Social Service Worker – Certificate

Program Details

Length: 9 months

Total Credits: 42

Intake Terms: Fall

Delivery Method: In-person

Campus: Castlegar

Credential: Certificate

Cost:

Approximate program cost

Student Loans:

This program is eligible for student loans

Credential Received

Certificate in Social Service Worker

Overview

Program Summary

Your sense of caring may have come naturally, or perhaps your life has been touched by circumstances that kindle a sense of empathy and a desire to be of service. If you have a desire to support people in times of need and crisis, a career in social services may be for you. Up to 90% of our Social Service Worker (SSW) graduates find stable, satisfying work. A shortage of workers is predicted over the next five years.

Choose SSW if you:

Want to help build healthy communities
Have a strong desire to support others
Believe in caring for others
Feel a sense of duty to your community
Want to work with marginalized populations

Social work values form the foundation of this beneficial and rewarding program.

Program Benefits

Practical interviewing and counselling skills
Development of written and oral communication
Promotion of self-awareness, personal growth and readiness for practice
Critical thinking, team-building and problem-solving skills
Individual, group and family strategy skills
Feminist and Indigenous approaches to practice are introduced
Anti-oppressive perspectives are a foundation of the program

This program prepares you to work as entry level practitioner in the human services field.

Practicums include a variety of services and programs serving a wide range of populations that includes people who live in poverty, are young, are aging, have substance use and/or mental health problems, have behavioral problems, or other issues that interfere with their ability to cope successfully in a demanding society.

You will have the opportunity to demonstrate skills that include advocacy, child and youth care, employment supports, substance use awareness, group facilitation, community support and individual support, and problem-solving and communication skills.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

Demonstrate professionalism in practice consistent with the code of ethics and standards of practice of their respective disciplines
Use effective interpersonal skills, including active listening, collaboration, self-awareness and conflict resolution within multi-faceted roles and contexts
Understand and respect cultural differences and multiple ways of knowing
Practice from an ethic of inclusivity
Establish and maintain wellness strategies to assure work/life balance both personally and professionally
Engage in critical thinking, problem-solving and reflective practice

Program Admission Requirements

Academic Requirements

Completion of English Studies 12 or equivalent with a minimum of 60% or higher
Applicants who have previously completed a related certificate and are returning for entry into the second year of a Human Services Diploma are required to provide evidence of completion of a certificate in ECCE, EACSW, SSW or equivalent within the last five years. Acceptance for those who graduated prior to five years will be based on evidence of work in the human service field and/or professional development.
The College Readiness Tool (CRT) must be completed prior to starting the program. If you have completed the assessment previously at Selkirk, it's not necessary to do it again. Please see CRT for more information.

Additional Requirements

An official copy of all secondary and post-secondary transcripts
Two completed personal reference forms
A 30 hour work experience form completed by a supervisor who has observed the applicant in a volunteer or paid work situation is required
Proof of a negative tuberculosis test or of a clear chest x-ray that is less than 6 months old for those who have been requested to have this from our community partners
A current criminal record check from the Ministry of Justice. Some types of criminal records may limit or prohibit acceptance in field placement; acceptance into field placement is a requirement for program promotion
Current résumé
Personal Statement of interest (250 words)
An orientation session is required and will be arranged by the program designate

Basic computer skills are required for this program. Necessary skills include knowledge of internet, email, word processing and file management. You are encouraged to complete the Computer Skills Self-Assessment.

APPLICATION PROCESS

1. CERTIFICATE, ADVANCED CERTIFICATE& DIPLOMA PROGRAMS

Students applying to the diploma program immediately following completion of a Human Services Certificate Program, may request that the contents of their file be transferred.

2. PART-TIME STUDIES IN HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS

a) Acceptance to an individual course does not constitute admission to the program. All program admissions will be considered according to Part I, A: Admissions Requirements.

b) The ECCE, EACSW, SSW Certificate programs and the Human Services Diploma program may be completed on a part-time basis depending on number of spaces available. Students choosing to complete a program on a part time basis must meet with a program coordinator, councillor and/or School Chair at the time of acceptance to plan a course of studies.

c) Students who have been accepted for part time studies and are in good standing academically will normally be accepted upon re-application to the next term. Refer to Part II, Section B, Promotions re: academic requirements.

Graduation and Promotion

In order to receive your credential in your program, you must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.00 and a minimum of 60% or better in all semester courses.

