Community & Developmental Service Worker

Students will learn how to:

• Interview clients to obtain case history and background information
• Assess clients’ relevant skill strengths and deficits
• Assist clients to sort out options and develop plans of action while providing necessary support and assistance
• Assist clients in locating and utilizing community resources including legal, medical, and financial assistance, housing, employment, transportation, assistance with moves, daycare, and other referral services
• Prepare intake reports
• Counsel clients living in group homes and half-way houses, supervise their activities and assist in pre-release and release planning
• Participate in the selection and admission of clients to appropriate programs
• Assess and investigate eligibility for social benefits
• Meet with clients to assess their progress, give support, and discuss any difficulties or problems
• Refer clients to other social services
• Advise and aid recipients of social assistance and pensions
• Provide crisis intervention and emergency shelter services
• Implement and organize the delivery of specific services within the community
• Implement life skills workshops, substance abuse treatment programs, behaviour management programs, youth services programs, and other community and social service programs under the supervision of social services or healthcare professionals
• Assist in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment programs by tracking clients’ behavioural changes and responses to interventions
• Maintain contact with other social service agencies and healthcare providers involved with clients to provide information and obtain feedback on clients’ overall progress
• Coordinate the volunteer activities of human service agencies, healthcare facilities, and arts and sports organizations
• Maintain program statistics for purposes of evaluation and research