Social Services Worker Field Placement FAQs

You are eligible to apply for field placement if you have the following:

1. Successful completion of ALL required prerequisite(s) by the placement course start date.
2. Achieved a minimum Program GPA of 2.0.
3. Completed and approved placement paperwork by the posted deadline.

Note: You will be advised via email (sent to your DCMAIL.ca email address) and removed from the placement course if you have not met the above minimum criteria.

• All students wishing to apply for a field placement, must complete the placement request form.
• Placement requests are open approximately six weeks before the paperwork deadline, allowing students to begin submitting paperwork early.
• The request form will close ONE WEEK BEFORE the posted deadline date. No requests will be accepted once the form is closed.

Some requirements may take longer to receive than anticipated. Students are strongly encouraged to begin collecting these requirements the semester before the placement is to begin.

The following are the documents required for each of the SSW field placements:

• SSW Field Placement Host Application (available only during the posted application timeframe)
• Remote Work Health and Safety Pre-Placement Checklist (for remote and hybrid placements only)
• Entry Immunization Form
• Students are required to obtain a Canadian Criminal Reference Check, including a Vulnerable Sector Screen, completed within one year prior to commencing placement.
• Intermediate First Aid & Level C CPR Certification (formerly called Standard First Aid & Level C CPR) (Note: Online and hybrid (online & in-class) courses will only be accepted if WSIB-approved.)
• Student Declaration of Understanding
• Informed Consent for the Release of Personal Information
• Online Training Modules (accessed via PPL’s DC Connect Application Modules):
  • Workplace Hazardous Materials Information (WHMIS) Module Completion Certificate
  • Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities (AODA) Module Completion Certificate
  • Workplace Violence and Harassment Prevention Module Completion Certificate
  • Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps Module Completion Certificate

Note: All placement paperwork must be uploaded to Synergy Gateway prior to the posted deadline.

Students will upload their documents to Verified by Synergy Gateway.

• Students can access the Worker Health & Safety Awareness in 4 Steps, WHMIS, AODA and Workplace Violence and Harassment Prevention trainings via the DC Connect Paperwork modules.
• Students who have already completed these certificates for previous placements within their program are not required to complete the trainings again.
• Trainings from other sources are not accepted.

• Once the student completes the placement request form, the placement officer will complete an eligibility audit, and if eligible, will add the student to Synergy Gateway.
• Synergy Gateway will send login instructions to the student’s DCMail account.

• In-person, remote, and hybrid format options are available. These options require pre-placement documentation to be submitted according to the term's deadline dates.
• Remote placements can be secured at agencies anywhere in Canada, provided the agency is willing to support this option and can meet the learning objectives and supervision requirements for each placement.

• Web registration is not available for field placement courses.
• Students will be registered by the placement officer once the placement request has been submitted and the eligibility audit has been completed. The tuition fee will be added to your student account for payment before the course start date.
• If applicable, final grades from prerequisite courses from the previous semester must also be posted.

As of Spring 2026, all SSW field placements require 168 hours with the host agency.

• Students will arrange a mutually suitable schedule with the host agency/supervisor.
• When arranging their schedule, students must ensure they meet the required number of placement hours by the end date of the course.

• Students may find it necessary to make personal adjustments to work and/or family schedules in order to complete the field placement.
• Options to be considered are: leaves of absence, use of vacation time, extended work hours to free up hours for placement, etc.
• We recognize that such arrangements require a great deal of time and effort on the students’ (and their families’) part and applaud their commitment to the achievement of their goals.

Yes. Students in the Social Services Worker program are required to research and secure each of their placements. This may require an in-person interview with the agency supervisor prior to being accepted at the agency.

• Direct supervision during placement should be provided by a field placement supervisor who is appropriately credentialed.
• Your supervisor must have educational credentials in Social Work, Social Service Work, Psychology, Sociology, Addictions, and/or Mental Health (e.g., SSW Diploma Graduate, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in the noted disciplines, and/or registered with OCSWSSW) and be an experienced employee of the placement agency familiar with the social services field.

Yes. Field placements in this program can be completed in another province.

• Doing your placement where you work is a conflict of interest and is not permitted.
• However, students may have opportunities within their workplace to complete a placement in another department, under a different supervisor. Please contact the field placement officer for more information and whether this option applies to you.

Students are not permitted to complete a placement experience where they have a relative or familial relationship with anyone with supervisory responsibility at the agency. This would be considered a conflict of interest.

Field placements are unpaid learning opportunities, and therefore, students are not permitted to accept payment for the field placement experience.

• Students are required to secure a different placement agency for Levels 2 and 3 than the agency secured for Level 1.
• In addition to meeting the learning outcomes and SSW program requirements, this also provides a greater variety in experience and greater flexibility in the job market.
• Please note: Each placement level must be completed in separate semesters. Paperwork requirements and deadlines will apply to each placement/term separately.

• SSW placements cannot be completed in daycare settings.
• School settings: Not all school boards employ SSWs working within their scope of practice. Students are not permitted to contact schools in the Durham District School Board to request placements. Many school boards outside of Durham Region will not respond to students requesting SSW placements. It is recommended that students research community social service agencies to find their placements.
• Hospital settings: SSW placements do not typically take place within a hospital setting/system. Hospital placements can take a considerable amount of time to secure. It is recommended that students research community social service agencies to find their placements.
• Some agencies may require clearance documentation that differs from Durham College’s requirements. Students must meet the agency’s requirements in order for the agency to approve the student to attend placement.

If you have further questions about the suitability of an agency type, please contact the Placement Officer at pplplacements@durhamcollege.ca.

• We encourage students to check DC Connect and your DCMAIL.ca account daily for updates and any important communication.
• Depending on your program and the type of agency you are to be placed with, securing and confirming a placement can take time.
• You will be contacted as soon as your agency has been confirmed and approved.

• Students must ensure that they have been officially cleared prior to beginning their hours at the host agency. Clearance will not occur prior to the start date for the placement course.

• Each student will receive official clearance via email to their DCMAIL.ca account only advising them of placement details and official clearance date.
• Students cannot start placement before official clearance is received.

• Yes, all SSW field placements are eligible for PLAR.
• Please contact the PPL Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) coordinator for eligibility requirements and how to apply here: pplplar@durhamcollege.ca

• Please view the PPL Withdrawals & Refunds Page for details.
• Once registered, withdrawals are subject to a minimum $30 admin fee.