Current Size: 100%
Social Service Worker |
School of Social & Community Services |
Program Availability |
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Type:
Diploma
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Campus:
Lakeshore, Orangeville
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Program Code:
01221 |
Length:
Humber Lakeshore Campus
Four semesters, beginning in September
Humber Orangeville Campus
Four semesters, beginning in September
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CONTACT INFORMATION: Linda Hill, BSc, MA, program co-ordinator | 416.675.6622 ext. 3255 | linda.hill@humber.ca
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Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.
Additional Requirements
Employers who provide field placement opportunities may require students to undergo a Police Record Check for criminal offences, and mandatory bonding is a requirement for some sectors of the corrections field. It is important for potential students to understand that the requirements noted above are beyond the control of Humber and may prevent students from completing the full program, including the field placement component, and/or securing employment. Applicants are advised to check the requirements for specific positions in which they are interested before enrolling in this program. Faculty will support students upon arrival to the program to ensure they apply for the correct type of police documentation.
$400 – supplies (per semester), transportation costs to and from field placement (varies).
Semester 1 | ||
| Course Code | Course | Credits |
| COMM 200 | College Writing SkillsCollege Writing SkillsCourse Code: COMM 200 Credits: 3 College Writing Skills emphasizes elements of the writing process. Although subject matter and format may change from one program to another, the skills necessary for effective writing remain the same, as do the professional standards that all Humber students are expected to attain.
Students will practice the reading and writing skills that will be valuable in their college programs and build a strong base for professional business writing. Those students who plan to further their studies will develop the fundamental skills for writing acceptable academic English.
To help students reach these goals, the course covers the following: analytical reading and critical thinking; essay organization and development; and the elements of clear writing, including grammar and punctuation skills.
To complete COMM 200 successfully, students must produce writing that meets or surpasses the minimum departmental standards as set out in the attached criterion sheet.
| 3 |
| HUMA 024 | Humanities: An Introduction to Arts and ScienceHumanities: An Introduction to Arts and ScienceCourse Code: HUMA 024 Credits: 3 The Humanities course focuses on fundamental questions individuals ask of themselves as they proceed through life. Why are we the way we are? Do we have free will or are we prisoners of our past experience or our biological inheritance? What motivates societies to change? Why do societal changes so often divide people into opposing camps? Why do so many people find contemporary life at home, at work, and in the community unfulfilling? What constitutes good government? How should injustice be fought? Can nations successfully deal with global problems? What is science and how does it differ from other kinds of inquiry? Can scientists provide solutions to the problems we face? What is art and does it offer answers of its own? What is its relationship to beauty, to knowledge, and to ethics? Is objectivity about art (or anything) possible? These questions are organized into units that begin with issues concerning the nature of the individual and then extend outward to various social, cultural and physical contexts.
The issues explored in this course are too complex to have any one right answer. Rather, individuals must search for answers that make sense of their experiences via various theoretical perspectives. The Humanities course supports this endeavour through study of different thinkers presented in the readings and exploration of different points of view explored in class discussions.
