42201 – Social and community service workers

Lead statement

Social and community service workers administer and implement a variety of social assistance programs and community services, and assist clients to deal with personal and social problems.

Main duties

• Review client background information, interview clients to obtain case history and prepare intake reports
• Assess clients' relevant skill strengths and needs
• Assist clients to sort out options and develop plans of action while providing necessary support and assistance
• Assess and investigate eligibility for social benefits
• Refer clients to other social services or assist clients in locating and utilizing community resources including legal, medical and financial assistance, housing, employment, transportation, day care and other services
• Counsel clients living in group homes and halfway houses, supervise their activities and assist in pre-release and release planning
• Participate in the selection and admission of clients to appropriate programs
• 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
• Meet with clients to assess their progress, give support and discuss any difficulties or problems
• Assist in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment programs by tracking clients' behavioural changes and responses to interventions
• 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
• Maintain contact with other social service agencies and health care providers involved with clients to provide information and obtain feedback on clients' overall progress
• Mobilise and coordinate volunteer resources and activities for a range of organizations such as human service agencies, health care facilities, arts and sports, etc.
• May maintain program statistics for purposes of evaluation and research
• May supervise social service support workers and volunteers.

Employment requirements

• Completion of a college or university program in social work, child and youth care, psychology 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.

Example job titles

drug addiction worker · social services assistant · child-care worker (except day care) · child welfare worker · Aboriginal centre coordinator · Native centre coordinator · women's shelter supervisor · life skills coach · independent living instructor · life skills instructor · community centre coordinator · community centre worker · community development worker · community liaison worker · community organization worker · community service worker · crisis intervention worker · detention home worker · development service worker · developmental service worker · drop-in centre worker · family service worker · veterans' affairs field officer · financial assistance officer - social assistance · group home worker · halfway house supervisor · income maintenance officer - social services · rehabilitation worker - social services · meals-on-wheels worker · mental health worker · youth hostel coordinator · intellectual disabilities worker · social rehabilitation technician · Native outreach worker · Aboriginal outreach worker · neighbourhood worker - social services · personal skills development instructor - social services · social rehabilitation officer · residential counsellor - group home · social rehabilitation worker

Wages (per hour)

Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.