What is Community Services Worker?
Community Services Workers are also known as Social Services Workers or Human Services Workers; they administrate numerous types of social assistance programs and community services to help people deal with personal or social difficulties. Community Services Workers work in a variety of professional areas, ranging from child and youth service, rehabilitation, veteran service, addiction service, to senior care, personal care, and other social works. It is their responsibility to provide care, support and counselling for individuals dealing with issues such as addiction, substance abuse, human relationships and rehabilitation.
Most Community Services Workers are employed by social service and government agencies, mental health agencies, group homes, shelters, substance abuse centers, school boards, correctional facilities, or other organizations with a focus on community outreach and personal care. Their responsibility may be associated with one single client or a community group depending on the type of services required. Most of Community Services Workers’ duties are conducted in an office environment, with possible involvement of home support under housing programs supported by local government or group homes.
What does Community Services Worker do?
According to Service Canada and National Household Survey data, in 2011 approximately 58% of community and social service workers worked in the health care and social assistance sector. About 15% worked in public administration, primarily as income security program administrators, mainly in the provincial civil service, but also in municipal government. Another 14% worked in associations, especially civil and social organizations (8%).
As a Community Services Worker, it is your duty to arrange face-to-face appointments for individuals or group gatherings for communities; you need to provide professional counseling for clients who need advice or guidance in dealing with psychological, biological, or behavioral issues. In addition, providing emotional support for clients is another essential part of this role. Even though Community Services Workers operate during standard business hours, they are also required to take on the responsibility of emotional support during weekends and after-hours when needed. Being a Community Services Worker, no only do you help others improve their lives, you also make a crucial impact on their lives and eventually become a part of their lives.
How to become a Community Services Worker
In order to become A qualified Community Services Worker, you need to obtain knowledge of the basic social work practices and social services; you need to have the ability to understand and accept the needs and rights of others and to work with a wide range of service recipients; you need to have the ability to express ideas effectively; you also need great communication and interpersonal skills to maintain a supportive social service relationship with your clients.
Generally, you need a diploma in social service work, special care counselling or correctional intervention to become a Community Service Worker. Previous experiences in the social services sector as a volunteer or a former service recipient may also help increase you chance of future employment.
How much does a Community Services Worker make?
According to PayScale Canada, A Community Services Worker earns an average wage of C$16.90 per hour. Most people with this job move on to other positions after 20 years in this field. Pay for this job does not change too much by experience, and skills in Counseling are associated with high pay for this job. The national average salary of Community Services Workers in Canada ranges from $27,389 to $46.414 per year, with extra overtime pay from $13.94/hr to $34,93/hr.
The job outlook for Community Service Workers
According to Service Canada, over the past few years, the number of Community and Social Services Workers has risen very sharply, resulting from the large increase in social service needs. Associated with this growth, more and more communities and organizations are actively looking for Community Services Workers to fulfill their clients’ needs. Since the community network is now well established and the number of income security claimants should continue, the number of Community and Social Services Workers is expected to grow sharply over the next few years, but at a more moderate pace than before.
At Academy of Learning College, a well-trained Community Service Worker (CSW) is equipped with a flexible, adaptable career path. Our CSW program provides students with the base knowledge, skills, and work experience to become permanently employable in a CSW setting. As the largest career college in Canada, Academy of Learning has been changing lives since 1987. Browse our program listing by province and discover the best Community Services Program for you!