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Gain skills to work in a wide range of community service environments

The Sheridan’s Social Service Worker Program provides you with the skills and knowledge to help struggling people work through their challenges and enjoy more stable and satisfying lives.  Success in the program requires that you be open to the specific issues and contexts of people with various racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.  This award-winning program prepares you to:

  • Conduct effective assessments
  • Manage interventions
  • Develop evaluation strategies relevant to the clients' needs
  • Work with government agencies to navigate regulations
  • Become fully aware of the services available and how to deliver them
  • Understand the scope of your practice and when (and where) to refer clients

Professors representing a broad range of social service fields including family therapy, policy development and social work teach the Social Service Worker diploma program. Each holds considerable real world experience. You'll learn through:

  • Seminar presentations with class interaction
  • Class projects that include developing plans for starting and running a service organization
  • Laboratory practicum that simulates the Year 2 practicum situation to give students a solid skills foundation for their upcoming experience in the field
  • Guest speaker presentations from those active in the field 

Get Real World Experience Through Practical

The Social Service Worker Program maintains connections with hundreds of organizations who welcome our students for their Year 2 practicum placements. These include community-based organizations, group homes, children’s aid organizations, youth centres and many others. You'll complete over 600 hours of field placement in a social service setting reinforcing the practical skills you’ve learned in class.

When you graduate from the Social Service Worker Program, you are eligible for admission to the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. As a member of this body, you can use the title “Registered Social Service Worker.” For additional details, visit www.ocswssw.org.

University Linkage

The Social Service Worker Program maintains linkages with a number of universities, which offer further educational opportunities for our graduates.

The Social Service Worker Program is located at the Davis Campus in Brampton, Ontario and at the Trafalgar Road Campus in Oakville, Ontario.

By the end of the program, graduates will be able to:

  • 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.
CODE TITLE CREDITS
 
TERM 1
CSRV 17749 Social Service Work Foundations 3
CSRV 10703 Dimensions of Teams and Small Groups 3
FLPL 16886 Introduction to Social Services and Field Practicum 3
CSRV 17062 Introduction to Community Development 3
PSYC 17967 Psychology Core Concepts 3
CSRV 13672 Social Diversity in Contemporary Canada 3
COMM 19999 Essential Communications 3
 
Total: 21
 
TERM 2
CSRV 22987 Concept of Helping 3
SOCS 16732 Human Development: Lifespan 3
CSRV 10261 Social Justice and Social Change 3
FLPL 13672 Field Preparation: SSW 6
CSRV 10919 Introduction to Social Policy 3
GNED General Education 3
 
Total: 21
 
TERM 3
PSYC 24454 Psychology: Maladaptive Behaviour 3
CSRV 21618 Helping Models and Strategies 1 3
CSRV 21425 Group Work Methods 3
CSRV 20691 Professional Practice 1: SSW 11
 
Total: 20
 
TERM 4
CSRV 24947 Helping Models and Strategies 2 3
CRSV 21011 Research Issues in Social Services 3
FLPL 20065 Professional Practice 2: SSW 11
GNED General Education 3
 
Total: 20

Note: Courses subject to change.

Sheridan is your key to a great career and future. When you graduate from the Social Service Worker diploma program, you'll be eligible for frontline positions working with people in:
  • Recreation programs
  • Drop-in centres
  • Centres for the developmentally challenged
  • Group home and mental health settings
  • Crisis centres
  • Centres for abused women
  • Community centres
  • Food banks
  • Homeless shelters

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent, including these required courses:

  • One English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or ENG4U)

or

Mature student status. (See "Admissions" section for details.)

APPLICANT SELECTION

Eligible applicants will be selected on the basis of previous academic achievement (the average of their six highest senior-level credits, including required courses).

Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements for this program will be assessed and advised individually and may be considered for other, related programs.

PREPARATION FOR APPLICATION

Related volunteer and/or part-time employment in a social service setting or with older adults is highly encouraged.

CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK AND IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

Sheridan field placement agencies may require a police record check for criminal offences, a vulnerable sector check and/or a current record of immunization. Students will be required to provide this documentation directly to their field placement prior to the start of the placement and at their own expense. Students who cannot meet these requirements may have limited field placement opportunities. Please refer to the Sheridan Health Services website at immunization.sheridancollege.ca for complete information, or come in to one of the campus health centres.

*Course duration for September starts is two academic years. Course duration for January starts is 16 months continuous.

 

Program Offerings

Program Details

Faculty:
Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies
Program Code:
PSSWK
Duration:
2 Year Regular or 16 months continuous* (PSSWK)
Designation:
Ontario College Diploma
Campus:
Davis Campus
Trafalgar Road Campus
Start:
September, January