Community Services Worker Diploma Program
Learn how to support people with disabilities, addictions, mental health issues, and other social and personal problems. Training includes eight weeks of real work experience with a community organization. Delivered online.
What’s Your Role as a Community Services Worker?
Community services workers provide practical and emotional support to people in need. They work on the front lines of our communities, helping at-risk people build healthier lives.
Your role as a community services worker includes assisting clients of all ages and backgrounds:
- Newcomers to Canada
- At-risk youth
- Seniors
- Survivors of domestic abuse
- Refugees
- People living with disabilities and mental health issues
- Struggling families
- Homeless populations
- LGBTQ communities
Community services workers connect clients to appropriate social programs, and provide personalized assistance with:
- Employment counselling
- Job search
- Affordable housing
- Mental health care services
- Child protection, foster care
- Crisis intervention
- Addiction counselling
Herzing College Community Services Worker Diploma Program
Herzing’s Community Services Worker diploma program delivers front-line training and practical social work skills. This program is fast, flexible, and has an excellent graduate employment rate.
- 12-month diploma program
- Delivered online
- Guaranteed 8-week internship
- Training includes certificates in First Aid and CPR
- Multiple program start-dates throughout the year
- Financial assistance is available for students who qualify
Career Outlook
Professionals in this field find employment in a range of organizations, including:
- Hospitals
- Halfway houses
- Detoxification centres
- Residential care facilities
- Home care organizations
- Outpatient clinics
- Homeless and emergency shelters
- Personal and vocational counselling centres
Career Options and Job Opportunities for Community Services Workers
Graduates of Herzing’s Community Services Worker diploma program are qualified to pursue a variety of job opportunities. Career options include:
- Community Services Worker
- Gerontology Aide
- Neighborhood Worker
- Child Abuse Worker
- Crisis Intervention Worker
- Mental Health Aide
- Community Organizer
- Drug Abuse Counsellor
Who Hires Herzing Grads?
Successful graduates of our Community Services Worker diploma program have been hired by:
Study Topics
The Community Services Worker diploma program includes a combination of theory, practical knowledge, and real work experience.
Topics of study include addictions, mental health, psychology, assessment and counselling techniques, and how to navigate the Canadian social services system.
Click to see detailed course descriptions.
In this course students will look at addictions in today’s world. Drugs and their use present a social paradox, combining the potential for good and for bad. As a society and as individuals we can be the beneficiaries of drugs or their victims. Students will look at various drugs and their effects on individuals and society.
This course will introduce students to the World of Psychology. Students will examine topics such as biology and behaviour, learning, language, memory, motivation and emotion, personality theory and assessment, and social psychology.
This course students will look at psychological disorders and therapies. Topics will include: what abnormal is, anxiety disorders, somatoform and dissociative disorders, schizophrenia and mood disorders. Therapies such as insight therapies, behaviour therapy, cognitive therapies and biological therapies will be learned. Under the heading Social Psychology students will learn about social perception, attraction, conformity, obedience, and compliance as well as group influence.
In this course students will be introduced to sociology. Students will understand how we are influenced by our society and the groups to which we belong. Students will learn how groups locally or in some far off part of the world allow us to gain insights into our own selves.
In this course students will focus on themes of cultural diversity in contemporary Canadian society within a world perspective. Students will understand the dynamic structure and definition of the institution of the family and family issues. Students will be given the tools for an ongoing process of observation, understanding and analysis of marital and family relationships and organizations.
In this course students will study human development from infancy, childhood, adolescence, early, middle and late adulthood, and the end of life. Issues will be addressed such as legal protection for the fetus, discipline for children, gambling amongst youth and peoples right to die. Students will look at development from a Canadian perspective.
Students will look at several examples of contemporary practice. This will allow them to understand the three precepts of community social work; 1) the local identification of need, 2) the local identification of solution, 3) the mobilization of collective response. Students will do a research project outlining the community resources that are available to them as Community Service workers. They will get to know their community through onsite visits, telephone calls, website surfing etc. The research project should outline what is available in the community and what is lacking in the community.
In this course students will learn about high risk populations in Canadian society. They will look at social welfare programs for these specific target groups. They will learn how the Canadian “social safety net” has not addressed all people equally. This course will address both internal and external factors that contribute to creating populations at risk.
