Conestoga College is a public college located in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. It offers more than 200 programs in various fields such as Engineering, Business, Health Sciences, Information Technology, Media and Design, and Community Services.

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Social service workers play an important role in ensuring the well-being of our society. In this program, students will gain knowledge to enhance relationships and develop skills to work with all segments of the population, individuals, families and community. The program places emphasis on enhancing self-awareness, emotional maturity and persuit of social justice. Skills in supportive counselling, group work, and community development are developed through role-playing, simulations and meaningful field experiences. Additional studies in interventions, complex systems and sustainability of services support graduates to develop a strong foundation for social service practice. Note: Successfully completing the Human Services Foundation certificate program prior to applying to the Social Service Worker diploma program is an opportunity to obtain a year of personal growth and education that may contribute to your success in this career-focused program. Show less

Courses
Level 1
Course details
College Reading & Writing Skills
COMM1085

Conestoga 101
CON0101

Social Service Systems I
SOCS1040

Social Work And The Law
SOCS1050

Group Process And Dynamics
SOCS1060

Introduction to Professional Practice
SOCS1390

Decolonizing Social Service Work
SOCS1400

Electives: General Education
Student must pass 1 Course(s), selected in the Student Portal from available course options
Level 2
Course details
Safety in the Workplace
OHS1320

Techniques Of Interviewing & Assessment
SOCS1035

Field Seminar: Preparing for Professional Practice
SOCS1375

Transformative Practices: Theory to Action
SOCS1410

Community Interventions
SOCS1420

Electives: General Education
Student must pass 1 Course(s), selected in the Student Portal from available course options
Level 3
Course details
Professional Communication
COMM1360

Field Placement I (Social Service Worker)
FPLT2460

Group Work: Assessment, Intervention And Evaluation
SOCS2060

Supportive Counselling with Families
SOCS2070

Community Interventions: Theory to Action
SOCS2210

Level 4
Course details
Field Placement II (Social Service Worker)
FPLT2470

Violence, Trauma, and Abuse
SOCS2015

Group Work: Community Applications
SOCS2045

Simulation: Trauma, Mental Health, and Addictions
SOCS2220

Electives: General Education
Student must pass 1 Course(s), selected in the Student Portal from available course options
Program outcomes
Develop respectful and collaborative professional and interpersonal relationships that adhere to professional, legal, and ethical standards aligned to social service work.
Record information accurately and communicate effectively in written, digital, verbal and non-verbal ways, in adherence to privacy and freedom of information legislation, in accordance with professional and workplace standards.
Integrate a practice framework within a service delivery continuum, addressing the needs of individuals, families and communities at micro, mezzo, macro and global levels, and work with them in achieving their goals.
Plan and implement accessible and responsive programs and services, recognizing the diverse needs and experiences of individuals, groups, families and communities, and meeting these needs.
Examine current social policy, relevant legislation, and political, social, historical, and/or economic systems and their impacts for individuals and communities when delivering services to the user/client.
Develop strategies and approaches that support individual clients, groups, families and communities in building the capacity for self-advocacy, while affirming their dignity and self-worth.
Work from an anti-oppressive, strengths-based practice, recognizing the capacity for resilience and growth of individuals and communities when responding to the diverse needs of marginalized or vulnerable populations to act as allies and advocates.
Develop strategies and approaches to implement and maintain holistic self-care as a member of a human service profession.
Work with individuals, groups, families and their communities to ensure that service provider strategies promote social and economic justice, and challenge patterns of oppression, discrimination and harassment, and sexual violence with clients, coworkers and communities.
Develop the capacity to work with the indigenous individual, families, groups and communities while respecting their inherent rights to self-determine, and to identify and address systemic barriers that produce ill-effects, developing appropriate responses using approaches such as trauma informed care practice.

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You will need to book the accommodation after you have been accepted.

You can choose to live on campus or off campus in private accommodation.

How to book:

• Make a booking online after you have been accepted (in this case please let us know your choice when you apply).
• Register when you arrive - its not possible to reserve a room before arriving. You can arrive a few days before and book it

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