Social Service Worker

Select start date and campus

SEP 2023 | Kitchener – Doon
Open
Closed
  • = Canadian Offering
  • = International Offering
  • AD = Accelerated Delivery
Menu
Close

Applying as a Canadian applicant

Domestic students should apply online or by phone at 1-888-892-2228.


Apply now: Canadian applicant

Applying as an International applicant

International students should apply online. Note: not all programs are open to international students.
Apply now: international applicants
Close

Campus tours

Campus tours are one of the best ways to experience Conestoga. During this time, we are offering online guided tours to show you all Conestoga has to offer.

Book your tour

Virtual tours

If you can't make an on-campus tour or attend one of our events, the virtual tour is a great way to visit us.

View our Virtual tour

Admissions - September 2023

Admission requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or 19 years of age or older with mature student status (See Mature Student definition for details.)
  • Grade 12 compulsory English, C (70% minimum) or U (60% minimum), or equivalent, OR Conestoga College Preparatory Communications (COMM1251), or equivalent
  • For more information on preparatory programs, visit Academic Upgrading

Canadian admissions contact

International admissions contact

Admission procedures

  • An academic strength is calculated by averaging the submitted marks of required subjects. If more than one mark is received for a required subject, the highest mark will be used in the calculation.
  • Ten (10) additional marks are added to each Advanced level, OAC, U, U/C, and post-secondary course used in the calculation of academic strength.
  • Applicants meeting minimum academic requirements are invited to begin the selection process, which requires them to:
    • Complete a questionnaire that will be emailed to applicants. The questionnaire is intended to evaluate the applicant’s understanding of the social service profession and the applicable skills necessary to be successful, and to demonstrate the steps taken for career success, including evidence of community engagement, employment or volunteer experience leadership roles.
    • Provide a detailed resume that outlines all related work and volunteer experience.
  • Final selection is made using a formula that combines academic strength with the score obtained on the questionnaire.

Program requirements

  • Mandatory practicum health and safety requirements must be completed by students prior to student field/clinical placements. Successful placement completion is required for students to progress to program completion. To qualify for field/clinical placement learning experiences, students must present the following by the deadline indicated on the practicum package which will be distributed in class in semester one:
    • A Police Check for Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS)(must not be completed prior to semester 2). Police Checks must be clear of any unpardoned criminal offences. An unclear criminal record may result in the inability to participate in field placement/clinical which will jeopardize progress in the program. Acceptance for placement is at the discretion of the agency; some agencies may request students to provide a VSS completed within six months of placement start date. Students with criminal records are advised to meet with the program chair for academic counselling to determine program suitability.
  • Applicants should display integrity, reliability, maturity, determination, excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Computer literacy is necessary in order to complete assignments satisfactorily.
  • Applicants are advised that some social service agencies require that employees be a minimum of 21 years of age. Therefore, applicants under 19 years of age may have difficulty finding employment upon graduation.

Pre-Workplace-Integrated Learning (WIL) FAQ

You are taking the first steps to becoming a professional through your program at Conestoga College.

Realizing your vision of having a high-performing career in your field of choice requires that you start your program having met the document requirements that are mandatory for new employees in your field. The WIL document requirements that are mandatory for your program can be found in the Student Portal under the Services tab (scroll down the page and select the Login to H.S.Trax button).

As a future professional in your chosen career, you may need to be able to demonstrate that:

  1. You have a clear police check for vulnerable persons. This is the first implication for you of provincial regulations governing work in health care and community service organizations.
  2. Your immunizations are current for your safety and the safety of people in your care.
  3. Your TB status is known and allows you to work safely with others and that you will have baseline information for yourself should you encounter a person with TB in the workplace.
  4. You have a current First Aid and CPR certificate (at the level appropriate to your career), so that you can be a resource to persons in need.
  5. You have been respirator fit tested so that you will be ready to work safely in the event of an infectious situation.

Your program includes a WIL experience in your course of studies. Employers request that you have met the above requirements before you come to their organization. Upon registering for your program, you will receive a welcome email from the WIL Document Services Team. Included will be an attachment with instructions for accessing the H.S.Trax Community and your program's WIL Document Requirements forms.

Most importantly, your plan to be a graduate and embark on your chosen career depends on completing this WIL experience - we do not want these plans to end because you failed to meet the above requirements.