ESL students should consider taking the ESL Humanities course. Students may transfer into
ESL Humanities (HESL 024) either at the Registrar?s Office or the School of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Office (K201) on a first-come, first-served basis before the Last Day to Add. | 3 |
| SSW. 101 | Urban SociologyUrban SociologyCourse Code: SSW. 101 Credits: 3 In this course students will develop a basic sociological framework within which to define and analyze social problems, their causes, and their relationships to particular groups and sub-populations living in urban areas. Students will examine how social problems can have an impact upon the life and life chances of individuals and groups in the larger Canadian society. How individuals and groups cope with these social problems, and what experts say can be done to address them will also be discussed. Socio-economic and environmental factors will be considered from the perspective of how they contribute to - or detract from - people's lives, as will deeper structures such as race, class, gender, sexual orientation, age, and disability. How social services workers can apply these analytical skills to their work with clients who live in urban areas will be an important part of class discussions. | 3 |
| SSW. 102 | Human Growth and Behaviour (2 hours)Human Growth and Behaviour (2 hours)Course Code: SSW. 102 Credits: 3 A combination of human growth developmental theory and family dynamics theory will begin this course. Growth patterns will be studied as a framework for differentiating typical and atypical behaviour. Development beginning with conception/genetics and ending with adolescence will be discussed. Woven throughout this material will be family dynamic issues and struggles; family scripts, legacies and secrets. The impact of family structure, boundaries, attachment, traditions and cultural issues will be explored. | 3 |
| SSW. 103 | Orientation to Human ServicesOrientation to Human ServicesCourse Code: SSW. 103 Credits: 3 This course introduces first-semester students to the purpose, value base, principles, and methods of generalist social work practice. Students will have the opportunity to explore their own personal values and life experiences in the context of social work and the broader society. | 3 |
| SSW. 105 | Interpersonal SkillsInterpersonal SkillsCourse Code: SSW. 105 Credits: 3 This course is designed to introduce students to the communications processes that characterize the human services field and to professional practice issues tied to the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers. This course will focus on effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills which are essential in order to function effectively as a social service worker. Focus will be on the factors that influence the ways in which professionals are seen by clients and fellow workers. Boundary issues, anger and conflict resolution, giving constructive feedback, practicing tolerance and suspending judgment, taking personal responsibility for behaviour, and learning how to express difficult emotions appropriately will all be covered. In addition, there will be discussions of how students can begin the process of self-reflection in order to provide more effective support to clients and gain insights into their own behaviour and attitudes. The impact of cultural and gender issues on interpersonal skills will be discussed throughout the course. | 3 |
| SSW. 106 | Field Practice OrientationField Practice OrientationCourse Code: SSW. 106 Credits: 3 The purpose of this course is for students to become familiar with the field of social services and their role as future social services workers. Students will learn skills that they will need for their field practice placements that include the Social Work Standards of Practice, the scope of practice, impression management, effective communication, presentation and the effective use of community resources to assist clients. Students will be learning and practicing the ongoing process of becoming more self-aware and of recognizing the significance of this skill as a social services worker. | 3 |
Semester 2 | Course Code | Course | Credits |
| COMM 300 | Business Writing SkillsBusiness Writing SkillsCourse Code: COMM 300 Credits: 3 Business Writing Skills introduces students to the strategies of effective written workplace communication. This course is designed to build on and reinforce the writing skills developed in COMM 200 and requires students to apply these skills to vocationally relevant assignments. Students will learn how to select and organize pertinent information according to purpose and audience and will practise presenting their ideas clearly, precisely, and effectively in various written formats. To complete COMM 300 successfully, students must produce writing that meets or surpasses the minimum departmental standards as set out in the criterion sheet. | 3 |
| SSW. 200 | Group Work SkillsGroup Work SkillsCourse Code: SSW. 200 Credits: 3 Group work is an important part of social services work, whatever the setting. Individuals, small groups, and communities may become empowered through working in groups. This course provides the opportunity to develop the self-awareness, knowledge and skills to work effectively in small groups. | 3 |
