence?

    The policy will reimburse you for the legal defence costs incurred in a criminal action related to their services if the criminal charges are dropped or if you are found not guilty for the offence.

  • 4. How will I know if someone is claiming against me?

    You will know if you are served with a statement of claim. However, there are other circumstances where you should also contact PROLINK because it could constitute a claim under your Professional Liability policy.

    The other circumstances include:

    • A client or their lawyer issues a verbal or written demand for damages (i.e., a letter or email is sent to you);

    • A client or their lawyer makes threatening comments verbally or in writing indicating that they are seeking damages and/or may sue you.

    • You made a mistake in how you rendered your professional services and may have caused harm to a client.

  • 5. What do I do if I receive a statement of claim?

    Once you are aware of an actual or potential claim, report it to PROLINK immediately. Please refrain from making written or oral statements, and do not offer to compensate or admit liability. Taking such actions could interfere in the insurer’s ability to manage the claim.

  • 6. Is there a common expiry date for the OASW professional insurance program?

    Yes, all policies under PROLINK's OASW program will expire on May 1. If you sign up mid-year, you will pay a pro-rated premium and your policy will expire with the rest of the group on May 1 at 12 AM.

  • 7. Why is Commercial General Liability important?

    Unfortunately, you can be sued for any injuries or property damages that occur while working with clients—even if you’re not at fault. This situation is so common that most venues, government parties, and corporations require that you have this type of coverage in place before you engage in any contract.

    Additionally, if you run your business from home, you could be at risk. For example, if a delivery man slips and falls delivering a work-related package, your typical home owner’s policy may not cover it. Commercial General Liability will.

Every business—including the simplest of home offices—owns stuff. And if any type of loss resulting from accidents, crime, or other circumstances were to occur, you likely wouldn’t be covered under any other type of insurance you currently carry. You may believe your small business doesn’t actually have enough value to warrant additional protection. But if for example your computer was damaged resulting in significant data loss, could you continue to run your business uninterrupted?

You need a broker who will take the time to carefully audit your office contents, making sure that all of your business property, equipment, software, and furnishings are protected. At PROLINK, we will explain all of your potential exposures to help ensure that you are adequately protected, should something occur. As an added benefit, we’ve negotiated comprehensive coverage for your business property at unparalleled rates.

Contact PROLINK to apply online today!

As a Social Worker, you are a steward of private information. Unfortunately, since the data you have access to is highly personal, and often health related, it is substantially more valuable than other kinds. As a result, you may be more targeted by cyber criminals than professionals in other industries. If you own or operate a business with employees, there is also the internal risk of employee snooping which is more prevalent than you would think.

Further, you are subject to much stricter privacy regulations and fines—particularly since you are part of a regulatory College. So, if you or one of your employees were to lose a laptop, experience a network failure, or suffer from a hack that reveals client information—you could suddenly find yourself liable for thousands of dollars in damage. In fact, it takes on average $265 per lost record to handle a single compromised file.

Clients tend to be very forgiving of a privacy breach when it is well-handled by a professional. That is, when clients are notified promptly, and a sincere apology is made. However, to accomplish these things during a breach, you’ll need a team of consultants, provisions to keep your business running and funds for any potential damages. PROLINK can help you access all of these services with our Privacy Breach Insurance.

Our valuable policy features:

• Legal coaching on how to handle the breach;
• Business interruption costs while you get your business online;
• Legal fees in the case of a civil suit;
• Funds for court-awarded damages;
• PR services for managing reputational impact;
• Provisions for credit monitoring and client notification fees.

Contact PROLINK to apply online today!

As a Social Worker, your job often requires you to be mobile—which usually involves a car. And for a profession focused on making sure people have safe and comfortable living conditions, it’s likely that the state of your own home is high on your list of priorities. You know that you need to have Home and Auto insurance because it’s irresponsible not to. But it’s available everywhere, so all that matters is the lowest cost, right?

But on any given day, someone could slam into your car during the morning commute, or your pipes could freeze causing thousands of dollars of damage. Will your policy will cover you then?

