Community Support Worker (Diploma)
Campbell River, Nanaimo & Port Alberni

Locations & Dates

Program Overview

The Community Support Worker program provides students with the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to work in a personal support role with youth and adults in a variety of community settings. Graduates are qualified to work in areas such as community social service agencies, support services to all ages, and group home settings.

Program Content

Through various teaching strategies, including lectures, group discussion, student practice, videos and guest speakers, students in this program progress through 16 courses and three practicum's:

• Applied Anatomy
• Fundamental Communications Skills
• Basic Helping Skills
• Introduction to Support Work
• Life Skills and Self Esteem
• Life Span Development
• Mental Health
• Report Writing and Health Documents
• Education/Teaching Assistant
• WHMIS and Standard First Aid
• Thought Patterns for a Successful Career
• MS windows XP; MS Word 2003
• Gaining Employment
• Business Plan Writing (an optional course in the place of Practicum III)
• Practicum I, II, III

Admission Requirements & Prerequisites

Applicants must meet all of these requirements prior to acceptance into the program:

• British Columbia Grade 12 graduation. An Adult Graduation Diploma will be accepted as equivalent.
• Doctor’s certificate of good health and TB clearance
• Current immunization record including hepatitis B vaccine
• Signed consent for a criminal records check under the Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP)
• Forty hours of volunteer experience in the community, or relevant experience
• Submission of completed application forms
• Satisfactory entrance interview with College official

  Graduates of an approved Residential Home Care Aide (RHCA) Program who also meet these admissions requirements may be admitted into the Education Assistant semester and/or the Community Mental Health Worker semester. Upon successful completion of these semesters graduates will be awarded the appropriate certificate(s). These participants must complete the Personal Support Worker semester to also be awarded the CSW diploma.

  Graduates of an approved Community Support Worker (CSW) or Human Support Worker (HSW) Program who also meet these admissions requirements may be admitted into any one or more of the Personal Support Worker, the Education Assistant, and the Community Mental Health Worker semesters. Upon successful completion of any one of these semesters graduates will be awarded the appropriate certificate(s).

  Criminal Record Checks
  Discovery Community College will submit each applicant’s criminal record check (CRC) on-line to the Criminal Record Review Program (CRRP). The status of the CRC does not automatically prevent an applicant from attending this program. However, any CRC that reveals “relevant” offences may make it difficult or impossible to place the student in a practicum. Students who cannot be placed in a practicum cannot graduate from this program and will be withdrawn.

  Some practicum hosts may require their own criminal record check. It is the Student's responsibility to provide this directly to the practicum host. If the criminal record check reveals information that raises concerns relevant to the practicum placement the host may decline the placement. Students who cannot be placed in a practicum cannot graduate from this program and will be withdrawn.

  Applicants who expect to work with children will be required by their employers to consent to a CRC under the CRRP. We recommend that applicants who are concerned about their criminal record complete their CRC through the CRRP before they begin the CSW program.

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