| SSW. 202 | Interviewing Skills 1Interviewing Skills 1Course Code: SSW. 202 Credits: 3 This course will introduce students to theoretical concepts and practical skills necessary to assist clients in defining their problems and identifying desired outcomes. Students will be introduced to the theoretical foundations of various models of counselling, as well as basic active listening skills. Focus will be placed on learning how to help clients identify and emphasize their strengths, through searching for positive assets related to concerns, issues and problem resolution. Learning to facilitate client self-empowerment and development will be done by acquiring additional skills in the effective use of questions, observation and reflection of feelings, and a broader understanding of the client's behaviour and communication style. Learning outcomes will be achieved through the use of lecture, discussion, experiential exercises and presentation of audiovisual resources. | 3 |
| SSW. 203 | Field Practice 1 (14 hours)Field Practice 1 (14 hours)Course Code: SSW. 203 Credits: 7 In Field Practice 1 students will have the opportunity to take part in the day-to-day operations of a social services agency. They will work under the direct supervision of a professional staff person, have the opportunity to observe social services procedures and practices, and take part in serving clients with direction from agency staff. Students will also be expected to maintain a record of their placement activities through the submission of a field contract, time sheets, and bi-weekly logs. | 7 |
| SSW. 204 | Family DynamicsFamily DynamicsCourse Code: SSW. 204 Credits: 3 The dynamics of healthy families and those that are struggling, family scripts and family legacies will be explored in this course. The impact of power relationships and how these contribute to family violence will also be outlined. How families are structured, boundary and attachment issues, as well as cultural issues and traditions will also be examined. How marital relationships can contribute to or detract from children's functioning will also be explored. The dark power of family secrets, scapegoating, and grief issues in families will be discussed, as well as divorce and its aftermath. | 3 |
| SSW. 205 | Integrative Seminar 1Integrative Seminar 1Course Code: SSW. 205 Credits: 1 Integrative Seminar provides an opportunity for students to discuss problems, issues, situations, and developments that occur in field practice, and to integrate learning acquired from academic courses with practical experiences in the field. In a peer setting, students are able to share experiences, problem solve, and provide each other with feedback and support. | 1 |
| SSW. 400 | Cross Cultural Skills (2 hours)Cross Cultural Skills (2 hours)Course Code: SSW. 400 Credits: 3 This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to appreciate and understand the knowledge, attitudes, and basic skills that are necessary in the development and delivery of effective social services to a diverse urban population. Students will learn about how culture influences their own personal values and beliefs as well as that of their clients and how similarities and differences in values and beliefs can lead to conflict. To promote effective interventions that promote advocacy and client empowerment students will examine both the multi-cultural as well as the anti-oppression frameworks to service delivery and intervention. | 3 |
Semester 3 | Course Code | Course | Credits |
| SSW. 201 | Political ProcessPolitical ProcessCourse Code: SSW. 201 Credits: 3 This course is designed to provide a basic introduction to the issues of power and wealth in Canadian society, and their relationship to the formal political system of government. The course will examine the interplay between government decision makers and the different influencers on government decision-makers outside of government, and the resulting political decisions which shape people's everyday lives and communities. | 3 |
| SSW. 301 | Special Needs PopulationsSpecial Needs PopulationsCourse Code: SSW. 301 Credits: 3 The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the personal and structural issues confronting people who have special needs. Using an empowerment approach which stresses the perspective of labelled or otherwise disadvantaged people, students will learn about how to work effectively with older adults, and people with labels like: psychiatric disorder, physical disability, developmental disability, cognitive disorder, eating disorder, substance abuse, and family violence survivor. Students will be expected to conform to the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics in the classroom and in their coursework. | 3 |
| SSW. 302 | Field Practice 2 (14 hours)Field Practice 2 (14 hours)Course Code: SSW. 302 Credits: 7 Field Practice 2 is intended to provide students with an in-depth experience of front-line work in a human services agency under direct supervision. Students will learn how their agency works, how to serve clients effectively, how to develop work habits which make them an asset to the agency, and how to navigate moral, ethical, clinical, and political issues as they emerge in their placements. Students will learn how to work well as part of a team, and how to effectively use supervision. Students will be expected to maintain a record of their placement activities through the submission of a field learning contract, time sheets and regular journals. | 7 |
| SSW. 303 | Integrative Seminar 2Integrative Seminar 2Course Code: SSW. 303 Credits: 1 Integrative Seminar 2 is intended to give students in field placement the opportunity to meet every other week to discuss issues, concerns and developments in their field placements. Students will be asked to discuss issues related to their professional practice, how they perform as social service workers in placement, how they relate to their supervisors and co-workers and how to address clinical or practical issues as they arise. Students will take responsibility for much of the material in this course by raising their own placement issues; however, faculty will ensure that specific practice issues, as outlined below, are covered during the seminar period. | 1 |
