Community Support and Outreach Worker
Overview
Looking for a rewarding career serving your community and exceptional individuals within it? Look into the Community Support and Outreach Worker Diploma Program at Stenberg College.
It’s designed to provide you with a comprehensive theoretical and practical education so you can support individuals with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness. You’ll learn to assist these individuals to live as fully and independently as possible.
To find out more about this satisfying career, keep reading...
Typical Job Duties
Community Support and Outreach Workers assist individuals with a developmental disability and/or a mental illness, encouraging and supporting them in their daily lives.
They model, teach and support all functions of home life, daily living activities, leisure and recreation for improved quality of life for their clients.
Potential Employers
After graduating as a Community Support and Outreach Worker, you’ll be qualified for employment in:
- Residential, supportive housing units
- Outreach Programs
- Day-programs for disabled people
- Community outreach programs
- Community healthcare agencies
- Adult protective services
- Social services support
- Respite Care
- Clubhouses
Top Reasons to Choose Stenberg
- The program is intensive and offered in a condensed format, saving you time and allowing you to enter the workforce quickly so you can start earning a wage sooner.
- All instructors are respected for their leadership and knowledge in this field and will be able to share their experiences with you to enhance your education.
- It’s the only program of its kind that includes Class IV driver's training. (Class IV training greatly enhances a graduate's employment opportunities)
- The courses provide evidence-based practice, helping you begin your career with confidence and a solid foundation of knowledge.
- The program is regularly reviewed and updated in consultation with industry to ensure that it meets the needs and expectations of employers.
- More than simply learning a set of technical skills, our programs inspire and enhance personal growth and development. Stenberg College is committed to empowerment through education and ensures that students have the fundamental skills to excel in their program and to succeed in their life, both personally and professionally.
- In its commitment to student success, Stenberg College offers its students an unparalleled range of support services including free ESL programs, study and life skills coaching, typing tutorials and campus life events.
- Our Career and Graduate Services staff members organize industry presentations on a quarterly basis. Recruiters come and speak directly to students prior to graduation. We are committed to helping you find employment immediately upon graduation.
Speak to your Program Advisor for more details.
Wages and Career Outlook
Wage and career outlook information is difficult to predict. Unlike other occupations, most opportunities in community living are driven by the current government policy rather than the business cycle. Based on recent employment statistics gathered by Stenberg College, the wage range of students who have completed the Community Support and Outreach Worker program and are working in their field of study is $14 to $18 per hour.
Use the following sites to obtain more career information. Please realize that survey results are based upon groupings of a large number of related jobs. Wages and career outlook may differ due to education level, geography and type of employer:
Is This Program for You?
It is if you:
- Like to support and encourage others towards independence
- Are interested in improving the quality of life for the developmentally disabled and mentally ill population
- Are flexible and compassionate
- Can communicate equally well with clients, their families and healthcare professionals
- Have patience and can handle stress
- Want to have a career where you can truly make a difference in people’s lives
Program Admission Requirements
- Completion of Grade 12 or 19 years of age or older
- Passing Entrance Examination with a score of 70% or more (Canadian Adult Achievement Test: Reading, Spelling & Math)
- Passing formal entrance interview with a score of 70% or more
- Successful completion of a short written essay
- Passing Verbal Test of English if English is a Second Language
Additional Program Requirements
Students must provide the following to their Program Advisor prior to program start:
- Acceptable criminal record check
- Acceptable medical examination report
- Negative TB test report or clear chest X-ray
- Reference letter stating suitability to work with developmentally disabled and mental health clients.
Note: Class 5 drivers license strongly recommended
Duration and Financing
Duration: 36 weeks, including job shadowing and practicum
Financing: You could be eligible for HRDC funding, government student loans and other financing options; the Stenberg College Financial Aid Officer would be happy to provide further assistance.
Additional Certification
The program also includes the following essential industry-related training and certification:
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System: WHMIS trainers provide information about materials in the workplace that can be hazardous, such as cleaning agents, compressed gases and flammable materials. Becoming WHMIS certified will demonstrate that you are able to identify hazardous materials and handle them properly.
FOODSAFE Level One: You’ll learn how to prepare food in a way that protects customers from injury or illness. Some of the topics covered are food-borne diseases, personal hygiene and safe procedures for storing.
First Aid & CPR Level One: You’ll receive certificates in both basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
MANDT™ Training: You learn how to deal with people who are disruptive or out of control, using verbal techniques for de-escalating conflict and restraint techniques when physical intervention is necessary.
Class 4 Drivers License: A class 4 driver’s license allows paid employees to transport people.
