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) including Grade 12 English (C or U) OR
- Grade 12 equivalency certificate achieved through College academic upgrading OR
- Mature Student Status (19 years of age or older) with Grade 12 English (C or U)
- Three additional senior-level credits
- 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
- 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 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 prior to registering for your first course.
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.
Click to access the Program of Study for the current academic year.
Students who began this program prior to the current academic year may contact the Centre for 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 Centre 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.
- You cannot complete your placement where you are also employed, or where you are also a parent.
- Students are encouraged to secure the same agency for placement levels two and three, but must be a different agency from their level one placement.
- SSW Field Placement 3 is not eligible for PLAR Challenge
- 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
- Utilize intentional counselling techniques to facilitate the interview and counselling process in a variety of settings
- Apply knowledge of family dynamics when supporting the client and/or family
- Apply the principles of crisis intervention in a variety of settings
- Apply the principles of psychopharmacology and pharmacotherapy in the practice of social service work
Note: Standards 1 – 10 are the same as the approved program standards for four-semester Social Service Worker programs approved by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities for delivery by Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology, October 2018 (© 2018, Queen’s Printer for Ontario)
Career Options
Potential career and industry options may include:
- Addictions counsellor
- Case manager
- Crisis worker
- Disability support worker
- Employment counsellor
- Intake worker
- Mental health worker
- Residential counsellor
- Shelter worker
- Youth counsellor
- Community development worker
- Addictions agencies
- Community living associations
- Educational institutions
- Employment services
- Mental health agencies
- Social service agencies
- Supportive living residences
- Women's shelters
Program Related Questions? Call 905.721.3052
If you are interested in applying for financial aid, please visit the Centre for Professional and Part-Time Learning OSAP Eligibility webpage.
Opportunities For Degree Completion Or Additional Credentials
Qualified graduates can apply to Durham College's:
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.
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