Diploma Program
Community Support Worker Co-op
This program has been approved by PTIB.
Program Overview
SELC’s Community Support Worker Program is an exciting educational experience complete with passionate, experienced instructors who reflect the standards set out by today’s human services industry.
Students learn how to effectively provide multi-faceted support to individuals experiencing mental health issues, emotional abuse, physical/sensory impairments, developmental disabilities, and addiction disorders. This program is flexible; there are opportunities to study online, or on campus with different schedule options. There is currently a great need for CSW’s in our communities, and students will learn how to conduct needs assessments, and operate from a strengths-based perspective. This program covers concepts such as psychosocial rehabilitation, indigenous perspectives on rehabilitation and healing, addiction theories, and recovery and relapse prevention.
Students gain a better understanding of oppressed and marginalized populations such as indigenous populations, the elderly, members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and persons with disabilities. As this is an applied program, students will be transferring the skills they learn in class to authentic support worker environments. Students will be spending part of their program in a practical work setting, and participating in community outreach/support to clients. Additionally, students will be required to take a community resource and networking course prior to the start of their practicums. This will allow students to enter into a practical experience with community insights that will only serve them well in their new careers.
Career Opportunities
Delivery Methods
- In-Class Instruction
- Distance Education / Online
- Combination Delivery (Both In-Class & Distance)
Learning Objectives
- empower those who have developmental disabilities and/or comorbid conditions-focusing on self-determination and community independence.
- promote the development of clients’ mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
- prepare individuals to participate fully in the community offering support in the least restrictive ways possible.
- teach clients valuable skills such as conflict management, interpersonal effectiveness, prosocial decision-making, crisis management, and how to create healthy boundaries.
- participate in community resource and networking.
- support individuals with serious mental health conditions, including psychotic disorders.
- advocate for historically oppressed and marginalized populations such as indigenous clients, and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals
- communicate to clients with communication disorders using a variety of augmentative and alternative communication devices/adaptive technology.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Students require ONE of the following
All applicants and registrants, regardless of citizenship status or country of origin, must demonstrate an adequate level of proficiency in English.
There are two ways to meet the English requirement:
1. Complete both of the following:
A) English 10, 11 or 12 or equivalent with a minimum of ‘C’ Grade for proficiency in reading and writing
B) Two years of full-time education in English in an English-speaking country For proficiency in speaking and listening
OR
2. Demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening by completing one of the following courses or assessments to meet acceptable levels:
- IELTS: 6
- Duolingo: 95
- TOEIC: 700
- TOEFL (paper): 537
- TOEFL (IBT): 75
- Cambridge: FCE
- CELPIP: 7
- Cael: 50
- has successfully reached the Upper Intermediate Level at SELC English Language Centre
- SELC Career College on-site administered English Language Test
Students require ALL of the following:
Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency for domestic students
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and completion of high school studies and/or commencement of post-secondary studies OR have achieved MATURE STUDENT STATUS: 19 years of age, out of secondary school for a minimum of 1 year with program industry experience minimum of 100 hours
Criminal Record Check
Diploma Requirements
60% overall average in all courses and successful completion of all courses including courses given a complete and work experience requirement.
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
Program Duration
- Total Program Hours: 1200 Hours (600 instructional hours + 600 Co-op hours)
- Total program Length: 60 Weeks (30 instructional weeks + 30 Co-op weeks)
- Co-op 600 hours
(Excludes holidays, breaks and professional days)
QUICK LINKS
Courses
Student Success Strategies (40 Hours)
Basic Computing for Human Service Workers (40 Hours)
Interpersonal Communication for Community Support Workers (40 Hours)
Developmental Psychology I (40 Hours)
Developmental Psychology II (40 Hours)
Fundamentals of Poverty (40 Hours)
Fundamentals of Mental Health (40 Hours)
Exploring Developmental Disabilities (40 Hours)
Introduction to Community Support Work (40 Hours)
Applied Behavioral Analysis for Community Support Workers (40 Hours)
Supporting Indigenous Clients in the Community (40 Hours)
Advocacy and Empowerment (40 Hours)
Professional Ethics for Human Service Workers (40 Hours)
Basic Pharmacology & Medication Management (40 Hours)
Career Success I (40 Hours)
Co-op (600 Hours)
Additional Courses & Certifications
Emergency First Aid & CPR C (equivalent to OFA Level 1)
WHMIS Online Certification
Food Safe Level 1
Non-violent Crisis Intervention Certification
ASIST Suicide Prevention Training Certification