Program Courses
Orientation and Student Success Skills
This course will provide a comprehensive orientation to Stenberg College and the program you have enrolled in. As with all new things, there will be some challenges to overcome; however, with this course, you will become familiar with your new environment and the resources available for your use. You will gain effective learning and study strategies and will participate in life skills exercises that teach communication, accountability, teamwork, self-awareness and build understanding of the impact you have on others.
Professional Communication
In this course, you’ll learn theoretical and practical skills to promote effective communication with clients and co-workers in a helping relationship. By the end of the course, you’ll demonstrate an awareness of your own communication style and be able to use techniques such as empathy, active listening, probing and conflict resolution. Team building, decision-making, and planning will be explored from a care-based perspective.
Anatomy, Physiology, Personal Care & Body Mechanics
Here, you’ll learn the structure, functions, age-related changes and diseases of selected human body systems. You be taught how to apply this knowledge in performing personal support skills and in assisting with routine activities and in special situations.
Developmental Disabilities & Person Centered Thinking
You’ll be taught the historical perspective, etiology, ethics, and teaching strategies to enhance your practice in designing, supporting and encouraging independence for individuals who have a developmental disability. You’ll be introduced to Personal Life Plans and the case management process. You’ll also be given opportunities to develop strategies for assessing, planning, implementing and monitoring learning goals based on individual differences, needs and abilities. By the end of this course, you will demonstrate non-violent crisis interventions and practice defusing challenging situations.
Computer Fundamentals
You’ll be introduced to – and gain skill working in – the Windows environment, as well as Outlook, Internet Explorer, and Excel. Special emphasis will be placed on using MS Word proficiently.
Family Systems
This course will teach you about family structure and development as it affects client behaviors and emotions. You will identify dysfunction in client families and the effects on client behavior. You’ll also learn to deal with resistive families and to assist and encourage them in finding appropriate supports and resources.
Mental Health & Psycho Social Rehabilitation
As a student in this course, you’ll be taught to identify the most common mental illnesses and apply the Psychosocial Rehabilitation model that supports, fosters and motivates client choices in their day-to-day lives. You’ll discover specific mental health services and providers, and identify how legal issues impact the delivery of mental health services.
Addictions Training & Concurrent Disorders
While studying this course, you’ll further your understanding of working with individuals living with a variety of health challenges, including concurrent disorders. For example, you’ll learn to recognize and support clients who suffer from a mental illness with a secondary substance abuse. The use of alcohol and non-prescription substances will be examined and you’ll learn about the impact of alcohol and non-prescription drugs, common rehabilitation models, the cycles of addiction and the commonly abused substances and their effects. You’ll also learn about addiction services and how to provide support to substance impacted individuals. Furthermore, this course will increase your awareness and support skills in helping non-verbal individuals with developmental disabilities concurrently living with a mental illness.
Alternative, Adaptive and Augmentative Communications
This course will teach you to apply the principles of teaching and learning to support individuals with challenging communication needs. Alternative and augmentative forms of communication will be explored with a strong emphasis on practical learning techniques for assisting communication. Aided and unaided methods of communication will also be covered, and an introduction to basic American Sign Language will be integrated.
Basic Pharmacology & Medication Delivery
You will be introduced to basic pharmacological concepts with specific emphasis and application of medication delivery, legal obligations and professional accountability. The 8 Rights and Responsibilities of medication delivery will be covered in this course.
MANDT™ Training, Foodsafe, First Aid, CPR
Before graduating, you’ll receive certification in FIRST AID, CPR Level I, FOODSAFE Level I and Mandt ™ training.
First Job Shadow
Prior to taking part in the practicum, you will attend a one-week job shadow, participating in an intensive extended field trip. The job shadow is intended to provide you with an instructor-supervised experience so that you can form questions, observations and reflections and build familiarity with your practicum facility and the day-to-day client activities.
First CSW Practicum
You’ll be given the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in a community living or mental health setting. You will be required to be available during the day, afternoon, evening and weekends.
Career Search Strategies
This course focuses on developing professional job search techniques, including; learning styles, leadership styles and success strategies. You will learn how to effectively complete application forms, create cover letters and resumes, build skills and confidence for job interviews, and research labour market trends; all tasks related to getting and keeping a job.
Second Job Shadow
Prior to the second practicum, you’ll attend a second one-week job shadow.
Second CSW Practicum
This will provide you with the opportunity to build upon what you learned in your first practicum. You’ll likely complete a Mental Health Practicum in Practicum Two if Practicum One was a Community Living Placement, and vice-versa.
Class 4 Driver’s License, Practicum Debrief and Final Assignment
You’ll receive coaching and exam preparation during this module. You’ll also have the opportunity to reflect on and share your experiences while on practicum. In addition, you’ll complete a final assignment which will involve a comprehensive review of core program material.
|