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Community and Social Service Workers (4212)

Among the occupations currently in highest demand in All of Québec

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Qualification and skills most often required

Un diplôme d’études collégiales (DEC) en techniques de travail social, en techniques d’éducation spécialisée ou en techniques d’intervention en délinquance peut être demandé. L’absence de diplôme peut parfois être compensée par une vaste expérience dans le milieu. Des compétences en relation d’aide pour divers problèmes sociaux (ex. : toxicomanie, violence conjugale, dépression et délinquance) favorisent l’accès à un emploi. Des aptitudes en communication et en résolution de problèmes, une bonne capacité d’écoute et d’analyse ainsi que la capacité d’effectuer des interventions de groupe et de travailler en équipe sont nécessaires. L’autonomie, le leadership, la persuasion, la créativité, le sens de l’observation et des responsabilités, l’entregent, la discrétion, la facilité d’adaptation, la patience et l’ouverture d’esprit sont des qualités recherchées. L’expérience peut être demandée.

Reason for labor demand

Les postes offerts se trouvent dans les secteurs des soins de santé et de l’assistance sociale. La demande vient notamment des organismes communautaires, des centres jeunesse, des centres locaux de services communautaires (CLSC), des coopératives de services à domicile, des centres hospitaliers et des centres d’hébergement et de soins de longue durée (CHSLD). Les organismes communautaires offrent des services sociaux de plus en plus nombreux et diversifiés, liés notamment à la pauvreté, au stress, à l’alcoolisme et à la toxicomanie, au décrochage scolaire, à la violence, aux problèmes de comportement et à la dépendance au jeu.

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Job titles

  • Aboriginal outreach officer - social services
  • Aboriginal outreach worker
  • addictions worker
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Nature of work

Community and social service workers administer and implement a variety of social assistance programs and community services, and assist clients to deal with personal and social problems. They are employed by social service and government agencies, mental health agencies, group homes, school boards, correctional facilities and other establishments.

Fields of interest

  • Counseling, helping others
  • Working in an office
  • Writing, working in communications and information

Main duties

  • Community and social service workers perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - 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, day care 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 health care 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 health care providers involved with clients to provide information and obtain feedback on clients' overall progress
  • - Co-ordinate the volunteer activities of human service agencies, health care facilities and arts and sports organizations
  • - Maintain program statistics for purposes of evaluation and research.
  • - May supervise social service support workers and volunteers.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Community and Social Service Workers (4212)

Employment requirements

  • * Completion of a college or university program in social work, child and youth care, counselling or other social science or health-related discipline is usually required.
  • * Previous work experience in a social service environment as a volunteer or in a support capacity may replace formal education requirements for some occupations in this unit group.
  • * Social service workers may be required to be a member of a provincial regulatory body in some provinces.

Skill type

  • Occupations in social science, education, government service and religion

Skill level

  • Technical

More information

  • * Progression to professional occupations in social services, such as family and marriage counsellors, social workers, and probation and parole officers, is possible with additional training and experience.

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