Social Service Worker (Two-Year Ontario College Diploma)

Ontario College Diploma

Program Description

The Social Service Worker program combines academic study with practical experience to provide graduates with the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to work in the diverse and complex field of community and social services. The program focuses on the development of front-line interviewing and counselling skills that will prepare students to work with individuals and groups in a variety of social service settings, including group homes, women's shelters, addiction and mental health facilities, employment programs and services for seniors.

In addition to theoretical models, methods and skills of social service work practice, you will receive extensive training in community organizing and development, crisis intervention, group work, and life skills methodology.

As a graduate of the Social Service Worker program, you will be eligible to register as a social service worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers: www.ocswssw.org

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status, AND
• Grade 12 English (C or U)

For information about meeting the grade 12 (C or U) English requirement please visit the English Language Proficiency Requirement page.

Program Admission Notes:

• Equivalent secondary school diploma from another province or territory in Canada (Please note: A recognized equivalent to an OSSD may be accepted if you meet the levels, subjects and overall averages required for admission to the college. Generally the requirement is successful completion of a Grade 12 diploma except in Quebec where the equivalent is Secondary V)
  OR
  Equivalent secondary school diploma from outside of Canada. Applicants who have been educated outside of Canada must have their documents evaluated by a credential assessment service (ICAS) and submit proof of educational qualifications in order to determine if their level of achievement is equivalent to an OSSD. To obtain a Credential Assessment Report visit either ICAS (1.800.321.6021) or WES (1.866.343.0070)
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office recommended
• This program has a field placement component which requires a clear criminal reference check with vulnerable sector screening. Without this, you may not be accepted for field placement by a field placement agency and may be unable to complete the requirements of the program.
• You must maintain an overall average of 60% or a GPA of 2.0 in order to graduate
• A minimum of 25% of courses must be completed through Durham College.

Program Admission

Note: Please do not send official transcripts by mail or fax. An electronic copy of your transcript can be emailed to us at ppladmissions@durhamcollege.ca with your program admission form.

Students are required to complete and submit this form to indicate that the program's admission requirements have been met.

Click to access the Program Admission Form

This form must be submitted and an Admission Acceptance Letter received prior to registering for any courses.

Program Of Study

Students are required to print or save a copy of the Program of Study when beginning the program. This document contains critical details about program progression and graduation requirements specific to the academic year in which your program was started.

Students who began this program prior to the current academic year may contact the Professional and Part-Time Learning office at ppl@durhamcollege.ca or 905-721-3052 to obtain your Program of Study and graduation requirements.

General Education Electives: This program requires the completion of General Education Elective (GNED) courses in addition to core program courses.

Click to access General Education Elective Course Options

IMPORTANT NOTE:Some programs may have restrictions on the specific GNED courses that students are able to take to fulfill their program requirements. For Professional and Part-Time Learning students, these restrictions are identified on the link above. For those in full-time, day school programs, please consult your academic school for confirmation of any GNED restrictions for your program before registering.

Field Placement

This program contains three field placement courses. For details, including paperwork submission deadlines, please visit the Field Placement Page. For additional, program-specific field placement questions, please read the Social Service Worker Field Placement FAQs.

Please also be advised of the following:

• Seat availability for field placement courses are limited. Please visit the field placement page for further details.
• Registration for all SSW Field Placement courses will show as "closed" on our website. Permission from the placement officer is required to register for these courses. Approval is based on the successful, on-time submission of all pre-placement/observation paperwork.
• Students are required to research and secure their own placements. Please note that you cannot complete your placement where you are also employed, or where there may be a conflict of interest.
• Students are encouraged to secure the same agency for placement levels two and three, but it must be a different agency from their level one placement.
• Students must complete all prerequisite courses prior to applying for each field placement, and have a minimum 2.0 GPA.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be equipped to:

• Develop respectful and collaborative professional and interpersonal relationships that adhere to professional, legal, and ethical standards aligned to social service work
• Record information accurately and communicate effectively in written, digital, verbal and non-verbal ways, in adherence to privacy and freedom of information legislation, in accordance with professional and workplace standards
• Integrate a practice framework within a service delivery continuum, addressing the needs of individuals, families and communities at micro, mezzo, macro and global levels, and work with them in achieving their goals
• Plan and implement accessible and responsive programs and services, recognizing the diverse needs and experiences of individuals, groups, families and communities, and meeting these needs
• Examine current social policy, relevant legislation, and political, social, historical, and/or economic systems and their impacts for individuals and communities when delivering services to the user/client
• Develop strategies and approaches that support individual clients, groups, families and communities in building the capacity for self-advocacy, while affirming their dignity and self-worth
• Work from an anti-oppressive, strengths-based practice, recognizing the capacity for resilience and growth of individuals and communities when responding to the diverse needs of marginalized or vulnerable populations to act as allies and advocates
• Develop strategies and approaches to implement and maintain holistic self-care as a member of a human service profession
• Work with individuals, groups, families and their communities to ensure that service provider strategies promote social and economic justice, and challenge patterns of oppression, discrimination and harassment, and sexual violence with clients, coworkers and communities
• Develop the capacity to work with the Indigenous individual, families, groups and communities while respecting their inherent rights to self-determine, and to identify and address systemic barriers that produce ill effects, developing appropriate responses using approaches such as trauma informed care practice
• Implement the Life Skills methodology across a wide range of environments supporting growth of individuals in a variety of contexts

Career Options

Potential career and industry options may include:

Pathway Opportunity

Graduates may also be eligible to apply their academic credits toward further study through Durham College's partnerships with many Canadian and international colleges and universities.

Please visit the Transfer Guide for more information.

Related Credentials and Courses

Graduates interested in further professional development may be interested in the following courses/programs:

• Children's Mental Health Certificate
• Fundamentals of Addiction Certificate
• Managing Responsive Behaviours in Older Adults Stacked Micro-credential
• Thanatology Certificate

Qualified graduates can apply to Durham College's:

• Addictions and Mental Health program
• Youth Justice and Interventions program

Program Related Questions? Call 905.721.3052

If you are interested in applying for financial aid, please visit the Professional and Part-Time Learning OSAP Eligibility webpage.