Social Service Worker

Program Description

The Social Service Worker program provides you with the knowledge and skills required to make a meaningful contribution in the human service field. You will be challenged to examine your own beliefs and values, develop interpersonal communication skills, and promote social justice, human dignity and equality. Your success in this program will be measured by both your ability to grow and change, and your academic performance.

Your studies will include: interviewing; counselling and relationship building capabilities; effective membership and leadership in group settings; working with families; the creation and maintenance of helping relationships; and practice in such specialized areas as case management, community development and social policy.

Upon graduation, you’ll have a deep understanding of social justice and anti-oppression principles. You’ll also possess a comprehensive set of human service skills which are transferable to a wide range of settings. You’ll benefit from group interaction, as well as independent problem solving and research. Your experiences will include a variety of classroom, seminar and experiential modalities that integrate field placement experience with theoretical knowledge. The field placement is an important component to your employment preparation process.

Advanced Standing and Prior Learning Assessment opportunities are available. An official transcript and subject outlines for the courses that students wish to present for consideration for advanced standing, must accompany such requests. Only courses from recognized post-secondary institutions where the student has achieved at least a final mark of 60%, will be considered for advanced standing.

Program Learning Outcomes

This Seneca College program meets the system-wide standards for all Ontario College Credential programs as set by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

As a graduate, you will be prepared to reliably demonstrate the following:

• develop and maintain professional relationships which adhere to professional, legal, and ethical standards aligned to social service work.
• identify strengths, resources, and challenges of individuals, families, groups, and communities to assist them in achieving their goals.
• recognize diverse needs and experiences of individuals, groups, families, and communities to promote accessible and responsive programs and services.
• identify current social policy, relevant legislation, and political, social, and/or economic systems and their impacts on service delivery.
• advocate for appropriate access to resources to assist individuals, families, groups, and communities.
• develop and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, supervisors, and community partners.
• develop strategies and plans that lead to the promotion of self-care, improved job performance, and enhanced work relationships.
• integrate social group work and group facilitation skills across a wide range of environments, supporting growth and development of individuals, families, and communities.
• work in communities to advocate for change strategies that promote social and economic justice and challenge patterns of oppression and discrimination.

Essential Employability Skills

• Essential Employability Skills (link to information on Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities website)

Admission Requirements

Program Eligibility:

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma with a majority of senior credits at the College Preparation (C), University Preparation (U) or University/College Preparation (M) level or Mature Student Status (age 19 or older)
• Grade 12 English: ENG4(C) or ENG4(U)

Applicant Selection:

• In the event of oversubscription, applications will be selected on the basis of a reading comprehension and English test, usually administered at a College orientation session. This assessment, along with previous academic achievement will provide the basis upon which the selection of applicants is determined.

The Importance of Learning Skills:

Student success in college requires well developed learning skills (such as being able to work independently, participate in a team, be well-organized, develop good work habits, and show initiative). These skills are as important as prior academic achievement. While it is expected that applicants would have developed these skills through previous education and life experiences, Seneca offers support to assist students with further development of these important skills.

Your Career

Learn the broad skills of social service work and use them to plan and evaluate programs, assess community resources and co-ordinate service delivery for people in need. Your career may lead you to employment in youth, women’s, and ‘disabled’ persons programs, as well as inhousing, community development, rehabilitation, mental health and many other settings. Our Social Service Worker diploma program will prepare you for a rewarding career in human services.

Provincial Registration

In order to practice in Ontario as a "Social Service Worker" or a "Registered Social Service Worker", graduates must apply for registration in the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). Graduates of the SSW program will meet the education requirement for registration. For more information, please visit www.ocswssw.org.

Field Work

Field work provides you with a valuable opportunity to apply your learnings to the workplace. In order to be eligible for field work, you’ll be required to meet the criteria as set out in the “Social Service Worker Program Student Code of Conduct”. You will assume the role of a ‘beginning professional’ in a supervised field placement setting, working within an employer-employee relationship.

You’ll benefit from supervision, and have specified hours, duties and accountabilities to both the College and agency representative. Field work is a mutually agreed contract for which you’ll be evaluated by the field placement supervisor. The minimum commitment is the successful completion of specific periods as set out in the Field Placement Student Contract.

These periods are typically:

• The equivalent of two full days per week in semesters two, three and four;
• Full week block placements as scheduled throughout the program duration.

The Social Service Worker program subjects are lecture and tutorial-based utilizing assigned texts; some are practice-oriented, stressing interpersonal skills and group dynamics. Students can expect to spend 20 to 25 hours each week on assignments, as well as two days per week in field placement.

Note: Individuals considering the Social Service Worker program should carefully evaluate their reasons for entering this field. The work calls for a person mature enough to examine his/her own values and beliefs while focusing upon the needs of vulnerable populations.

A current Police Reference check is REQUIRED for entry into the field placement component of this program.

Diploma to Degree... and Beyond

Through transfer agreements and institution partnerships, graduates of this Seneca College program may be eligible for credit at the following post-secondary institution(s):

Toronto

Ontario

Canada

U.S.

International

Curriculum

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