Social Service Worker

Domestic Admission Requirements
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
Grade 12 English (C, U) (Minimum 60% GPA required)
Or equivalent

Mature students (applicants who do not have a secondary school diploma or equivalent and have reached the age of 19 years on or before the start of the program) must undergo English language comprehension and grammar testing prior to admission into a program and demonstrate through a prior learning assessment process (PLA) equivalency with the admission requirements. Call the Admissions Office at 705-235-7222 for details.

Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office (word processing), web search engines and e-mail systems.

Additional Admissions Requirements
Prior To Fieldwork Placement

• A current Police Vulnerable Sector screening: Applicants can expect to wait a minimum of 6-8 weeks to receive a Police Check.
• A recent criminal/vulnerable sector reference check – (within 3 months) maybe required in Semester II of the program prior to the start of classes in January.

To be eligible for participation in field work practice, students must not have been convicted of any criminal offence for which that person has not been pardoned. An unpardoned criminal record may result in inability to participate in fieldwork practice courses and will prevent the student from graduating. Any costs for these tests/certifications will be the responsibility of the applicant.

In order to prepare you for fieldwork placement, you will be required to have a current resume and cover letter. Fieldwork placement (FWP) agencies may require additional documentation in order for you to begin FWP. The specific documents will be made known to you in your Reflective Practice course.

It is important to note that this program requires a fieldwork component. While the intent is for placements to be arranged in the student’s own community, when this is not possible, alternate communities will need to be considered. Students are responsible for the costs of travel to and from field work placement sites, parking costs, etc. A dress code is in effect during all lab practice sessions and during the field work component of the programs. All theory and lab course work must be successfully completed prior to field work placements.

A passing grade of 60% is required for all Community Services core courses and electives. To succeed in this program, students must be highly motivated, highly committed and physically and mentally fit.

International Students – Admission Requirements and Information

1. English Proficiency, we will require one of the following:

• IELT Academic International English Language Testing System
  • a minimum overall score of 6.0 must be achieved with only one band at 5.5.
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – Computer-based overall minimum score of 79
• PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic – Graduate Diploma: 58+

NOTE: If your country of citizenship has English as its official language, we may accept alternate proof of English Proficiency

2. Proof of senior high school Diploma/Certificate (equivalent Humanities/Arts stream).

****All educational documents must be submitted in English and will be dependant on the country of citizenship.

For more information, contact the international admission office directly at INTLapply@northern.on.ca

CO-OP Work Permit is mandatory for this program to participate in unpaid program placements.

Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office (word processing), web search engines and e-mail systems.

Additional Admissions Requirements
Prior To Fieldwork Placement

• A current Police Vulnerable Sector screening: Applicants can expect to wait a minimum of 6-8 weeks to receive a Police Check.
• A recent criminal/vulnerable sector reference check – (within 3 months) maybe required in Semester II of the program prior to the start of classes in January.

To be eligible for participation in field work practice, students must not have been convicted of any criminal offence for which that person has not been pardoned. An unpardoned criminal record may result in inability to participate in fieldwork practice courses and will prevent the student from graduating. Any costs for these tests/certifications will be the responsibility of the applicant.

In order to prepare you for fieldwork placement, you will be required to have a current resume and cover letter. Fieldwork placement (FWP) agencies may require additional documentation in order for you to begin FWP. The specific documents will be made known to you in your Reflective Practice course.

It is important to note that this program requires a fieldwork component. While the intent is for placements to be arranged in the student’s own community, when this is not possible, alternate communities will need to be considered. Students are responsible for the costs of travel to and from field work placement sites, parking costs, etc. A dress code is in effect during all lab practice sessions and during the field work component of the programs. All theory and lab course work must be successfully completed prior to field work placements.

A passing grade of 60% is required for all Community Services core courses and electives. To succeed in this program, students must be highly motivated, highly committed and physically and mentally fit.

