Learn via live instructor-led virtual lectures completed online, anywhere in Ontario.
The Community Services Worker program has been designed to provide graduates with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to administer and implement a variety of social and community-based service programs. Students will cultivate the knowledge and skills necessary for client assessment and support, and evaluating effectiveness of client treatment.
This program includes online instructor-led studies and requires on-the-job training through placements at a variety of social service agencies.
Main Duties
Community Services Workers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Interview clients to obtain case history and background information
- Assess clients’ relevant skill strengths and deficits
- Assist clients to sort out options and develop plans of action while providing necessary support and assistance
- Assist clients in locating and utilizing community resources including legal, medical and financial assistance, housing, employment, transportation, assistance with moves, day care and other referral services
- Prepare intake reports
- Counsel clients living in group homes and half-way houses, supervise their activities and assist in pre-release and release planning
- Participate in the selection and admission of clients to appropriate programs
- Assess and investigate eligibility for social benefits
- Meet with clients to assess their progress, give support and discuss any difficulties or problems
- Refer clients to other social services
- Advise and aid recipients of social assistance and pensions
- Provide crisis intervention and emergency shelter services
- Implement and organize the delivery of specific services within the community
- Implement life skills workshops, substance abuse treatment programs, behaviour management programs, youth services programs and other community and social service programs under the supervision of social services or health care professionals
- Assist in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment programs by tracking clients’ behavioural changes and responses to interventions
- Maintain contact with other social service agencies and health care providers involved with clients to provide information and obtain feedback on clients’ overall progress
- Co-ordinate the volunteer activities of human service agencies, health care facilities and arts and sports organizations
- Maintain program statistics for purposes of evaluation and research.
- May supervise social service support workers and volunteers.
Career College Versus Public Community College
What is different about attending a Career College like Gates College versus Public Community Colleges like Fleming College, Confederation College, Sault College or Durham College?
Gates College is registered as an Ontario Career College and programs are approved as vocational programs under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005 and follow the several amendments included in the Less Red Tape, Stronger Economy Act, 2023 (Effective, January 1, 2024*). Public Community Colleges such as Fleming College, Confederation College, Sault College and Durham College operate under a separate branch. There are benefits you may experience when attending an Ontario Career College like Gates College, that the Public Community Colleges may not offer.
For example:
- Small Class Sizes
- One course at a time Modular Based Learning
- Fixed Block Schedules
- Frequent Start Dates
- This program is currently being delivered in an Instructor-led online environment
A Gates College student will find that our Campuses and our On-Line experience is very student focused and always puts the students goal’s first!
Program Outline
Community Services Workers will learn how to:
- Counsel clients living in group homes and who are taking advantage of social service programs.
- Supervise clients’ activities and assist them in pre-release and release planning.
- Volunteer work involved in the field – you will understand how to coordinate volunteer activities for human service agencies, healthcare facilities, and art and sports organizations.
Program Includes courses in:
- Working with Addictions
- CPR and First Aid
- Group Work & Human Relations
- Psychology
- Introduction to Mental Health (will provide you with a secure foundation to work closely with clients who require legal, financial, housing, employment, and other services)
- Harm Reduction and Crisis Intervention
- Advanced Counselling
- Behaviour Modification
- 2-month community placement