This course provides comprehensive CPR training for general public interest or workplace requirements. Students will learn the responsibilities of a First Aid provider and the skills to provide assistance in the event of a cardiac emergency, choking or stroke for adults, infants or children as well as 2 person CPR. Certificate issued upon successful completion.
Communicating effectively in a variety of organizational contexts requires recognizing important differences between personal and professional communication. It is also necessary to recognize and accommodate the unique characteristics of each organization. The entire world of work is changing dramatically. Many of the changes revolve around processing and communicating information. As a result, the most successful players in this new world of work will be those with highly developed communication skills. The goal of this course is to teach basic business communication skills.
Professional Skills for the Service Worker provides a foundation for understanding social work practice and diversity competence. It looks at a brief history of social work as a profession, and examines how knowledge, values and skills are blended and introduces the change process and concept of intervention into human transactions. The course presents material on understanding oneself as a social worker, and understanding the client and the environment. It examines the change process, conceptualized as assessment, planning, action and evaluation and termination and how they are applied to the multiperson systems (families, groups, and organizations and communities), the settings that typically use generalist workers in serving clients.
In this course, students will look at the individual skills that are needed to work effectively in teams. They will discuss different types of teams and the roles of team members. Students will also look at group problem solving and decision-making. A team exercise will provide a practice opportunity. The role of a nurturing positive person and mentor/coach will also be topics of study.
In this course, students will be introduced to social welfare from a Canadian perspective. Students will cover topics that include a program overview, the service delivery system and meeting the needs of Canadians through programs and services. They will have the opportunity to review practice issues. Students will explore strategies used to promote change at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of the system.
This course will teach students how to develop knowledge skills and attitudes for effective interviewing and counseling Students will be introduced to basic concepts and models to help learners understand the theory and reasoning behind the use of interviewing/counselling skills. Students will see realistic examples that illustrate concepts in action. Students will also participate in challenging exercises that promote skill development, conceptual understanding and self-awareness
This seminar provides an opportunity for the student to apply the techniques and processes for developing a career path and to learn lifetime career management tools and skills. Topics include career-planning, job searching, writing resumes and cover letters, refining interview skills, and preparing for a new position.
The internship component of the program is the practical application of a student’s knowledge and skills in a medical office environment. The company shall provide work that is directly related to the student’s program of study. The duration of the internship is five weeks during which the student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 180 hours of work experience.
Admission Requirements
What you need to get started.
- Minimum of a Canadian high school grade 12 or equivalent (Ontario high school diploma or equivalent) or a mature student (19 years of age or older and has been removed from full-time high school for minimum 2 years)
*Students applying as mature students must demonstrate appropriate levels of math, English literacy, comprehension and/or written skills to warrant success and completion of program - Pass an entrance test administered by Herzing College
- Be interviewed in detail regarding interest in the field
- Note: admission to some programs may include additional requirements
Overview
RELATED HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS:
CAMPUS
Toronto
INDUSTRY
Healthcare
PROGRAM LENGTH
12 Months (20 hours/week)
Includes 8 week internship
LEARNING MODALITIES
Online
EXPLORE CAREERS
TRY OUR CAREER EXPLORATION KIT
Our online kit takes 3-minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style plus the training and positions you’re best suited for.
2022 Overall Graduate Employment Rate
88% of available Herzing College Toronto graduates were employed in a related field.
*statistics based on most recent available
Your Next Steps
Ready to learn more about the Community Services Worker diploma program? It’s easy to get started. Choose from the following options:
- Fill out the form to ask questions via email
- Chat online with an Admissions Advisor to get your questions answered now
- Click Apply Now to get your application started today!
Why Choose this Program?
The Community Services Worker diploma program at Herzing College delivers high-quality, hands-on training employers trust. Our graduates are fully prepared for front-line roles, making a real difference in people’s lives.
- Learn from caring instructors with many years of social services experience
- Study online
- Hands-on learning (case studies, projects, group work, mock counselling sessions, etc.)
- Get real work experience before you graduate with an 8-week internship
- Friendly learning environment where students of all backgrounds and ages are welcome
- Enjoy the Herzing Open Education Program (HOEP), which allows graduates to earn a second diploma or professional certificate tuition-free!
- Comprehensive employment support from our career development team (get help with your resume, interview preparation, and job search)