• 2020-2021 Academic Year
  PC=A004, CK=A104, HL=A-68, A036=KL, A031=JBEC

  Semester 1
  AA1083 Introduction to Research
  CM1913 Communications I – Model B
  NA1403 SW & First Nations Peoples
  PS1163 Developmental Psychology
  SW1023 Introduction to Social Welfare
  SW1053 Social Work Practice I

  Semester 2
  AA3053 Understanding the Family
  AA3063 Building Family Support
  CM2913 Communications II – Model B
  PS3033 Abnormal Psychology
  SW2023 Conflict Resolution/Mediation
  SW2033 Crisis Intervention
  SW2043 Social Work Community Practice

  Semester 3
  SW2013 Social Work Practice II Lab
  SW2053 Social Work Practice II
  SW3003 Group Processes
  SW3013 Social Work Reflective Practice
  SW3053 Gerontology
  SW3073 Community Organization and Development
  SW3083 Social Work and the Law

  Semester 4
  SW4041 Social Work Fieldwork Placement
  SW4051 Social Work Fieldwork Seminar
  

• 2021-2022 Academic Year
  PC=A004, CK=A104, HL=A-68, A036=KL, A031=JBEC

  Semester 1
  CM1913 Communications I – Model B
  SW1014 Working on Teams and in Groups
  SW1024 Social Service Worker Practice I
  SW1063 Intro. To Social Welfare in Canada
  SW1073 Understand Power, Privilege & Oppression
  SW1083 Record Keeping and Report Writing
  SW1093 Human Behaviour in the Social Environment

  Semester 2
  CM2913 Communications II – Model B
  SW2013 Social Service Worker Practice II
  SW2032 Social Service Worker Practice II Lab
  SW3073 Working with Indigenous Peoples
  SW2083 Community Health and Development
  SW2093 Social Policy and Legislation in SSW
  SW2103 Social Problems in a Diverse Society

  Semester 3
  SW3093 Preparation for Placement
  SW3103 Interprofessional Collaboration
  SW3113 Working with Diverse Families
  SW3123 Trauma-Informed Care and Crisis
  SW3133 Addiction and Mental Health
  SW3143 Program Evaluation and Proposal Writing
  SW3153 Interpersonal Violence

  Semester 4
  SW4041 Social Work Fieldwork Placement
  SW4051 Social Work Fieldwork Seminar
  

Semester 1
CM1913 Communications I – Model B
This course is designed to enhance students’ writing, speaking and critical thinking skills as required in academic and workplace settings. Students reinforce correct grammar and mechanics usage, develop specialized vocabulary, and apply effective writing techniques to produce a variety of documents. Topics covered include the communications process; the writing process (planning, composing, editing); paragraph development; email; research and documentation (APA format); essay/research paper structure; cover letter, resume and portfolio development.

SW1014 Working on Teams and In Groups
This course will provide an interactive environment to enable students to develop group leadership and collaborative group work skills and to critically reflect on interprofessional teamwork. Students in this course will work with and in groups to explore theories relevant to group dynamics and group facilitation. Students will apply theories learned in a lab setting which will examine group dynamics, leadership styles, group conflict management as well as forming and facilitating groups.

SW1024 Social Service Worker Practice I
Social Service Workers communicate with service users in a variety of challenging and complex situations. This course is designed to assist students in acquiring the knowledge and skills to build and maintain a working alliance with service users through skilled communication. Students will develop a broad understanding of the role that emotions play in communication, more specifically, how to recognize and respond to individuals experiencing heightened emotional states. In this course, students will also learn how to effectively communicate with service users of diverse capacities and needs. This course is designed with a one-hour lab component which allows students the opportunity to partner the theoretical aspect with the practical skills, which will enhance learning

SW1063 Introduction to Social Welfare in Canada
In this course, students will study the historical, theoretical and philosophical frameworks that underpin Social Welfare in Canada. Students will study the Indigenous, French and English traditions that have led to the current social safety net in Canada. Students will begin their journey to becoming Social Service Workers by exploring the different models used to work with individuals, families and groups, as well as the fields of Social Service Work available to 4(b.d)them after graduation.