  • The WIL Document Requirements Passport is proof to the college and WIL employers that you have met the pre-WIL document requirements.
  • This document ensures that you have met the WIL document requirements expected of individuals providing care or service in each organization.
  • You may be asked to show your WIL Document Requirements Passport to a WIL site as proof of having met their requirements.

If you cannot complete the WIL course(s) of your program, you will not be able to graduate from the program.

  • Each program has a specific due date to allow for processing prior to the WIL experience. Your requirements due date is indicated in your program's WIL Document Requirements package, located in the H.S.Trax Community.
  • You must start completing your program specific WIL document requirements as soon as you registered for your program, as it may take you six to twelve weeks to complete.
  • Refer to the requirements package located within the H.S.Trax Community.
  • Make arrangements to complete requirements based on Forms A, B, C, D, E (with your doctor, health care professional or other service providers).
  • Note: Not all programs require all forms to be completed. See your Welcome Letter/checklist for your program requirements.
  • Keep all original supporting documentation for your records.
  • As you complete a form requirement, submit all documentation online only, through the document submission tool in the H.S.Trax Community. Note: We strongly encourage you to submit forms as they are completed, rather than as one completed package, to allow ample time for review and follow up as needed.
  • Visit your local police service and request a Vulnerable Sector Police Record Check prior to the pre-WIL document requirements deadline for your program. There is a cost associated with this service and that is the responsibility of the student. Note: This request may take up to 12 weeks.
  • If you live in an area that is serviced by the OPP, please contact WIL Document Services for the required form (WILdocumentservices@conestogac.on.ca or 519-748-5220, ext. 3101).
  • For Niagara Police Services, please contact WIL Document Services for the required form ( WILdocumentservices@conestogac.on.ca or 519-748-5220, ext. 3101).
  • For Toronto Police Services, you will require the Toronto Consent to Disclosure form; please contact WIL Document Services for the required form ( WILdocumentservices@conestogac.on.ca or 519-748-5220, ext. 3101).
  • To be eligible for WIL experience(s), you must not have been convicted of any criminal offence for which you have not been pardoned. If your police check is not clear due to an offence that is criminal in nature, you are advised to meet with the Program Chair for academic counselling to determine program suitability and WIL eligibility. Offences under the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of Canada:

Depending on your specific program WIL Document Requirements, you may be asked for proof of immunization, laboratory blood test results and non-medical requirements as per below: (if applicable)

  • Measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
  • Varicella/chickenpox
  • Hepatitis B
  • Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap)
  • Polio
  • Tuberculin testing (TB)
  • Influenza vaccine
  • COVID-19
  • Mask fit testing
  • Please bring your Immunization form (Form B) with you when you get your vaccinations so that your physician/health care professional can sign off on the form directly.

Your program may also have a requirement for a current certification in CPR/First Aid.

  • Standard First Aid
  • CPR level C or BLS (depending on program of study)
  • Respiratory Therapy students – see Form D for specific information on ACLS certification

The workforce in health care organizations or persons who are providing care are required to complete respirator fit testing. It is recommended that you complete testing at the college, as we ensure to fit test you based on the mask(s) applicable to your WIL site/facility. Additional information about this requirement will be provided at your program orientation should not be completed until your WIL site has been confirmed.

  • If laboratory reports are required or if immunizations are not complete, it could take six to twelve weeks.
  • TB testing cannot be completed for 30 days after a live vaccine (MMR, Varicella) or COVID-19 vaccine. Please complete TB testing first to avoid delays in completing other requirements
  • Note: The RCMP has also set new mandates that can possibly prolong your wait time in receiving your criminal reference check. If your date of birth and gender match another individual in the Sex Offender database, your fingerprints will be required to complete your check. If flagged it will take up to 120 days to receive your Vulnerable Sector check. There will also be an extra cost charged by the police agency to obtain fingerprints.
  • This may be completed at your doctor’s office, at a local urgent care or walk-in clinic, or through your local public health unit. Please note: The TB test cannot be completed for 30 days after a measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), varicella (chickenpox), or COVID-19 shot.
  • Please bring your Immunization form (Form C) with you when you get your TB test so that your health care professional can sign off on the form directly.
  • You may take the required courses through Conestoga:
    • HEAL1400 (Red Cross Standard First Aid and CPR/AED Level C and BLS)
    • HEAL1410 (Red Cross Standard First Aid and CPR/AED Recertification Level C and BLS), or
    • HEAL1420 (CPR/AED Recertification Level C and BLS)
  • To receive a discounted student rate, you must complete the Continuing Education Course Registration form (pdf), using one of the course codes above, and email it to ce@conestogac.on.ca. Do not include credit card information when submitting the registration form. Online payment instructions will be provided upon course registration. The discounted student rate will NOT be applied if you register online. Contact ce-hlscs@conestogac.on.ca for more information.
  • If you take the First Aid course(s) from another provider, please ensure that it is the appropriate level course (minimum Standard First Aid).
  • Ensure your CPR course and certification document indicates the correct CPR level (C or BLS).
  • After you complete the requirement, submit the documentation online only, through the document submission tool in the H.S. Trax Community.

