Social Service Worker
Pursue a fulfilling career working on the front line of social services.
- Program has the highest placement hours in the province with three placements totaling almost 700 hours completed in a variety of settings
- Role play, case studies, and interviewing exercises, applied research projects and direct practice opportunities prepare students for work on the front line of social services
- Graduates are eligible to register as a Social Service Worker through the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
Program Availability and Schedule
Availability
Open
Closed
Waitlisted
Start Term
Availability
International
Availability
Competitive?
Winter 2025
No
Fall 2025
Yes
Schedule
Program Summary
Credential
Program Delivery
Program Code
Area of Interest
School
Campus
Other Campuses
Work Integrated Learning
In the two-year Social Service Worker Ontario College Diploma program, you gain the skills and knowledge to work effectively with individuals, groups and communities dealing with personal and social problems.
Through theory and practical experiences, the program prepares you to support a wide range of client groups and communities who are in the process of change or growth, including those impacted by issues such as:
loss and separation family crisis poverty violence homelessness addiction disability unemployment oppression resettlement...(read more)
Overview
Pursue a fulfilling career working on the front line of social services.
In the two-year Social Service Worker Ontario College Diploma program, you gain the skills and knowledge to work effectively with individuals, groups and communities dealing with personal and social problems.
Through theory and practical experiences, the program prepares you to support a wide range of client groups and communities who are in the process of change or growth, including those impacted by issues such as:
- loss and separation
- family crisis
- poverty
- violence
- homelessness
- addiction
- disability
- unemployment
- oppression
- resettlement
As a student, you complete three semesters in field placement experiences totaling almost 700 hours. You identify, practice and incorporate theoretical knowledge at a level that provides top client service. As well, you strengthen the bond between yourself and the community by participating in various applied research projects and direct practice opportunities. With these opportunities, you are ready to work on the front line of social services.
Graduates may secure employment as Social Service Workers in provincial, municipal and private social service agencies including:
- social service departments
- long-term care facilities
- addiction and mental health services
- schools and programs for children and youth
- community health and resource centres
- community shelters
- residential treatment programs
- drop-in centres
- employment services
SUCCESS FACTORS
This program is well-suited for students who:
- Have effective interpersonal skills.
- Are committed to addressing social issues, such as poverty, homelessness, oppression and human rights.
- Understand the importance of effective communication with clients and community partners (oral and written).
- Are team-oriented and enjoy working with others.
- Deal effectively with stressful situations.
Courses
Programs at Algonquin College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode which combines classroom sessions with virtual learning activities. Upon registration, each full-time student is provided an Algonquin email account which is used to communicate important information about program or course events.
Code:
ENL1813S
Course Name:
Communications 1
Course Description:
Communication remains an essential skill sought by employers, regardless of discipline or field of study. Using a practical, vocation-orient... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
FAM1114
Course Name:
Preparation for Field
Course Description:
The ability to understand one's professional roles and responsibilities in the workplace is foundational to success. Students explore their ... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
FAM1115
Course Name:
Service Worker Interviewing
Course Description:
Gathering information through the interview process helps identify the strengths, resources and challenges of individuals, families, groups ... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
FAM1254
Course Name:
Social Welfare in Canada
Course Description:
Students study the historical progress of the social welfare system in Canada. In addition, the fundamentals of inequity, poverty, homelessn... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
FAM1294
Course Name:
Mental Health and Addictions 1
Course Description:
Instances of substance misuse are higher amongst those experiencing mental health challenges. Students become familiar with the nature of ad... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
FAM1295
Course Name:
Relations and Relationships with the First Peoples of Canada
Course Description:
As human service practitioners, it is imperative that Social Service Workers have specific knowledge of the history and resiliency of Indige... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
FAM1382
Course Name:
Social Service Worker Ethics
Course Description:
Ethics is the cornerstone for providing effective Social Service Work. Students examine the principles of the Code of Ethics and Standards o... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
PSY1100
Course Name:
Human Development
Course Description:
Understanding an individual's developmental stage in relation to challenges they may face directs the intervention of social service workers... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENL1881F
Course Name:
Communications for Social Service Workers
Course Description:
Social service workers create and maintain a variety of records and documents related to their interactions with colleagues and clients. The... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
FAM1121