SW1073 Understanding Power, Privilege and Oppression
Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP) and Structural Social Work (STSW) are the philosophical basis for Northern College’s Social Service Worker Program. In this course, students will begin to understand their own social location, the concepts of Privilege and Oppression and the impact of these on marginalized people with whom Social Service Workers work. The concept of “Private Troubles versus Public Problems” will assist students to understand their role in working to change systems that oppress people.

SW1083 Record Keeping and Report Writing
Skilled and comprehensive documentation is a feature of the human services profession that is necessary to be able to provide quality and ethical care. In this course, students will be introduced to record keeping and report writing and the important features that the documentation should include. Students will be encouraged to develop an approach to writing which is based on the writer’s purpose, audience and the context of the communication. Students will take a hands on approach to documentation, practicing the skills acquired, while using the structural and anti-oppressive lens’ to inform the tone of their documentation.

SW1093 Human Behaviour in the Social Environment
This course explores human development across the life span in the context of bio-psycho-social influences, including theories and knowledge about the range of social systems in which individuals live and diversity of human behaviour throughout the life cycle. Students will develop an understanding of the interactions between and among biophysical, social, psychological, and cultural systems as they affect human development and shape individual values, beliefs, worldviews and identities.

Semester 2
CM2913 Communications II – Model B
Communications II enhances and applies the communication skills learned in Communications I to additional specific formats required in the workplace. Students will learn to write effective and professional business letters, reports, and documents particular to their field of study. Students will continue to review and practice grammatical structure and APA format.

SW2014 Social Service Worker Practice II
This course is designed to build on the knowledge and skills acquired in Social Service Work Practice I relating to skilled communication. In this course, students will develop the practical skills of assessment, planning, intervention, review and evaluation. Students will also study a variety of practice theories and models compatible with the philosophical basis of Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP) and Structural Social Work (STSW) and understand the importance of using theory in everyday practice. This course is designed with a one-hour lab component which allows students the opportunity to partner the theoretical aspect with the practical skills, which will enhance learning

SW2034 Social Service Worker Practice II Lab
This integrated course is designed to provide students the opportunity to practice the skills learned in Social Service Work Practice I and II. It is offered in an intensive four-day format where students are emerged in an interactive setting in which theory can be applied directly in a safe and comfortable learning environment. In this course, student will also have the opportunity to critically reflect on their progress thus far and develop goals moving forward in the program.

SW2073 Working with Indigenous Peoples
This course is intended to assist the student to develop the capacity to work with Indigenous individuals, families, groups and communities. Students will examine the impacts of trauma and colonization for Indigenous peoples and communities by gaining an in-depth understanding of the residential school system, the 60s’s scoop and intergenerational trauma. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to identify culturally safe practice considerations and assist in the development of holistic healing plans that incorporate appropriate cultural resources. Students will connect the concepts learned in two other courses: Trauma-Informed Care and Crisis; and Understanding Power, Privilege and Oppression in Social Service Work to this course in order to be able to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous individuals, family and communities while recognizing the impact of their own privilege on these relationships.

SW2083 Community Health and Development
The importance of Social Service Workers being able to navigate and work within communities at a macro level is imperative to the human services field. This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamental concepts and theories used within community organization and development. Community service learning is incorporated where students will do an analysis of the health of their community (using the social determinants of health as a guide. Based on the results students will develop a plan to address their findings, using a structural and anti- oppressive lens to inform their work.

SW2093 Social Policy and Legislation in Social Service Work
Social Service Workers interact with social policy and legislation that impacts vulnerable and oppressed people on a daily basis. This course will provide students the opportunity to learn about government structure, political ideology, social policy and legislation in Canada. These concepts will be viewed through the lens of Anti-Oppressive Practice with a view to learning how to make structural change that improves life conditions for marginalized groups.

SW2103 Social Problems in a Diverse Society
This course uses sociological perspectives to introduce students to specific social concerns in Canada ranging from poverty, drug addiction, and racism to inequalities based on age, gender, ability, and sexual orientation. Students will examine social problems from both individual and institutional perspectives, while considering their persistence. Historically and currently employed strategies to improve social conditions will be addressed.

