Campus
Duration
4 Semesters (2 Years)
Credential Awarded
Ontario College Diploma

Program and course delivery

This program is offered in Seneca's hybrid delivery format with some courses available in Seneca's flexible delivery format. Some coursework is online and some must be completed in person. Students will need to come on campus to complete in-person learning requirements. For courses offered in the flexible delivery format, professors use innovative learning spaces and technology to teach students in a classroom or lab and broadcast in real time to students attending remotely. In flexible courses, students have the choice of coming on campus or learning online.

About the Program

The two-year SSWI program is the first of its kind in Ontario, offering an in-depth understanding of the evolving landscape of newcomer reception and support in Canada. Learning through a critical and anti-oppressive lens, you will graduate prepared to support immigrants and refugees from diverse backgrounds. The program, which is grounded in equity, social justice and anti-oppression principles, provides insights into pre-migration conditions and how to offer meaningful support to individuals and families throughout the migration and integration process.

You will gain knowledge and skills required for social service work with a specific focus on settlement counselling and case management aligned with the experiences of those newly arrived in Canada or undergoing the settlement process. Community development is highlighted with a focus on co-creation and co-design with citizens of the community to identify and respond to gaps in service. Additionally, you will develop advocacy skills to represent clients' needs, fundraising and proposal writing to secure resources, and program planning, development and evaluation to create and assess effective support programs. Success in this program is measured by your ability to grow, challenge personal beliefs, and promote social justice, human dignity, and equality.

Please note that due to the nature of this program and profession, some course work and field placements are held in-person to adequately form interpersonal communication skills.

Graduates with a GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible to pursue many different educational pathways including Seneca’s Honours Bachelor of Mental Health and Addiction (BMHA) program.

Program options

Seneca offers multiple Social Service Worker diploma program options, allowing students to graduate with a general or specialized focus.

Social Service Worker (SSW) – The generalized SSW option allows students to explore the breadth of social service work and apply for a variety of SSW jobs upon graduation.

Social Service Worker – Gerontology (SSWG) – The specialized SSWG option focuses on supporting older adults to maintain independence and a good quality of life.

Social Service Worker – Immigrants and Refugees (SSWI) – The specialized SSWI option focuses on supporting individuals and families who are new to Canada and/or undergoing the settlement process.

Accelerated programs are also available for eligible students with prior education or experience. Review each program’s admission requirements for details.

Social Service Worker (Accelerated) (SSWA)

Social Service Worker – Immigrants and Refugees (Accelerated) (SSIA)

Skills

Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:

  • Trauma-informed settlement counselling and practice across the lifespan
  • Case management
  • Community development and program planning
  • Fundraising and proposal writing
  • Referrals, intakes, assessment and evaluation
  • Interpersonal communication and interviewing
  • Group dynamics and facilitation
  • Advocacy, system navigation and familiarity of international and national migration policies

Work Experience

You will complete two unpaid placements specifically within immigration, migration and settlement services. Your first placement will take place during your second semester, for 200 hours. You will then complete a 400-hour placement within a different organization or program during your third and fourth semesters. These placements will provide you with the opportunity to practice the skills and theoretical concepts you have learned in the classroom, preparing you for entry into the field with a specialization in settlement services.

Your Career

When you graduate from this program, these are the types of career options you can explore:

  • Trauma-informed settlement counselling and practice across the lifespan
  • Settlement agencies
  • School settlement worker
  • Refugee shelters
  • Community health organizations
  • Criminal justice system
  • Women’s programs, shelters and agencies offering services for immigrant youth
  • Community mental health and addiction non-profit organizations
  • Agencies that support income, food and housing security
  • Newcomer reception agencies

Professional Accreditation

Graduates of the SSWI diploma are eligible for registration with the Ontario College of Social Work and Social Services Work (OCSWSSW).

Success Stories

"I am a very proud two-time Seneca Polytechnic alumna. My experience navigating through each credential has left me feeling empowered and competent. I am continuously inspired by the fieldwork and vast experience of my professors. Each of them took the time to share their experiential learnings with me. I felt heard, included, and validated in all my courses. I was given space to ask questions and respectfully challenge what we were learning. The co-learning environment welcomed all ideas and perspectives.”

Harmony Adzido
Graduate, Social Service Worker – Immigrants and Refugees and Honours Bachelor of Mental Health and Addiction


"I chose Seneca because they have a vast variety of programs and accessible campuses. After graduation I started volunteering at the same agency where I completed my practicum in my first year. I was working closely with newcomers to York Region and supported them in settling into their new communities. After three years of volunteering, I was hired with the agency, and I have now been working there for 10 years in three different roles.”

Helen Samimy
Graduate, Social Service Worker – Immigrants and Refugees


"I pursued this course as a mature student to fulfill my dream of working in a field where I can use my voice to advocate for immigrants and families. Being an immigrant myself, I can identify and empathize with the struggles that newcomer families experience and their diverse needs. I wanted to work with this population to empower them with community service and support that integrates them successfully to thrive within the communities where they live, work and play.”

Gail Braithwaite
Graduate, Social Service Worker – Immigrants and Refugees

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