A social service worker (SSW) helps people overcome personal and social challenges by offering supporting counselling and connecting them with resources. Prepare for a rewarding career fostering positive change in individuals, groups and communities.

 

An SSW assists individuals who are experiencing social and personal challenges. Acknowledging the root causes may be societal in nature, resulting from the social determinants of health such as marginalization, oppression, stigma, colonization, and intergenerational trauma. Having acquired knowledge of human behaviour and development, the worker, through supportive counselling helps empower service recipients to make positive changes that effects individuals, groups, and communities. The SSW uses helper skills to empower individuals in obtaining resources that may enable them to improve upon their existing strengths. Services may include financial aid, counselling and life skills support. 

 

SSWs work with adults, seniors, children, families and youth in need of support. Prepare for a variety of job opportunities: 

• Case workers. 
• Social service positions with municipal, provincial and federal governments. 
• Front-line workers in group homes, employment offices, corrections, residential treatment programs, community agencies, business and industry. 
• An SSW may specialize in a particular field such as health, welfare, family services, immigration, employment, children’s services, education, gerontology, community outreach, addictions, mental health, income supports, or correctional services. 
• Social service worker is a registered professional title that may only be used by members in good standing of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.