Student Experience

Practical assignments and projects

The Social Service Worker program at Algonquin College’s Waterfront Campus uses role-playing to prepare students for their interactions with clients, and group work and spirited dialogue to broaden their perspective of social issues. The theoretical classes, role-playing and practicum seminar discussions culminate into a knowledge base that can be applied in a practical way during their three field placements. Students are also engaged in planning projects that allow them to stage activities and events that address community needs or bring awareness to local and international social issues.

White Ribbon Campaign – The White Ribbon Campaign is an example of one of the projects our students have been involved in. Male students in the Social Service Worker program promoted a White Ribbon Campaign, a movement of men and boys who bring awareness about ending violence against women and girls. The movement also promotes gender equality, healthy relationships, and a new vision of masculinity. Don Davidson was one of the SSW students active in the White Ribbon campaign, encouraging students and staff to sign a pledge board. They pledged to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls. Don also designed a painting of a symbolic white ribbon with candles representing women who have been killed by violent men.

Gain hands-on experience in the field

Students in this program gain hundreds of hours of practical learning experiences within the social services field. These workplace experiences deepen the learning that occurs in the classroom and allow students to make valuable connections with employers. This further supports the development of students and enhances their employment prospects upon graduation. Students also have the opportunity to collaborate with students from other programs during an Interprofessional Mock Critical Incident Training Exercise on campus. Our students in the Social Service Worker, Practical Nursing, Police Foundations, Personal Support Worker, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Environmental Technician, and Applied Nuclear Science and Radiation Safety experience what it’s like to work collaboratively in a mock emergency situation. This exercise looks very real with student actors playing the role of victims, while other students actively participate as first responders to an emergency situation. Experiential learning at its best!

Mock Disaster Scenario Training Goals:

• Develop and maintain professional relationships that adhere to professional, legal, and ethical standards aligned to social service work.
• Advocate for appropriate access to resources to assist individuals, families and communities.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, supervisors, and community partners.
• Use a variety of thinking skills to anticipate and solve problems.
• Show respect for diverse opinions, values, belief systems, and contributions of others.
• Interact with others in groups or teams in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals.

“The Boys and Girls Club of Pembroke is very grateful for the wonderful partnership that we have with the Pembroke Campus. We have field placement students from the Social Service Worker program joining our team every year and we have been very pleased with the final outcome.

These students not only gain experience in their field, but they gain valuable skills within our organization: problem-solving, active listening, and conflict resolution to name a few. They also gain a very good understanding of what some of the barriers many of our families are facing within the community. We, on the other hand, gain an extra set of hands to help us carry out our day to day operations, a new perspective on what some of the challenges they are facing and an opportunity to learn and grow with them as they embark on their new career.

Some of the best employees that we have had working in our organization were graduates from the Social Service Worker Program. I would highly recommend to other managers/supervisors to consider this valuable program in their agency/organization.” – Rhodina Turner, Executive Director

Use your credits towards further study

Graduates of the program, who are interested in furthering their education, can also obtain advanced standing in university-level social work programs. These articulation agreements create opportunities for students to combine the best of a college and university education with the goal of expanding their career and employment aspirations.