Social Service Worker

 

Want to make a difference in the community? 

Be on the front line of positive change as a Social Service Worker by participating in respectful, empowering relationships with groups and individuals, and by advocating for change when needed.  

 

Program Highlights

Spend your first semester learning the fundamentals about people and their communities. Material covered includes interpersonal relationships, social behaviour, and community structures and resources. Second semester courses focus on the social service specialty area, including psychology, social justice issues, ethics and development of services. Third semester courses concentrate on skills and knowledge required for social service practice. You will learn how to identify, assess and problem solve, participate in our in-depth look at the use of self in social service work, and integrate client and community advocacy models. In your final semester, put your classroom knowledge to work in a full-time field placement. You will also perform 200 volunteer hours while in the program (exemptions possible based on previous volunteerism).

 

Why Choose Fleming?

Fleming's Social Service Worker program is the only one in the Kawarthas--a good choice for local people, as well as those who want to take advantage of smaller classes and more individually focused learning. It's increasingly chosen by university graduates to build job-related skills and practice. 

Aboriginal Emphasis Initiative
Fleming College's Aboriginal Emphasis Initative is an inclusive approach to providing more understanding of Aboriginal peoples, communities and nations. You will have an opportunity to take courses designed from an Aboriginal perspective with emphasis on Aboriginal peoples, history, spirituality and culture. See the Aboriginal Emphasis Initiative page for courses available in this program.

 

Work Experience

The final semester integrates learning and takes place in a work setting matching your learning needs and choice of location. You may require a current police records check, which is available from your local police department upon payment of a fee. You may also be required to provide a current Standard First Aid Certificate, a current Basic CPR Certificate (level C) and Proof of Immunization.

 

What it Takes to Succeed

• emotional maturity
• empathy and compassion
• sensitivity to diversity (ages, cultures, gender, etc.)
• excellent interpersonal skills
• self-awareness
• good stress and time management skills

 

Career Opportunities

As a Social Service Worker, you will provide assistance, advocacy, skill development training and short-term, strength-based counselling in a variety of community-based organizations. You will work with a diverse range of people and personal circumstances, including:

• psychiatric survivors
• mentally challenged adults and children
• victims of violence
• seniors
• families living in poverty
• at-risk youth

Social Agencies that have hired Social Service Worker Graduates:

• Canadian Mental Health Association
• Mon Ami Children's Services
• Peterborough District Association for Community Living
• Kinark Child and Family Services
• YWCA (Crossroads Shelters)
• Kawartha Pineridge District School Board

Graduates of the program are eligible to be Registered Social Service Workers with the Ontario College of Social Work and Social Service Work.

 

Minimum Admission Requirements

OSSD with the majority of credits at the College (C) and Open (O) level, including:

• 2 College (C) English courses (Grade 11 or Grade 12)

When (C) is the minimum course level for admission, (U) or (U/C) courses are also accepted. 

Mature Students 

If you are 19 years of age or older before classes start, and you do not possess an OSSD, you can write the Canadian Adult Achievement Test to assess your eligibility for admission. 

* Students starting in January are required to attend classes over the summer semester.

 

Selection Process

 

Related Programs

Not quite decided on which community development career to pursue? Why not consider the Drug and Alcohol Counsellor program, also offered at Fleming, if you have a desire to help people improve their lives?

 

Health Requirements

Immunization Requirements

This program has immunization requirements. For more information, and to print the required immunization form, please see the Immunization Information page.

 

Additional Costs

Plan to spend approximately $800 per year for books and supplies.

 

University Transfer Agreements

• Athabasca University
• Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
• Lakehead University
• Ryerson University
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Course	Hours
Semester 1
Aboriginal History and Culture	45.00
Communications for Community Development & Health	45.00
Human Growth and Development	45.00
Introduction to Helping Relationships	45.00
Introduction to Psychology	45.00
Introduction to Social Services	45.00
Introductory Computing	45.00
Semester 2
Communicating at Work	45.00
Counselling Methods and Interventions	45.00
Field Preparation I	30.00
Group and Leadership Development	45.00
Program Planning	45.00
Social Issues	45.00
Social Psychology	45.00
Semester 3
Abnormal Psychology	45.00
Advanced Group Work	45.00
Advocacy: Facilitating Change	45.00
Community Development	45.00
Ethics for Helping Professions	45.00
Field Preparation II	30.00
Program Electives: Choose One of:   Behaviour Management Part I 45.00   Family of Origin Theory and Practice 45.00
Semester 4
Block Placement	525.00

