Social Service Diploma

Why Choose North Island College?

• Study abroad. With sufficient demand, Social Services diploma students may choose to participate in an international placement during their diploma year. Not only will you have a credential recognized locally, but you will also have the opportunity to study abroad!
• Want to go further? The diploma program provides transfer credit toward degrees in child and youth care as well as bachelor of social work programs throughout the province.
• A dynamic, caring community. As a student of the Social Services diploma, you will be able to participate in the student HSW Club and the Global Learning Initiative, which fosters a sense of community through local events, volunteer work and learning about global issues.
• Be prepared. A combination of university transfer and skill-based courses prepares students for employment or continuing studies. Supervised practice experiences are available to help you gain experience in your chosen field.
• Get connected. With the opportunity to develop professional networks and an extensive knowledge of local community resources, you’ll have the confidence and contacts you’ll need to pursue a great career.

Program Highlights

NIC's human services department and its programs are part of a provincial network that ensures not only high-quality instruction and programming, but also transferability throughout the province. The program has links with Vancouver Island University, Camosun College, Royal Roads University, and the University of Victoria through a Vancouver Island Collaborative Agreement, which fosters collaboration related to post secondary education and training needs throughout the region. The human services department at NIC also works closely with community agencies to ensure that course content is current, relevant, and valued by employers in the social services field.

Social service students at NIC will be exposed to a variety of community agencies helping children, youth and adults access services like financial assistance, parenting, employment, life skill acquisition or youth justice, as well as those that deal with family violence or substance abuse. They will also examine issues relating to inequality, social policy, human rights, multiculturalism, conflict management and community development.

The Social Service diploma program is offered over a two year period.

Using an anti-oppressive feminist framework, the first year includes a number of specific human service courses in interpersonal communications, social work practice, social policy, and advanced interpersonal communications. It also includes university studies classes which can be chosen from a variety of different areas, including but not limited to, sociology, psychology, criminology, history, women's studies, First Nations studies, and equity and social justice to name a few. At the end of the first year, students carry out a seven-week practicum placement in the community.

In the second year, students take more specialized courses in social services including family relationships, group practice, addictions, conflict resolution, community development, mental health and addictions, program planning and implementation, and law and social services. New courses are routinely developed and will be offered depending on community demand. In May/June, students carry out a final eight-week placement to obtain their diploma. Students may complete their final practicum in the community or pursue a study abroad opportunity, which are offered when demand permits.

Note: The Human Services Department is continually examining possibilities and emerging areas of practice for new course offerings to be offered rotationally within the second year.

Career Opportunities

Graduates work with individuals who are accessing services from a variety of agencies which provide assistance in areas such as financial assistance, parenting, employment, or life-skill acquisition, family violence, youth justice, mental health, substance abuse and a variety of other community based programs. Job titles may include, but would not be limited to, family support worker, outreach worker, transition house counsellor, employment counsellor, addictions support worker, youth worker, community development worker, crisis intervention counsellor, mental health worker.

Note: Prior experience or further training may be necessary to work in upper level social service positions.

Credit for Prior Learning

Students who have previous educational and work experiences related to human services may wish to complete a prior learning assessment (PLA). In order to qualify, applicants must have applied to the program, and met all the program requirements (with the exception of the resume and the readiness interview, which may be done after PLA application). Currently, applicants may request PLA credit for up to 75% of the program. The remaining 25% of the program must be completed at North Island College, and must include a minimum of two courses designated HSW. Applicants wishing to receive PLA credit towards the full-time program must normally have completed the process by June 15 of the year they hope to begin the program. Please contact Student Services for more information.

Seat Availability

A student who fails any course in the program cannot progress until the course is passed. In order to repeat a course, the student must reapply to the program in a subsequent offering of the same term in which the failure occurred providing there is an available seat. If in repeating the course, the student fails again, then the student will be removed entirely from the program and can only re-enter by going through the admission process. Please note that the student may be required to begin at term one.

A student who has failed a human services (HSW) course, repeated it and passed, re-entered the program and then fails another course, will be removed entirely from the program and can only re-enter by through the admission process. Please note that the student may be required to begin at term one.