B. PROMOTION

1. In order to progress to the next semester, the following requirements must be met.

a) Completion of all courses in the semester with a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 2.00 and a grade of a “C” or better in all semester courses.

b) Promotion to the second year of the Diploma program requires a cumulative GPA of 2.33 during the first year of studies or School Chair approval

2. Promotion to practicum will be determined by the following criteria:

a) A grade of "C" or better in all required courses as defined in Part II, C, Graduation Requirements.

b) Some types of criminal records may limit or prohibit a student's acceptance in field placement agencies. Ability to be accepted into field placement is a requirement for admission and promotion.

3. A student’s performance will be reviewed by program faculty when:

a) Grades in one or more courses fall below a “C”.

b) Unacceptable behaviour, inappropriate interpersonal skills, and/or patterns of absence are displayed (as outlined in program policies).

c) On probation.

4. Considerations for practicum placement:

a) Practicum placements are normally completed within the College region.

b) To avoid a conflict of interest, students are expected to inform instructors of agencies where family and/or personal connections exist.

c) Practicum placements will be arranged by a program instructor.

d) Agency staff will be informed if a student has refused to sign a waiver authorizing the College to share personal information about the student with agency staff.

5. Students will not be placed in practicum based on the following:

a) The student has not demonstrated readiness for practicum placement.

b) Two agencies refuse to accept the student in practicum placement.

c) The student lacks means of transportation.

6. Practicum evaluation will be based on:

a) A review of the student's performance in relation to stated course competencies.

b) A joint review comprised of college instructor, agency supervisor and student.

c) Completed practicum assignments.

In order to graduate with Honors students must meet all program requirements with no grades less than a B- and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Program Courses

After successful completion of the year one program courses you may ladder into one of the Diploma programs.

Term 1

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours

Required courses

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours
ENGL110	College Composition	3.00	45
FAM180	Family Dynamics	3.00	45
HSER174	Interpersonal Communications	3.00	45
PSYC100	Introductory Psychology I	3.00	60
SSW160	Introduction to Social Work I	3.00	45
SSW162	Community Resources	3.00	45

Term 2

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours

Required courses

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours
ADD184	Introduction to Addictions	3.00	45
ENGL111	Introduction to Literature	3.00	45
PSYC101	Introductory Psychology II	3.00	60
SSW157	Group Skills	3.00	45
SSW161	Introduction to Social Policy	3.00	45
SSW163	Field Work I	4.00	112
SSW166	Application of Theory to Practice	1.00	15

Term 3

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours

Required courses

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours
SSW168	Field Work II	5.00	175

Additional Program Policies

Effective Term: Fall

Effective Year: 20240801

Advanced Standing:

ADVANCE OR TRANSFER CREDIT

a) Transfer credit will be given for university transfer courses equivalent to Selkirk College courses, providing a grade of "C" or better was achieved.

b) Applications for transfer credit from other ECCE, SSW or EACSW programs will be reviewed with provincial articulation agreements and considered on an individual basis; applicants may be required to provide detailed course outlines.

PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT (PLA)

a) Advance credit in core program courses (i.e., SSW, ECCE, EACSW and HSER) may be granted by the School Chair or designate after evaluation of the applicant’s mastery of course objectives. See program specific guidelines for PLA.

b) Credit for Final Practicum will not be awarded through PLA in Human Services programs.

Re-Entry Instructions:

1. An application is required for enrolment in program courses in subsequent years.

2. Normally, students who must interrupt their program may apply for re-admission, within one year of departure, on the basis of the following priorities:

a) Students in good standing who interrupted their program for illness or other personal reasons.

b) Students who failed to meet program requirements for promotion.

c) Students transferring from another program within BC.

3. Students who fail to complete a semester successfully may apply to re-enter and repeat the incomplete semester when it is next offered. (Normally, there is a period of 12 months between offerings of a course or semester.)

4. Normally, a student returning in one year or less will retain full credit for all courses previously completed. After more than one year's absence, students may be required to update or repeat courses previously completed. A grade of "C" or credit granted in each repeated course is required for re-entry.

5. Students who withdraw for medical or psychological reasons will provide evidence to the School Chair from a licensed practitioner regarding the suitability of his/her return to the program.

6. Students must complete the program in its entirety within 60 calendar months from the time of initial entry into the program.

7. Students who have successfully completed their Selkirk College Human Services certificate within the previous year are considered to be a re-entry student.