Course Name:
Group Work
Course Description:
Working in groups is part of many social service work settings. Making use of a simulated exercise, students practice skills involved in the... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
FAM1129
Course Name:
Placement 1
Course Description:
Practical and professional learning experiences support the integration of theory and professional expectations in social service agencies. ... + Read More
Hours:
182.0
Code:
FAM1263
Course Name:
Crisis Intervention
Course Description:
One`s ability to function in a professional manner in crisis situations is essential in the field of social service work. Students different... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
FAM1301
Course Name:
Legislation in Social Service Work
Course Description:
As social service workers, the profession is guided under legislation. Students explore the governance and legislative acts in Canada. Throu... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
FAM1334
Course Name:
Placement Seminar 1
Course Description:
Professional development of social service worker students continues with the extension of the learning opportunities that integrate theory ... + Read More
Hours:
21.0
Code:
GED0432
Course Name:
General Education Elective
Course Description:
Students choose one course, from a group of general education electives, which meets one of the following five theme requirements: Arts in S... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
FAM1139
Course Name:
Placement 2
Course Description:
Practical learning experiences support the integration of theory and professional expectations in social service agencies. Students are prov... + Read More
Hours:
252.0
Code:
FAM1272
Course Name:
Community Development
Course Description:
Community development focuses on systemic issues that create social problems. It involves working to achieve social justice through structur... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
FAM1280
Course Name:
Applied Social Service Work Practice
Course Description:
Social service work practice is the foundation for meeting human needs in our society. Students apply core values, ethics and helping skills... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
FAM1283
Course Name:
Working with Families
Course Description:
Understanding family systems is essential to providing optimum support to families. Students are grounded in family systems theory and explo... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
FAM1302
Course Name:
Mental Health and Addictions 2
Course Description:
Deeper knowledge of mental health, addiction and concurrent disorders allows social service workers to guide individuals to the services and... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
FAM1335
Course Name:
Placement Seminar 2
Course Description:
Professional development of social service worker students continues with the extension of the learning opportunities that integrate theory ... + Read More
Hours:
21.0
Code:
FAM1149
Course Name:
Placement 3
Course Description:
Practical learning experiences support the integration of theory and professional expectations in social service agencies. Students are prov... + Read More
Hours:
273.0
Code:
FAM1260
Course Name:
Assessment, Planning and Practice in Social Service Work
Course Description:
Assessment and intervention are core skills for qualified social service workers and are fundamental learning requirements for practice in t... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
FAM1436
Course Name:
Aging in Society
Course Description:
Canada has an aging population where the need for mental health, housing, income security, health care and recreation supports and intervent... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
FAM1444
Course Name:
Placement Seminar 3
Course Description:
Professional development of social service worker students continues with the extension of the learning opportunities that integrate theory ... + Read More
Hours:
21.0
Code:
AST2000
Course Name:
Introduction to Astronomy
Course Description:
What can the sky tell us about our place in the universe, and how life began? This introductory course to astronomy will teach students indi... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
DSN2001
Course Name:
History of Design
Course Description:
Visual communications and graphic design have played a key role in the evolution of communication through a number of historical and social ... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENV0002
Course Name:
Environmental Citizenship
Course Description:
Environmental citizenship is based on the principles of national citizenship, yet it goes beyond political borders to emphasize global envir... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENV5004
Course Name:
Waste-Free Ontario
Course Description:
Ontario continues to generate more and more waste; historically, three quarters of this waste has been discarded. In this course, learners a... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GED0021
Course Name:
Disability in Arts: Portrayals and Identity
Course Description:
All forms of art have a powerful influence on our perceptions. Students describe and explore through case studies a range of disabilities an... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GED2200
Course Name:
Free Speech and the Challenge of Social Media
Course Description:
This course will allow students to explore social media and its effects on free speech and public discourse in contemporary society. It will... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GED5002
Course Name:
Victimology
Course Description:
An increased awareness of the ripple effect of crime has given rise to victimology as a significant field of study. Students investigate vic... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GED5003
Course Name:
The Science of Play
Course Description:
Toys and games, key components of play, have evolved from homemade trinkets to highly engineered items in a multi-billion-dollar industry. S... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GED5004