Semester 3
SW3093 Preparation for Placement
This course is designed to assist students to prepare for and secure a placement. Students will continue their journey of self-awareness, self-reflection and professional growth as Anti-Oppressive Social Service Workers. Students will learn the importance of fieldwork placement as a tool to blend real life experience with the theory they have learned in the classroom.

SW3103 Interprofessional Collaboration
Social Service Workers perform a variety of roles in diverse occupational settings in which they are expected to work collaboratively with other professionals from other fields of study. Using a variety of current theoretical frameworks, this course will introduce students to the daunting task of interprofessional practice within the field of social services.  This course is designed to help students understand how profession-driven differences can cause difficulties and challenges to interprofessional collaboration. Additionally, in this course, students will develop the skills necessary to overcome some of these challenges and engage in effective interprofessional collaborative practice.

SW3113 Working with Diverse Families
This course will examine how to work with and support Canadian families in contemporary society. Using an anti-oppressive and structural lens: students will examine challenges that Canadian families are facing and develop an awareness of the principles and values that guide human service practice with families. The many layers affecting families will be discussed, including (but not limited to); coupling, marriage, parenting, divorce and blended families. Students will be encouraged to examine their own family systems in light of the contemporary theories of family.

SW3123 Trauma-Informed Care and Crisis
This course is designed to introduce students to a variety of concepts related to trauma, trauma informed practice, crisis and crisis intervention. Students will adopt a trauma informed perspective as part of their Social Service Worker practice. Through case studies and role plays, students will learn how to be employ crisis intervention skills in a culturally appropriate manner. This course will build on the microskills that students have acquired in SSW Practice I, SSW Practice II and SSW Practice II Lab. Students will have the unique opportunity to apply their skills in different mock crisis situations.

SW3133 Addiction and Mental Health
Concurrent Disorders is a term used to describe cases where a person is struggling with both mental health and substance abuse. People who are struggling with mental health are significantly more likely to abuse substances. The inverse is also true, making it paramount that students learn how to work with and support this population. This course will introduce students to the nature of concurrent disorders; discuss competencies related to interprofessional collaboration and explore cultural and societal influences that impact people experiencing concurrent disorders. Students will have an opportunity to hear from experts in the field and participate in activities to help build their own capacity to be able to work with those affected by co-occurring disorders.

SW3143 Program Evaluation and Proposal Writing
This course introduces the Evidence Based Practice (EBP) paradigm by examining Program Evaluation in the context of the Community Services field of work. Students will be given the opportunity to apply the steps involved in EBP which includes posing practice-relevant questions and accessing and evaluating the evidence that answers these questions. The course continues by covering the basics of program design and proposal writing to provide students with opportunities to practice grant writing for sustainable services in the non-profit sector.

SW3153 Interpersonal Violence
This course focuses on the historical, social and cultural contexts of family violence in Canada. Students will acquire a broad understanding of child abuse and intimate partner violence and apply this knowledge to social service work interventions. In this course, students will also explore the social challenges of reducing and ultimately preventing family violence in the future.

Semester 4
SW4041 SSW Fieldwork Placement
This is a cooperative endeavor between the College SSW program and various community social services agencies. Students are placed in agencies under supervision of the agency, and partnered with a member of the college faculty team for a 15-week/500-hour duration. The final grade will be determined by the faculty member through regular interaction with both the student and workplace supervisor.  The objective is to provide students with a practical opportunity to integrate and apply entry-level knowledge of practice theories and models compatible with the philosophical basis of Anti-Oppressive Practice and Structural Social Work, utilizing core values and skills.

SW4051 SSW Fieldwork Seminar
Students, while on work placement, will have a variety of experiences in agency settings, child welfare, mental health, custody settings, health care settings, government and municipal services, school settings, etc. They will work to solidify and practice a variety of critical skills, professional relationship building, interventions, counseling approaches, self-evaluation, self-care, and professional development. Students will take part in Fieldwork Seminars one day a month throughout the placement in order to integrate their experiences in the field with the theories they learned in the classroom.