# PROGRAM INFORMATION The Social Service Worker diploma is a two-year diploma program. Students will graduate ready to help individuals, families, and communities as they cope with and work through some of life's most stressful events. Through an anti-oppressive lens, the evidence-based curriculum delves into current soc | | | |---|---| | Type | PDF | | Size | 195 KB | [Open original PDF →](https://www.northerncollege.ca/uploads/2025/08/Social-Service-Worker-2025.pdf) Referenced from: [Program Outlines Archive](/pages/registrar-academic-resources/program-outlines-archive/) ## Document text ## PROGRAM INFORMATION Academic Year : 2025-2026 Credential : Ontario College Diploma Program Delivery : Full-Time Duration : 2 Years Length : 4 Semesters Program Code(s) : A007 - Timmins Campus (PC) A104 - Distance (CK) ## DESCRIPTION The Social Service Worker diploma is a two-year diploma program. Students will graduate ready to help individuals, families, and communities as they cope with and work through some of life's most stressful events. Through an anti-oppressive lens, the evidence-based curriculum delves into current social issues impacting our communities and provides students with the necessary interpersonal skills required to build and maintain relationships. Students will develop verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively engage service users in culturally appropriate, person-centered approaches. In our program, students are given opportunities to put theory into practice, using a collaborative approach, combined with professional labs. The final semester of the program is a 15-week placement in a social service agency. Social Service Workers focus on promoting equity and addressing oppression that people face based on race, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexuality, or age. Social Service Workers in our program will use their knowledge of systemic oppression, colonialism, and trauma to better understand the complexities inherent to the field of social services. Our program prepares students to work with people from diverse backgrounds who are experiencing stressful events in their lives from an anti-oppressive, trauma-informed perspective. ## Social Service Worker Distance (A104) Our distance Social Service Worker Program is offered completely online (A104). Important information to know before deciding if our online program is right for you: - Our SSW distance program is delivered through synchronous teaching (i.e., classes are scheduled throughout the week and students are expected to attend as scheduled). It is important to note that all classes that have lab components (and some others) have mandatory attendance and participation to be successful in the course. - Students who are in our distance program must have a working camera and microphone on their device. This is mandatory for our distance program as it will allow students to participate and engage with classmates and the course material as well as allow instructors to assess expected course outcomes. - Our distance students can do their placements in their city/town of their choice. Students are responsible for finding and securing their own placements. These placements will be approved by the placement coordinator prior to a student accepting. Placements are completed in the last semester of our program. Our Social Service Worker program is rewarding yet challenging. There are opportunities for students to complete the program on a part-time basis. 1 ## Social Service Worker Program Outline 2025-2026 ## CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Social Service Workers are commonly employed by government agencies and social service agencies. Graduates are eligible to register with Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Web site: http://www.ocswssw.org/. - Social service worker - Employed by social service and government agencies, mental health agencies, group homes, shelters, substance abuse centres, school boards, and correctional facilities. ## VOCATIONAL LEARNING OUTCOMES 1. Develop respectful and collaborative professional and interpersonal relationships that adhere to professional, legal, and ethical standards aligned to social service work. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. 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. 7. 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. 8. Develop strategies and approaches to implement and maintain holistic self-care as a member of a human service profession. 9. 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. 10. 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. 2 ## Social Service Worker Program Outline 2025-2026 ## PROGRAM COURSES The following reflects the planned course sequence for full-time offerings of the program for Fall 2025 intake. Programs at Northern 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. Please note, courses offered online are synchronous. | Semester 1 | Semester 1 | Hours | | --- Source: [https://www.northerncollege.ca/uploads/2025/08/Social-Service-Worker-2025.pdf](https://www.northerncollege.ca/uploads/2025/08/Social-Service-Worker-2025.pdf)