Semester 1

Aboriginal History and Culture

Course Number: GNED049

This course focuses on the study of First Nations peoples in the Americas (Turtle Island), from a First Nations perspective. Study will encompass the historical, cultural, and political realities of aboriginal America. This course will respect the oral traditions of First Nations peoples as much as possible.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Communications for Community Development & Health

Course Number: COMM079

Communications for CD&H, a mandatory Communications course, focuses on improving reading and writing skills through a number of assignments related to the helping professions. Students will demonstrate skills in summary and essay writing as well as research techniques, including appropriate documentation of sources. The principles of style, structure, content, and mechanics constitute the overall framework of the course.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Human Growth and Development

Course Number: SOCI025

This course is designed to give the student a basic understanding of the normal patterns of growth and development at various stages within the life cycle from infancy through to old age. The major theories of development will be examined to enhance understanding of this field of study.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Introduction to Helping Relationships

Course Number: SOCI034

This course provides students with an overview of introductory theory and skill pertaining to the helping relationship process. Specifically, students will acquire an understanding and acquisition of skills related to attending, listening, non-verbal and verbal observation and assessment, constructive feedback, and conducting a basic interview session. The course will focus on developing student self-awareness of effective interaction methods and will introduce students to cultural context communication issues.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Introduction to Psychology

Course Number: SOCI036

This course offers a systematic approach to exploring human behaviour. The concepts and empirical findings are examined using a variety of theoretical approaches. Major topics include perception, motivation, learning, memory, intelligence, and personality.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Introduction to Social Services

Course Number: COUN017

This course introduces students to the scope and dimensions of social service organization, delivery, and practice within Ontario. There is specific emphasis on the variety of roles that social service workers fill within the framework of social services. The values, ethics, principles and practices of social service work are examined and students will begin to develop a set of personal goals toward professional development in the field.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Introductory Computing

Course Number: COMP345

Working in the Windows XP environment, this computer course introduces the student to computer basics (computer terminology, e-mail, Internet, file management) and the application and use of word processing, spreadsheet, and database software. Through the extensive use of hands-on activities, students will gain sufficient knowledge and experience to make productive use of computers as a tool in both college and workplace environments.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Semester 2

Communicating at Work

Course Number: COMM002

This course will enable you to continue to improve your general communication skills to meet the learning outcomes demanded by the assignments in this course, as well as the expectations of other subjects and eventual career employment. This course emphasizes concepts of critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they apply to processes fundamental to effective communication. You will continue to reinforce speaking, writing, reading, and listening techniques common to the expectations demanded by the work place of your career choice by applying, at a more sophisticated level, principles of style, structure, mechanics and techniques (for orals).

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Counselling Methods and Interventions

Course Number: COUN012

This course builds on student skills and knowledge acquired in Introduction to Helping Relationships. The course content and practice will focus on strength-centred problem solving, which is highly flexible and adaptive to individual and community concerns. Issues such as how power is used and misused by institutions, social contexts, and individuals will be covered. The emphasis will be on individual problem solving, with a strong focus on self and other awareness.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Field Preparation I

Course Number: FLPL064

This field preparation course will introduce students to a variety of experiences and information that are relevant to preparing for field practice. These will include meeting experts from the field, visiting selected agencies, creating a mission statement, and completing a child-abuse module. It is strongly recommended that students have completed relevant volunteer hours before entering this course. Learner must be registered full or part-time in the Social Service Program.

Units: 30.00
Hours: 30.00

Group and Leadership Development

Course Number: COUN014

This course introduces students to the field of group dynamics and offers a variety of applied learning experiences designed to enhance self awareness and develop competence in group leadership. The principles and practices within this course provide a foundation for community service work and can be applied to a variety of personal and professional contexts.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Program Planning

Course Number: COUN031

Today's community service professional is required to plan and deliver programs that are flexible, responsive, and creative. Program planning is at the core of social service delivery and requires development of an extremely effective skill set. Successul completion of this course will allow students to develop the skills necessary to provide meaningful, satisfying, and dynamic services to clients in a manner that reflects the values and guiding principles in the social service worker field.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Social Issues