Course Name:
Living Green
Course Description:
The need to lead healthy, environmentally conscious lives is increasingly important. Students acquire the practical knowledge and skills req... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GED5005
Course Name:
Greek Mythology
Course Description:
Students explore intriguing characters, important places and famous myths of Classical Greece. By examining a variety of popular myths, stud... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GED5006
Course Name:
World Religions
Course Description:
In Canada, society embraces people from many cultures of the world. By exploring different religious beliefs about the world, the individual... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GED5007
Course Name:
Transatlantic Slavery and Its Abolition
Course Description:
The effects of transatlantic slavery, which began in the 15th century and was not abolished until the 19th, are still present in contemporar... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GED5010
Course Name:
The Fungus Among Us
Course Description:
Understanding fungi is critical for a more complete picture of both natural history, as well as historical and current human affairs. Studen... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GED5300
Course Name:
The Science of Everyday Life
Course Description:
The mysteries of science surround us constantly and play a significant role in everyone's daily life regardless of their level of awareness.... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GED5301
Course Name:
On Death, Dying and Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)
Course Description:
Though death is an immutable consequence of life, society's attitudes and reactions to it have been ever-changing. The viewpoint that life i... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GED6022
Course Name:
A Sense of Humour
Course Description:
Humour is a universal tool of communication and social influence. Students survey the development, use, and value of humour in Canadian visu... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GEN1001
Course Name:
Ethics: What Is the Big Deal?
Course Description:
In today's society there is increasingly more attention focused on questions of right or wrong, good or evil. Ethical issues relating to a w... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GEN1957
Course Name:
Science Fiction
Course Description:
Science fiction is both a major genre of popular entertainment and an effective mode of social commentary. Students explore the formal conve... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GEO0012
Course Name:
Foreign Landscapes and Their Inhabitants
Course Description:
Understanding the natural environment and the geological features and landscapes that shape our world is vital for students to have a greate... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
HIS0001
Course Name:
Saints and Heroes: Shining a Spotlight on the 'Dark Ages', Europe A.D. 410-1096
Course Description:
When the mighty Roman Empire began to collapse, it was attacked from all directions by Barbarian armies. The resulting turmoil caused Europe... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
HOS2228
Course Name:
Wine, Food and Culture
Course Description:
An understanding of culture can be discovered by exploring eating and drinking customs. Students experience a virtual global tour, exploring... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
HOS2288
Course Name:
The Dinner Party
Course Description:
Table manners are as unique to a culture as the foods they eat - how people eat varies widely from country to country. Participants in this ... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
LIB1982
Course Name:
Reading for Recreation
Course Description:
Reading gives us knowledge and new ideas to draw from in the future. It tones the mind in ways similar to the way exercise tones the body. A... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
MGT7330
Course Name:
Trends in Today's Workplace
Course Description:
In today's culture of work, every employee needs to be knowledgeable about current trends and issues in the workplace. Students explore emer... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
MVM8800
Course Name:
The Impact of the Car on North American Culture
Course Description:
Students explore the social, economic, political, and environmental impact of the automobile on North American lives. Through a combination ... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PSI0003
Course Name:
Globalization and Sustainability
Course Description:
The rapid growth of the global economy raises fundamental questions: How do trade and politics affect development and the environment? What ... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
RAD2001
Course Name:
Popular Culture
Course Description:
One dictionary definition of popular culture is the "totality of socially transmitted behaviour patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and a... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
SCI2200
Course Name:
Dynamic DNA: You Are Not Alone
Course Description:
DNA is the recipe book for all living things. This small molecule can tell us about our past, present, and future. It is what makes us all u... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GED0432
Course Name:
General Education Elective
Course Description:
Students choose one course, from a group of general education electives, which meets one of the following five theme requirements: Arts in S... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Careers & Pathways
Careers
This program prepares you for your career by providing you with the opportunity to apply for professional accreditation in the field of social services. Upon graduation, you need to register as a Social Service Worker through the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers in order to be recognized as such.
