Social service &
Community Support Worker
program
This program prepares graduates for a career in Community Support Worker and related occupations in the social service sector. The graduates gain strong theoretical and hands-on practical skills required to confidently support programs for people with disabilities, shelters for persons with mental health and substance abuse issues, and a wide range of social service and community support occupations.
PTIRU Approved
This program has been approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.
Program Hours: Program Months: | Program Weeks: Practicum Hours: |
32-Week Social Service & Community Support Worker Program
60 hours – Essential Skills
60 hours – Business Communications
20 hours – Writing for Social Services
40 hours – Ethics Fundamentals
40 hours – Psychology Fundamentals
60 hours – Addiction Fundamentals
60 hours – Mental Health Fundamentals
40 hours – High Risk Populations
20 hours – Introduction to Pharmacology
40 hours – Interviewing and Counselling Methods
40 hours – Intake and Discharge Planning
20 hours – Resources and Networking
20 hours – Self-Care for Workers
20 hours – Certifications (First Aid/CPR, NVCI, SPT)
100 hours – Practicum Placement
What kind of work does a Social Service and Community Support Worker do?
Social Service and Community Support Workers help individuals navigate social programs, provide day-to-day support, and contribute to community-based services.
How do students gain practical experience in the Social Service and Community Support Worker program?
Students gain practical experience through a supervised practicum that allows them to apply what they learn in real community support settings.
Is the Social Service and Community Support Worker program suitable for beginners?
Yes. The Social Service and Community Support Worker program is designed for individuals with no prior background in social services who want to enter the field.
Is there demand for Social Service and Community Support Workers?
Yes. Demand for social service and community support workers continues to grow as communities require increased support services.
What skills are important for success as a Social Service and Community Support Worker?
Important skills include communication, empathy, organization, teamwork, and the ability to work with diverse populations.
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to demonstrate:
- Identify available community social services resources.
- Demonstrate professional standards and principles in line with ethical frameworks.
- Describe the role of positive relationships in the lives of individuals, families, and communities.
- Analyze timelines and stages of human development.
- Prepare client intake reports.
- Demonstrate effective stress-reduction techniques for clients and workers.
- Identify and assess the symptoms associated with certain commonplace mental health disorders and substance abuse.
- Demonstrate a comprehension of the relationship between mental health and addictions.
- Recognize and assess when and how client-counselor relationships are being impacted by cultural and other diversity factors.
- Demonstrate empathetic, non-judgmental communication.
- Describe side effects and conditions of various drug
treatments and usage.
Admission Requirements:
- Students are required to be 19 years of age prior to the start of the program or possess a high school diploma (or equivalent), and provide evidence of one of the following English proficiency requirements:
- Evidence that 3 years of full-time secondary education (Grades 8- 12), or 2 years if the Grades are 10, 11, or 12, have been successfully completed in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages., or
- Completion of 2 years of full-time post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the language of instruction, or
- Provide verified results for one of the English language proficiency tests listed below. Test results must be dated no more than two years before the start date of the program:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic – Minimum overall score of 5.5
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) IBT – Minimum overall score of 46
- Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) – Minimum overall score of 40
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) Listening 6, Speaking 6, Reading 5, and Writing 5.
- Duolingo English Test (DET) – Minimum overall score of 95
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic – Minimum overall score of 43
- Cambridge English Qualifications: B2 First exam (FCE) – Minimum overall score of 160 or “C”
- Cambridge Linguaskill – Minimum overall B2 level
- LANGUAGECERT Academic – Minimum overall B2 level
- The Michigan English Test (MET) – Minimum overall B2 level
- iTEP Academic – Minimum overall score of 3.5
- EIKEN – Minimum placement of Grade Pre-1
Upon successful completion of this program, students can expect to work as:
- Community Support Worker
- Community Service Worker
- Special Needs Support Worker