| SSW. 306 | Interviewing Skills 2Interviewing Skills 2Course Code: SSW. 306 Credits: 3 Students in this course will be introduced to theoretical concepts and skills to assist their clients in defining their strengths, identifying needs and desired personal outcomes from within an anti-oppression framework. Basic active listening skills for counselling to help clients identify their strengths, foster self-advocacy and self-determination by engaging in positive assets search will be central to this course. Emphasis will be placed on barrier analysis as well as learning how to focus on clients' concerns, and issues, and specifically on processes of facilitating resolution by accessing appropriate resources. Learning to facilitate client self-empowerment and development will involve students in analyzing contextual, structural or psychosocial factors from within an integrated anti-oppression framework. This course will provide opportunities to integrate theory and application of concepts and skills through experiential exercises and role-plays. | 3 |
| SSW. 421 | Community DevelopmentCommunity DevelopmentCourse Code: SSW. 421 Credits: 3 The purpose of this course is to enable students to acquire the skills needed to achieve constructive social change through the process of community organizing. Both theories and practical applications will be discussed with a focus on the values of community work, power and how social structures are maintained and challenged, key objectives and approaches to organizing and the practical skills needed to organize around local and global issues. | 3 |
Semester 4 | Course Code | Course | Credits |
| GNED 000 | General Education ElectiveGeneral Education ElectiveCourse Code: GNED 000 Credits: 3 The following courses represent the GNED General Education electives that you can choose from as part of your program's curriculum. Anthropology | 3 |
| SSW. 300 | Agency Administration and FundraisingAgency Administration and FundraisingCourse Code: SSW. 300 Credits: 3 The Agency Administration and Fundraising course will provide students with an overview of the non-profit sector and an understanding of how social services agencies are governed and managed. The course will review the structure of funding, as it currently exists in Ontario, and how to access government, corporations, and foundations as part of an organization's overall funding strategy. Students will learn how to prepare fundraising plans and funding proposals. | 3 |
| SSW. 304 | Current Social Policy IssuesCurrent Social Policy IssuesCourse Code: SSW. 304 Credits: 3 This course is designed to develop knowledge and understanding of the current status and future choices concerning Canada's social welfare system. The course will encourage students to understand current social and economic trends and their impacts on social welfare programs within a historical context. Students will learn how to analyze social policies and their consequences for community members, social service workers, nonprofit organizations, and government. | 3 |
| SSW. 401 | Legislation in Human ServicesLegislation in Human ServicesCourse Code: SSW. 401 Credits: 3 This course is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of the role of the law in social work, and to equip them with sufficient knowledge of the law to assist them in their roles as advocates or case managers. Students will learn to recognize when someone's legal rights, or their rights to dignity and equality have been violated and how to challenge these violations effectively. Students will learn what their rights and obligations are as defined by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers. | 3 |
| SSW. 402 | Field Practice 3 (14 hours)Field Practice 3 (14 hours)Course Code: SSW. 402 Credits: 7 An opportunity for students to practice social service work on a regular basis in an agency setting under the supervision of a practitioner in the human service field. Students will also learn how to clearly and objectively record their activities. | 7 |
| SSW. 403 | Integrative Seminar 3Integrative Seminar 3Course Code: SSW. 403 Credits: 1 Integrative Seminar provides an opportunity for students to discuss problems and situations that arise in field practice, and to integrate learning acquired from academic courses with practical experiences. It is an opportunity to discuss a range of topics, which will include, but not be limited to the following: legal and ethical issues in social work practice; using supervision appropriately; boundary issues with clients and co-workers; broader systemic issues; dealing with personal and professional limitations; and self-care. Students will also reflect upon how their field practice work can be presented to potential employers in the field. | 1 |
| SSW. 407 | Case Management/ AdvocacyCase Management/ AdvocacyCourse Code: SSW. 407 Credits: 3 Learners will be taught the skills required to effectively promote the full integration of disadvantaged people into the mainstream of community life, using an empowerment model of case management. This involves introducing learners to empowerment theory and its implications for practice, highlighting legal and ethical issues, and developing critical awareness of systemic issues. Empowerment practices taught in this course will include the development of an empowerment plan based upon clients' strengths, as well as building informal supports and increasing community capacity for inclusion. Students will also learn advocacy skills that include an understanding of power relations, and recognize the importance of self-care as an ethical issue in case management and advocacy practice. | 3 |
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