Course Number: COUN020

Social Issues provides an analysis of social, economic, cultural, and political issues, their impact on our society, and the subsequent underlying problems that professionals and clients face in the social service work field. The course is designed to allow students to learn how to view the structure of society from a number of perspectives. They will become aware of the subjective nature of perspective and the study of intentional social action.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Social Psychology

Course Number: SOCI059

This course is designed to assist students' personal development and understanding of social relationships in a culturally diverse world. The emphasis is on the development of social and interpersonal skills to foster effective work teams and personal relationships.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Semester 3

Abnormal Psychology

Course Number: SOCI001

This course explores the difficulties in defining abnormal behaviour and develops skills in evaluating historical and current theoretical perspectives of abnormality. Issues relating to abnormality in our society today are examined after students are presented with the necessary knowledge to understand a variety of behaviours (and disorders) and their treatments. In order for a student to succeed in this course they need to have general knowledge of basic psychological theory, critical thinking skills, sound writing skills, and the ability to apply material to their field of choice.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Advanced Group Work

Course Number: COUN002

This course provides students with an opportunity to further develop group practice skills and leadership. In many facets of the helping profession, group counselling is understood to be central for recovery. This course is designed with the belief that students can best develop the necessary skills by participating in an authentic group process. To this end, active engagement in a group process, in addition to textual material, is seen as the best way to facilitate grounding in knowledge and experience.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Advocacy: Facilitating Change

Course Number: COUN004

Advocacy involves representing the interests of others and assisting people in representing their own interests. The intervention empowers clients and assists them to change the dynamics which contribute to their oppression and the oppression of others. It includes knowing the administrative, institutional and legislative policies that affect our lives. It also requires the learner to explore the underlying dynamics and structural issues that often generate the problems and issues that clients encounter.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Community Development

Course Number: COUN011

This course will enable the learner to develop an awareness of communities and the community development process. The learner will examine relevant community structures and resources and will include a study of significant community service and health care organizations, their roles and the dynamics within them: and between them and other organizations. In addition, learners will examine the organization, function and roles of various levels of government: the economic and social benefits of community and health care services: trends, issues, problems, and challenges in community services and health care delivery: boards and committees: volunteering and advocacy.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Ethics for Helping Professions

Course Number: COUN024

This course introduces students to ethical principles and concepts related to the helping professions. Contemporary issues in counselling and their ethical implications will be examined.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Field Preparation II

Course Number: FLPL066

This course will provide a supportive setting wherein students will be assisted in designing their own learning goals and selecting a preferred field practice setting. Additional responsibilities will include negotiating appropriate field practice responsibilities, receiving approval for the field practice setting from faculty, and completing various paperwork requirements. Finally, issues specific to field placement will be explored, including the use of appropriate boundaries, office politics, stress management, and cultural diversity. It is strongly recommended that students have completed relevant volunteer hours before entering this course. Learner must be registered full or part-time in the Social Service Program.

Units: 30.00
Hours: 30.00

Behaviour Management Part I

Course Number: COUN050

In this course, students will gain an understanding of behaviour analysis as a methodology to effectively identify challenging and problem behaviour in children and implement strategies to assist in changing the identified behaviour, in a variety of settings. Topics include data collection techniques, functional behaviour assessment, positive and negative reinforcement and cognitive behaviour modifications.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Family of Origin Theory and Practice

Course Number: COUN048

This course will provide learners with the following opportunities to prepare for effective front line work: build on acquired knowledge and skill in interview techniques and problem solving methods; review feminist perspective in social service work; revisit the learner's own family of origin patterns and dynamics as a vehicle for gaining knowledge and skill in identifying and responding meaningfully to family issues. Emphasis will be placed on the learner and his/her family of origin stories as a central tool for learning.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Semester 4

Block Placement

Course Number: FLPL001

This fourth semester SSW Block Placement allows the student to integrate classroom knowledge, theory and skill into professional practice. Students often tell us that these experiences are the highlight of their college education. Indeed, placement is viewed as an integal, core component of the program's curriculum. Successful completion of the course is determined by the implementation of an appropriate field practice experience. This experience is evaluated through evidence of successful goal completion as well as evaluation by the agency supervisor. The college is then responsible for the final and official granting of the grade into the student's transcript.

Units: 525.00
Hours: 525.00