Re-entering the program under any circumstance is dependent on an available seat and at the discretion of the human services department. Students who fail a required course may be asked to complete a learning assessment prior to being reconsidered for re-admission. These regulations are important to the profession to ensure that graduates have the required skills and knowledge, and are therefore deemed safe to practice.

Admission Requirements

1. Provincial English 12 or NIC ENG 060, ENG 098 or equivalent courses with a grade of C+ or better; or successful English Assessment
2. Completed Social Services Intake Package
3. Completed resume including all employment, volunteer, and educational experience

Before Classes Begin

Once accepted to the program but before classes begin, you will be required to:

• Attend a group information session. This mandatory session is designed to assist students in making an informed decision about pursuing a career in Human Services. The admissions department will send you an invitation with details regarding the date and time of the information session.
• Hold a current Standard First Aid certification with CPR Level C. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they hold valid certification before the start of the SSW 250 practicum.
• Submit a Criminal Record Check permission form, which will be sent to you by Admissions once you are offered a seat in the program.

Note: Social Services diploma students are not required to meet the PSY 130/131 prerequisites in order to register in PSY 250/251. If graduates choose to work towards a degree, they may be required to complete PSY 130/131.

To Be Successful

• All students are required to adhere to the program expectations document and standards outlined in individual human service course guides (ie: attendance, confidentiality professional conduct etc) and the Canadian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Ethical Practice. Failure to adhere to these standards may result in the student being required to leave the program. Students are encouraged to review this document and decide if they are able to meet the standards outlined. Students who have concerns about meeting program expectations are encouraged to speak with a Human Services faculty member or college counselor.
• Students are advised to have strong essay writing and good computer skills as they are expected to submit well written, word processed assignments and access online resources.
• Those students planning to continue on to a university degree program in social work or child and youth care are advised to ensure that their elective choices are university transferable.
• Students must receive a C or better in all courses to be promoted to the next term.
• Students must complete a Non Violent Crisis Intervention Workshop offered during the program

Program Requirements

Term 1

• ENG-115 Essay Writing and Critical Analysis or ENG-125 Composition and Indigenous Literature I
• SSW-120 Foundations of Social Service Practice
• SSW-121 Interpersonal Communications
• PSY-250 Human Development from Conception through Childhood

Term 2 

• SSW-122 Social Welfare in Canada
• SSW-123 Advanced Interpersonal Skills
• PSY-251 Human Development from Adolescence through Adulthood

Term 3

• SSW-150 Social Services Practice Experience I

Terms 4 and 5

• SSW-201 Family Relationships
• SSW-203 Conflict Management
• SSW-204 Program Planning, Development and Implementation
• SSW-205 Introduction to Group Work Practice
• SSW-206 Self Care in Human Services
• SSW-207 Law and Social Services
• SSW-208 Social Work Practice in Mental Health and Addictions
• SSW-209 Contemporary Perspectives on Substance Abuse
• SSW-210 Community Development
• Or, other 200 level SSW courses

Plus Electives totaling 6 credits*

Term 6

• SSW-250 Advanced Practice Experience: Social Services

Work Experience

Students gain extensive practice experience throughout the two year program. Practice experience placements are offered each year to provide students with actual on the job training in a community service agency. The placements are supervised by agency personnel and faculty. A weekly seminar provides additional learning, and connection of theory with practice. Students in the area of social service work are placed in a variety of including, but not limited to, agencies that support families, or individuals who are struggling with financial or family interaction issues, violence or addiction issues, or mental health issues. The purpose of the practice experience is to provide students with direct on the job experience. This allows students to learn exactly what the job entails, what skills are required and the opportunity to learn those skills both in theory and in practice. Many students report that gaining related work experience while pursuing their education was helpful in obtaining employment afterwards. The combination of academic, skills based and practice classes offer an exciting, holistic approach to learning. The human services department is currently developing international placement options which begin in spring 2011. 

Completion Requirements

1. A letter grade of C (60%) or better in all classes
2. A letter grade of P (Pass) in all Practicum courses