At PROLINK—Canada’s Insurance Connection it’s our job to worry about which coverages you need and which risks you face so that you don’t have to. With over 30 years of experience and access to a network of insurers, we can offer you a choice of insurance solutions, price points, and other benefits. Wherever you’re coming from, and whatever you need—we’ve been there and done that. You can depend on us.

Plus, as a member of the OASW, you can receive up to 20% off your Home and Auto Insurance!

Contact us for your no-obligation quote today!

If you are an independent professional, you probably don’t have access to traditional employee benefits like Health, Dental, and Drug coverage. And yet, you’re still susceptible to the same health problems as anyone else.

Expensive treatments, prescriptions, and high-cost dental work always seem to pop up when you’re least expecting them. And when these unpredictable events occur, they also come with a serious potential to derail your budget. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

By purchasing your plan through PROLINK—Canada’s Insurance Connection, you’d be part of the pool of members not only across the OASW, but across all of the associations that we represent. That means access to lower rates.

Our plans cover Health, Vision, Dental, and Drugs, and can get you access to 15 Paramedical services such as Massage, Chiropractic, Physiotherapy, and more. Plus if you or a family member needs something like an expensive prescription or high cost dental work, the plan covers you through the pool.

To learn more, contact PROLINK today.

Most people don’t like to think about Life Insurance. That’s because it’s a complex coverage that only activates as a result of an insured’s death due to natural or accidental causes. It can be painful to imagine all that would come to pass in the event of one’s death—even for a split second. We can appreciate that.

But if something were to happen to you, could your family or loved ones recover financially without feeling a serious strain on their assets? A rich Life policy can help them get back on their feet, should something occur.

So pass the pain over to us. At PROLINK, we will take the time to understand you, your needs and your family. Then, we will offer you a best-fit solution for you and those you care about that is affordable and offers the long-term protection you and they will require.

Contact PROLINK to evaluate your options today!

Medicine has allowed people to live both through and with serious illnesses at higher survival rates than in the past. However, such sicknesses often come with many direct and indirect costs. Certain drugs and treatments are not covered by typical health plans, while some of the latest healthcare innovations are only available in the US. Indirect costs can encompass anything from travel expenses to child care, and more. Unfortunately, most people don’t intuitively know to account for these things.

If you were to get seriously sick, Critical Illness coverage can provide you with a lump sum that you can leverage in whatever way best fits your needs. Once it’s been paid, there are no restrictions as to how you decide to spend it—whether that means hiring a nurse, making your home accessible, taking a vacation or even paying off a portion of your mortgage.

PROLINK can help you access the best that medicine has to offer by providing you with a customized Critical Illness policy that is cost-effective and will give you the long-term financial flexibility you will require.

Contact PROLINK to evaluate your options today!

When you plan a trip, you determine the things to pack, the sights you’ll see, and the budget for food and activities. You probably don’t consider the things that can go wrong, the process for finding help, and the unforeseen medical bills.

And that’s normal. You work hard and deserve a worry-free vacation. Sadly, life doesn’t go on holiday. A health crisis can happen no matter where in the world you may be. To truly relax, you need to feel secure in knowing that you are protected if something were to happen to you or your loved ones during your time away.

At PROLINK—Canada’s Insurance Connection we can help you access comprehensive Medical Travel coverage for your trip. Plus beyond simply covering emergency medical costs, we can also help you add lost baggage and trip cancellation endorsements to your policy.

Be prepared for whatever happens, wherever it happens.

Contact PROLINK to learn more today!

If you’re like most pet owners, your pet is your constant companion. So when your little companion unavoidably gets sick, it can be very distressing emotionally. We can all agree that it’s hard to see your once-lively pet refuse to eat or struggle up the stairs.

While the veterinarian can offer you hope to cure whatever’s ailing your pet, that cure often comes at a high cost. Many people either have to save up for a treatment, or put themselves in debt in order to afford these unexpected fees. Still, you want your pet to receive the best care available.

Purchasing PetSecure insurance through PROLINK can help take away the financial burden of getting your pet the care that they require in times of need. For a small monthly rate, you can receive up to thousands of dollars in coverage for your pet’s accidents, illnesses, and dental care.

Contact PROLINK to learn more today!