Social and community service workers
Career Overview
Social and community service workers set up and manage a variety of social assistance programs and community services, and assist clients to deal with personal and social problems.
They work for social service and government agencies, mental health agencies, group homes, shelters, substance abuse centres, school boards, correctional facilities and other establishments.
Job Titles
Duties
Social and community service workers work with clients to:
- Gather background information and build case histories
- Assess their skills
- Discuss their options and develop action plans
- Locate resources that can provide them with housing, jobs, transportation and daycare, and with legal, medical and financial assistance
- Provide crisis intervention and emergency shelter services
- See if they qualify for social benefits and offer information about social assistance and pensions
- Assess their progress, give support and discuss their difficulties
- Refer them to other social services
- Advise and supervise those living in group homes and half-way houses, and help with pre-release and release planning
In general, social and community service workers:
- Prepare intake reports
- Measure the effectiveness of treatment programs by tracking clients’ progress
- Set up life skills workshops, substance use treatment programs, behaviour management programs and youth services programs under the supervision of social services or health-care professionals
- Share information on clients’ progress with other social service and health-care providers
- Co-ordinate the volunteer activities of human service agencies, health-care facilities and arts and sports organizations
- Keep program statistics for evaluation and research
- Supervise social service support workers and volunteers
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
28,760% Employed Full Time
53%Social and community service workers are needed in a variety of settings. They may work in residential or group homes, transition houses or drop-in or overnight shelters. Community service workers often do outreach work in the community. They may visit clients, take clients on trips, or attend meetings with service providers.
A 40-hour workweek is standard but varies based on the role. Working evening and weekend hours is common. Some shift work may be required in residential settings, where people must be supervised 24 hours a day.
This type of work can be very satisfying. At the same time, it can be emotionally draining. Understaffing and lack of equipment can add to the pressure.
Career Pathways
Social and community service workers typically begin their careers working part time for one or more agencies in entry-level jobs. They may work in a range of areas: childcare referral; victim services; community or family support; infant development; awake and overnight support; or residential, vocational (jobs-related), activity, transition, shelter or crisis line work. Those with more qualifications may do social work.
With additional education, training and experience, social and community service workers may progress to professional or supervisory social service positions. They may become social workers, probation or parole officers, or family, marriage or other counsellors. Highly experienced workers may become co-ordinators or senior-level counsellors, or they may work in management.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Social and community service workers have usually completed a college or university program in social work, child and youth care, counselling or another social science or health-related discipline. The length of the program depends on the area of study.
Graduates with work experience in a social service environment are preferred. This can include volunteering, internship, mentorship or internal training programs. In some cases, experience may replace formal education requirements.
Training in workplace wellness can make this work especially satisfying.
Some employers require social service workers to be registered with the British Columbia College of Social Workers.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Teacher Assistant/Aide
- Health/Medical - General
- Child/Youth Care Work
- Criminal Justice/Criminology
- Human/Social Service Work
- Human Services - General
- Social Work
- Psychology (Arts)
- Sociology
- Women's and Gender Studies
- Psychology (Science)
- Criminology/Criminal Justice
- Substance Abuse/Addiction Counselling
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
28,760Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 1,450 | 5.0% |
| Kootenay | 935 | 3.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 15,485 | 53.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 850 | 3.0% |
| Northeast | 380 | 1.3% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 3,365 | 11.7% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 6,295 | 21.9% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
14,970Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 630 | 0.8% |
| Kootenay | 390 | 0.6% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 8,400 | 1.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 230 | 0.1% |
| Northeast | 140 | 0.5% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 1,860 | 1.7% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 3,300 | 1.5% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 11,970 |
| Public Administration | 860 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 810 |
| Educational Services | 710 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 160 |
Insights from Industry
This is a broad career with many expected future openings. New positions will involve caring for the growing elderly population as well as for pregnant teens, the homeless, and people with psychiatric or developmental disabilities or substance use problems. Growth is also expected in outreach and community development with First Nations, especially in rehabilitation and for youth.
Job opportunities are expected to be highest in job-training programs, residential care facilities and non-governmental social service agencies.
While the average age of workers is relatively young, retirements are also a source of job openings. And, because workers can practise anywhere in Canada, turnover will continue as individuals transfer to other areas of the country.
Resources
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Community Social Services Employers' Association of BCwww.cssea.bc.ca
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The Federation of Community Social Services of BCfcssbc.ca
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a social and community service worker is like.
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a social and community service worker is like.