Graduates may find employment as social service workers, addictions counsellor, case manager, crisis worker, disability support worker, employment counsellor, intake worker, mental health worker, residential counsellor, shelter worker, youth counsellor, community development worker.
Pathways
Please note: There may be more pathways available for this program than are listed here. Please use our Pathways search tool to see every option.
Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- 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.
- Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.
Tuition & Fees
Get an idea of how much each semester will cost with our Tuition and Fee Estimator.
2024/2025 Academic Year
Tuition and related ancillary fees for this program can be viewed by using the Tuition and Fees Estimator tool at www.algonquincollege.com/fee-estimator.
Further information on fees can be found by visiting the Registrar`s Office website at www.algonquincollege.com/ro.
Fees are subject to change.
Additional program related expenses include:
- Supplies cost approximately $1,500 in the first year and $1,000 in the second year.
- Additional expenses related to verification for field placement requirements, ParaMed clearance, police records check and health immunizations are the responsibility of the student.
Admissions Requirements
All applicants must satisfy both College Eligibility and Program Eligibility requirements.
College Eligibility
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent. Applicants with an OSSD showing senior English and/or Mathematics courses at the Basic Level, or with Workplace or Open courses, will be tested to determine their eligibility for admission; OR
- Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) certificate; OR
- General Educational Development (GED) certificate; OR
- Mature Student status (19 years of age or older and without a high school diploma at the start of the program). Eligibility may be determined by academic achievement testing for which a fee will be charged.
Program Eligibility
- English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or equivalent) with a grade of 65% or higher.
- Applicants with international transcripts must provide proof of the subject-specific requirements noted above and may be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Domestic applicants with international transcripts must be evaluated through the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or World Education Services (WES).
- IELTS-International English Language Testing Service (Academic) Overall band of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each band; OR TOEFL-Internet-based (iBT)-overall 88, with a minimum of 22 in each component: Reading 22; Listening 22; Speaking 22; Writing 22; OR Duolingo English Test (DET) Overall 120, minimum of 120 in Literacy and no score below 105.
Not sure if you meet all of the requirements? Academic Upgrading may be able to help with that: https://www.algonquincollege.com/access/.
Should the number of qualified applicants exceed the number of available places, applicants will be selected on the basis of their proficiency in English.
Application Information
SOCIAL SERVICE WORKER
Program Code 0432X01FWO
Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:
ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, Ontario N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228
Students currently enrolled in an Ontario secondary school should notify their Guidance Office prior to their online application at www.ontariocolleges.ca.
Applications for Fall Term and Winter Term admission received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.
International applicants please visit this link for application process information: https://algonquincollege.force.com/myACint/.
For further information on the admissions process, contact:
Registrar`s Office
Algonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Ave
Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
Telephone: 613-727-0002
Toll-free: 1-800-565-4723
TTY: 613-727-7766
Fax: 613-727-7632
Contact: https://www.algonquincollege.com/ro
Additional Information
Program Resources
The social service worker field requires mature, flexible workers who commit to personal wellness and self-care as well as the principles of social justice and anti-oppression. This demanding program places students in learning environments and in contact with emotionally challenging situations. This may be unsettling to those who are in current recovery for mental health, abuse or addiction problems. As such, we encourage prospective students to reflect upon their readiness to meet these demands.
