Social Service Worker

Program Overview

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.

Social Justice

Counselling

Working with Others

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)
Three additional senior level credits

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Intakes and Availability

Date	Domestic Availability	International Availability
September 2020	Closed	Closed
January 2021	Open	Open

Tuition

Year one domestic: $3,188 (CDN)
Year one international: $13,788 (CDN)

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Semester 1 Courses

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Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

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

View all Career Options

Program Details

This program combines classroom work with practical experience to provide you with the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to work in the diverse and complex field of community and social services. It focuses on the development of front-line interviewing and counselling skills that will enable you to work with individuals and groups in a variety of social service settings. 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
Life skills methodology
Social welfare policy and social justice

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.

In the News

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)
Three additional senior level credits

Please note: This program may be highly competitive and have a specific selection process and application deadline. For more information, please contact recruitment@durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.3126. Please refer to Admission Processes for more details regarding highly competitive programs.

JANUARY START

If you begin classes in January, you will complete semesters 1 and 2 (Year 1) from January to August and semesters 3 and 4 (Year 2) from January to August.

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change.

Costs

YEAR ONE FEES	Domestic	International
Tuition	$3,188	$13,788
Compulsory Ancillary	$1,337	$1,812
Program Incidental	$0	$0
Total Fees:	$4,525	$15,600

Please note: fees are based on the 2019-2020 academic year and do not include textbooks. For more information please see Other fees to consider.

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

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

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Addiction agencies
Community living associations
Educational institutions
Employment services
Mental health agencies
Social services agencies
Supportive living residences
Women’s shelters

Field Placement

Your learning experience will be complemented by over 600 hours of field placement experience under the supervision of qualified professional practitioners in two different placement settings.

PRE-PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Please note: There are costs associated with Electronic Student Permit Checking (ESPC), immunizations, lab tests and certifications. Be sure to keep all of your receipts for income tax purposes. These costs include:

Service fees for Verified, our documentation collection and ESPC verification partner.
Costs to complete mandatory immunizations, lab tests, and certifications.

It is required that students have completed the ESPC with Verified to be eligible for the field placement component of this program. You must (at your expense) provide:

A clear and current Criminal Reference Check (CRC) with Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS). If you cannot provide a clear CRC with VSS, you may not be accepted for placement by a field placement agency. A CRC with VSS must be obtained from your local police station. You will be required to obtain additional CRCs with VSS prior to each placement term to meet field placement agency requirements.
Current Level-C cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and mask fit testing from a recognized provider.
Current standard first aid certification from a recognized provider.
Entry immunization form completed by a health-care provider.

Links:

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Qualified graduates can go on to take Durham College’s Addictions and Mental Health or Youth Justice and Interventions graduate certificate programs. Graduates are eligible for membership with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).

Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:

Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.

COVID-19 Information

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Intakes and Availability

Tuition

Semester 1 Courses

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Program Details

In the News

Admission Requirements

JANUARY START

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Field Placement

PRE-PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Social Service Worker in the news

Helpful Resources

College guide September 2020 [PDF]

College guide September 2020 [Interactive]

Graduate Employment Report [PDF]