Social Service Worker (Fast Track)

The Social Service Worker (Fast Track) is a 10-month Ontario College Diploma program for graduate students to start serving the community. You will build on your knowledge of human behaviour, social problems, and gain proven techniques to prepare you for social service work.

Graduates will be prepared to work in community development, crisis intervention, and anti-violence, corrections, addictions and education settings.

Your Learning Experience

The Social Service Worker (Fast Track) program provides an opportunity for university graduates (Psychology, Sociology or Social Work related) and community college Community Studies diploma graduates to complete the requirements for graduation from the Social Service Worker program in three levels.

Over 10-months, you will build a sound knowledge of human behaviour and psychology, individual and social problems, and learn proven techniques to prepare you for social service work in social agencies and social welfare programs.

You’ll work with supportive, friendly and experienced faculty and advisors who are committed to help you succeed, and you’ll take part in role-plays, counseling labs and case studies, and take in presentations from professional social workers and clients.

You’ll gain invaluable experience in a variety of field placements in London, with its extensive social service and health community resources. When you graduate, you will begin your career with the practical skills and hands-on experience required to be successful in this in-demand field. 

• Graduates from the Social Service Worker program are eligible for admission to The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and must be members of this regulating body to use the professional title "Registered Social Service Worker".
• Students who graduate from this program and wish to transfer to another Community Studies program at Fanshawe College, may qualify for some internal credits that have already been achieved.

Career Information

Graduates of Fanshawe’s Social Service Worker program have found employment in many settings from group homes and shelters to health care clinics and youth programs. as well as a wide variety of other social agencies and government departments.

The search for social work positions is competitive and the graduate must be prepared to search diligently on his/her own behalf. Additional job search assistance is provided by the College's Career Services Department.

Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario? Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Social Service Worker program:

Mental Health Worker

Provide short-term support to ensure the safety of individuals in need, encouraging empowerment and crisis resolution while maintaining a calm and respectful environment.

Caseworker

Respond to inquiries providing program information to a diverse clientele, the public, advocacy groups and agencies.

Youth Shelter Team Leader

Provide leadership while overseeing activities of the shelter, including case management, recruitment and selection, professional development and monthly statistical reporting.

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Develop respectful and collaborative professional and interpersonal relationships that adhere to professional, legal, and ethical standards aligned to social service work;
• 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;
• 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;
• 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;
• 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;
• 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;
• 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;
• Develop strategies and approaches to implement and maintain holistic self-care as a member of a human service profession;
• 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;
• 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.