This full-time day program is offered at the Ottawa and Pembroke campuses. While the learning outcomes at the two campuses are the same, subject delivery is reflective of the local circumstances which affect program delivery.
There is also an Intensive offering delivered at the Ottawa Campus. This program is for individuals who have completed a degree or diploma (from an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology) in the humanities. Degrees outside of the humanities may be considered on an individual basis.
Social Service Worker is a registered professional title which may only be used by members in good standing of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). This relates to Ontario legislation entitled The Social Work and Social Service Worker Act. Graduates of the Social Service Worker program are required by law to join the OCSWSSW after graduation in order to use this professional title. The OCSWSSW grants or denies membership. Visit www.ocswssw.org for more information.
Field Placement Requirements:
Health Requirements:
The physical and emotional health of each applicant to the program must be such that he or she can successfully cope with the program of instruction including the demands of field placement (e.g. stress and time management). Individuals who have concerns about their ability to meet these requirements should contact the coordinator of the program prior to submitting an application.
Students accepted into the Social Service Worker program provide evidence of full and complete immunizations. The Algonquin College Health Services will review the student`s record of immunization and provide authorization for entry into field placement. Field placement agencies require the Hepatitis B vaccine and the Influenza vaccine.
Police Records Check:
Successful completion of field placement is a requirement for graduation from the Social Service Worker program. Agencies that provide placement opportunities may require you to have a clear Police Records Check for Service with the Vulnerable Sector (PRCSVS). Your acceptance for placement is at the discretion of the agency. To be eligible for placement, you must submit proof of a PRCSVS, which will be retained on your departmental file and used only for purposes related to your placement. You will be required to disclose the contents of the PRCSVS, including all notations, to the placement agencies. It is your responsibility to obtain the PRCSVS from your local Police department prior to the deadline identified by your Department and to pay any associated costs. It may take a long time to obtain this documentation; please submit your application as early as possible. If you register in the program and do not have a clear PRCSVS and as a result are unable to participate in placement, you will not be able to graduate. Students under the age of 18 years cannot obtain a PRCSVS. Upon the age of majority being reached this will be required. Students should be prepared to update their PRCSVS every six months. Should you require further information, contact the Program Chair.
First Aid and CPR:
Students must obtain First Aid and CPR level C certificate in order to be eligible for field placement.
Contact
Vicky Green
Program Coordinator
Room C230
Vicky Green is an alumni of the Social Service Worker program( 1991) and went on to complete her Bachelor of Social Work (1995) and Masters of Social Work (2007) from Carleton University. She has been teaching at the college since 1999 on a part time basis. In 2014 she was hired on as full time member of the Social Service Worker faculty team. She has coordinated both the intensive and two year Social Service Worker program since 2014.
Vicky has over 27 years of experience in the social service field . She has worked as a child protection worker with the Children’s Aid Society as well as in the volunteer sector at Citizen Advocacy . Vicky left her role at St. Mary’s Home in July 2014 having functioned in the roles of Residential Director and Director of Client Services at St. Mary’s Home and Community Outreach Centre to join the college on a full time basis. Vicky has a passion for teaching, an intense curiosity to know why things work the way they do and a desire to mentor and impart the knowledge she has gained over her career with her students.
Yvan Trottier
Professor
Room C230
Yvan Trottier completed Bachelors of Psychology and Criminology (1995) and a Masters of Social Work (1997) from the University of Ottawa. He has been teaching at the college since 2020 on a part time basis. In 2023, he was hired on as full-time member of the Social Service Worker faculty team.
Yvan has over 25 years of experience in the social service field. He has worked in front line and management roles in child welfare (Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa), medical social work (CHEO), psychotherapy (University of Ottawa), all while being an active member of his community.
Yvan perceives it as a remarkable opportunity, following several years of professional experience, to impart his acquired knowledge and expertise to a new cohort of aspiring social service professionals. By bridging theoretical concepts with practical experiences in the field, he endeavors to equip students with comprehensive preparation for a rewarding vocation in a helping profession.