Once your program coordinator or placement officer has advised you of your WIL site, the WIL Document Services team will reach out to you via email with clinic dates/times.

Conestoga College's WIL nurse technologist reviews your confidential medical information. The WIL nurse technologist can answer any questions you may have about the health requirements and testing, as well as provide direction when medical requirements results are unclear or do not meet documentation requirements. WIL Document Services will only release a clear or not clear status to Conestoga. The college requires your status for WIL planning purposes. All other information is kept confidential.

  • Submit all documentation online only, through the document submission tool in the H.S. Trax Community. Students should submit each requirement as they are completed. Do not wait for all your requirements to be completed.
  • The online document submission tool can be found in the H.S. Trax Community, accessible via the Services tab in the Student Portal.
  • Each WIL Document Requirement form will have a category to upload documents.

The cost of completing the requirements is the responsibility of the student entering the program.

  • Costs will be dependent upon each student's needs. Doctor notes, x-rays, laboratory blood work report and immunization may be free of charge or a charge applied by your doctor's office; this is up to your doctor and NOT the college.
  • Your invoice from Conestoga will contain a fee for the services provided by the school to certify that you have met these requirements and to provide you with a WIL Document Requirements Passport for your records.
  • Students are responsible for independently arranging and financing any housing and transportation costs for work integrated learning (WIL) experiences, which may be in communities across Ontario. While every effort is made to arrange for placements in students' preferred or home locations, students must be prepared for additional costs associated with relocating to other cities to complete the required WIL hours. Please note that some field placements require students to have a vehicle (e.g. homecare or specialty health centres). Students must budget for costs related to transportation and out-of-town accommodation.

If some information is missing from your forms, you will be notified at your college email account. You must complete the missing information and resubmit documents prior to your WIL experience.

Your program coordinator or placement officer will assign students to their WIL experience based on clearance of all WIL Document Requirements. Students will not be eligible for WIL experience until you have a clear status.

The WIL document requirements for your program are available in the H.S. Trax Community, accessible via the Services tab in the Student Portal. Please contact the WIL Document Services office at WILdocumentservices@conestogac.on.ca or 519-748-5220, ext. 3101 for more information.

Credit transfer

You might be eligible to enter a program at an advanced level, or be exempt from a course, if you have formal post-secondary education. Learn more about credit transfer opportunities.

Pathways

Some Conestoga programs have pathways for current students, including certificate-to-diploma, diploma-to-diploma and diploma-to-degree opportunities. Learn more about pathways at Conestoga.

Articulation agreements

Conestoga partners with other post-secondary institutions, allowing students the opportunity to study elsewhere, usually in pursuit or an academic credential. Learn more about articulation agreements.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

Through PLAR, Conestoga may credit prior learning or skills acquired through employment, formal and informal education, or life experiences. Learn more about PLAR at Conestoga.

Disclaimer

The College reserves the right to alter information including requirements and fees and to cancel at any time a program, course, or program major or option; to change the location and/or term in which a program or course is offered; to change the program curriculum as necessary to meet current competencies in the job market or for budgetary reasons; or to withdraw an offer of admission both prior to and after its acceptance by an applicant or student because of insufficient applications or registrations, over-acceptance of offers of admission, budgetary constraints, or for other such reasons. In the event the College exercises such a right, the College’s sole liability will be the return of monies paid by the applicant or student to the College. Students actively registered in cohort delivered programs who take longer than the designed program length of time to complete their studies are accountable for completing any new or additional courses that may result due to changes in the program of study. Unless otherwise stated, students registered in non-cohort delivered programs must complete the program of study within seven years of being admitted to the program.