Diploma in Social Service Worker

at Seneca College - Yorkgate Campus Canada

The two- to three-semester Academic Upgrading program is for those who are missing requirements for a college certificate or diploma program. Upon completion, you may be ready to apply to a college-level program or enter into an apprenticeship.

The program offers you daytime or evening classes. You will work in single or multilevel courses, and benefit from the career counselling and assistance with college applications that you receive.

This one-year certificate program is designed to teach you how to effectively provide care and assistance to clients and families in order to live fulfilling lives in their communities and in institutions. As a student of this program, you will develop a broad range of abilities emphasizing value, true sensitivity and respect for the individuality of each client. You will also have the opportunity to participate in cross disciplinary and/or inter-professional learning opportunities with other members of the care and service team for example, Practical Nursing, Registered Nursing and Social Service Workers.

Skills
Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:

• Personal care and hygiene assistance
• Household and family management
• Meal preparation
• Medical assistance
• Palliative and restorative activities

Field Placement
As a student of this program, if you meet all the academic requirements, you will have the opportunity to participate in two field placements. Field placements are similar in length to an academic semester and typically involve full-time work hours that may be paid or unpaid.

The Personal Support Worker program will provide opportunities for experiential learning through the hands-on skills lab and 2 field placements (facility and community).

In this two-year diploma program you will gain the required knowledge and skills for the human service field and be challenged to examine your own values and beliefs to make a meaningful contribution to the profession. Your studies will include a range of topics in styles of lecture and tutorial-based, utilizing assigned texts which stress interpersonal skills, group dynamics, interviewing, counselling, relationship-building, community development and social policy. By combining your theoretical knowledge and field placement experiences you will also take part in a variety of classroom, seminar and experiential modalities. Upon graduation you will possess a comprehensive set of human service skills which are transferable to a wide range of settings and employment options.

Skills
Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:

• Counselling
• Effective membership and leadership in group settings
• Working with families
• Plan and evaluate programs
• Assess community resources
• Co-ordinate service delivery

Field Work
Over the course of your program, you will be required to complete a field work placement in a professional setting. This placement will help you explore roles in community, health, education and institutional environments. The minimum commitment is the successful completion of specific periods as set out in the field placement student contract. These periods are typically:

• The equivalent of two full days per week in semesters two, three and four
• Full week block placements as scheduled throughout the program duration

This three-year advanced diploma program will prepare you to become a marketing leader. You will learn to develop, integrate and execute marketing strategies for new and existing products and services. You will be challenged to be creative, analytical and tactical to identify, build and sustain a loyal customer base through unique marketing approaches.

Your learning will be further advanced through the use of innovative and applied delivery techniques such as problem-based learning, real-life projects and case study analysis.

Skills
Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:

• Technical proficiency
• Analytical skills
• Problem-solving
• Critical thinking
• Leadership skill

Optional Co-op
Students meeting all academic requirements may have the opportunity to complete an optional co-op work term(s) in a formal work environment. In most cases the work term(s) is a full-time paid position completed between two academic semesters. In programs with limited co-op opportunities, additional academic requirements and a passing grade on a communication assessment may be required for eligibility. Eligibility for participation does not guarantee a work position will be secured. Additional fees are required for those participating in the optional co-op stream regardless of success in securing a work position.