8. Re-entry full-time students who have successfully completed their previous year are given priority over part time students.

Grading Table: Other

Grading Table: Grading for theory courses will be as per the Standard Academic and Career Grading Table as defined in Selkirk College Policy 8612 Grading. Grading for practicum courses will be as per the Competency Based Grades as defined in Selkirk College Policy 8612 Grading.

Types of Assessments:

Assignments

(i) A minimum of three evaluative events will occur as specified in course outlines.

(ii) Students are evaluated and graded in each subject or course topic as indicated in the respective course outline.

(iii) Assignments are due on the date stated on course or assignment outlines. A student may request one extension per course. The request must be made in writing no less than 24 hours before the due date. If the instructor grants permission for the extension the revised due date will be determined by the instructor.

(iv) Under extenuating circumstances further requests for extensions may be granted only after the student has participated in a mandatory consultation with the Department Head of Student Access and Support or designate and has presented the instructor with a written plan outlining how they intend to complete their work in a timely manner.

(v) A penalty of 10% per day will be assessed against late assignments. All assignments must be handed in by the last day of classes in order to achieve a passing grade and advance to the practicum.

(vi) All course assignments must be completed to achieve a passing grade.

(vii) All assignments must be typed.

(viii) Students may, at the discretion of the instructor, rewrite a maximum of one assignment per course. Rewrites must be submitted for marking within 14 calendar days of the return of the original assignment to the student. Rewritten assignments will receive a maximum grade of 75%.

(ix) Students are expected to write tests on the designated dates. If, for legitimate absences, the student misses a test, he/she must write the test as soon as possible with the permission of the instructor.

Examinations

(i) Exams, labs, projects, assignments, and other evaluative activities are weighted and averaged as indicated in the respective course outline.

(ii) No single evaluative event shall be worth more than 50% of the final grade.

(iii) For courses involving practicum placements (ECCE 195, 286, 292, 294; SSW 163, 168; EASC 195, 196; HSER 270, 280) evaluation occurs on a continuous basis and graded CRG or NCG as per the Competency Based Selkirk Grading Table in Selkirk College Policy 8612 Grading. All practicum activities may be considered evaluative events. Informal verbal and/or written feedback is regularly provided by the instructor and practicum supervisors. Depending on the length of the course there may be one or more performance appraisals or evaluations.

Attendance:

1. Students absent for 20% or more in a given course may be placed on behavioural probation. If a student arrives more than 10 minutes late or leaves more than 10 minutes early, they may be recorded as absent.

2. Students absent from any courses are responsible for the work they have missed and must make up assignments as required.

3. Students are responsible to inform the instructor in advance of any absences.

4. Students participating in on-line classes are expected to access and read all materials posted on their course site. If any aspect of the course has not been opened and/or participated in the student will be considered absent for that class.

Professional Requirements:

1. Codes of Ethics and Competencies

Students are expected to know, understand and abide by the applicable Codes of Ethics:

a) Child and Youth Care Worker;

b) Social Service Worker;

c) Early Childhood Educator.

d) Education Assistant & Community Support Worker.

2. Guidelines for Professional Conduct

In addition students are expected to consistently demonstrate professional conduct based on the following guidelines:

e) exercise personal discipline, accountability and judgement,

f) accept personal responsibility for continued competency and learning,

g) assist and serve the public, client or patient and place them before oneself,

h) recognize the dignity and worth of all persons in any level of society,

i) assist others in learning,

j) recognize one’s own limitations and areas for development, and

k) maintain confidentiality of information appropriate to the purpose and trust given when that information is acquired.

Professional Conduct will be measured by: one’s professional abilities, personal integrity, and the attitude one demonstrates in relationship with others.

3. Students who violate these professional standards may be required to withdraw from their Program.

4. Students may be required to withdraw when ethical, medical or other reasons interfere with the satisfactory completion of their Program.

Other regulations:

RESPONSIBILITIES IN FIELD PRACTICUM PLACEMENTS

1. The selection of practicum placements is the responsibility of the program faculty. Students will not actively seek practicum sites.

2. Students will not provide transportation for clients while on practicum.

3. Students will not administer medications to clients while on practicum.

4. Students without supervision of agency staff will not be responsible for clients when off agency premises unless college instructor approval is given prior to the event. ECCE students, without supervision of agency staff will not be responsible under any circumstance for children off agency premises.