Mental Health and Addiction Worker - Social Service Worker Dual Diploma

This dual-diploma pathway is only available to students who start their program in the fall or the winter. After a common first semester, students in the Mental Health and Addiction Worker program and Social Service Worker program can declare their intention to complete both programs.

By choosing this Dual Diploma pathway as a Mental Health and Addiction Worker student, you will gain complementary competencies in the field of Social Service to work in a broader context with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities to respond to social issues, injustices and inequalities through counselling, community services and social support programs. This program is infused with practical learning experiences and prepares graduates to work in a range of residential and community settings with other professionals such as child and youth workers, teachers, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and doctors. The curriculum will also build knowledge and skills in traditional healing practices and understanding of intergenerational trauma impact of colonization and assimilation policies.

As Social Service Worker is a regulated profession in Ontario, graduates of this dual diploma pathway will have the necessary skills for employment as a Social Service Worker in Ontario and will be eligible for membership through the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services. Please see the OCSWSSW website for more information about the profession and eligibility for membership.

Students who start in the Mental Health and Addiction Worker program will complete their Social Service Worker field placement in the fifth semester and their Mental Health and Addiction Worker field placement in the sixth and final semester, consolidating the practical and theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom during their program. You will be expected to complete one field placement with an emphasis upon social service practice and one that focuses on mental health and addiction.

30 hours of volunteer service within an agency are required prior to entry into the fifth semester for the Social Service Worker (SW) placement and you must have successfully completed all courses prior to entry into fifth semester.

Specific agencies may have requirements such as proof of a current Emergency First Aid certification, CPR certification (Level C), a university degree, or additional immunizations. Note that some agencies may require in-service training that you must take prior to placement.

Fleming College is one of the few colleges in Canada to offer a dual diploma pathway in Mental Health and Addiction Work and Social Service Work. A strong benefit of this program lies in the opportunity to engage in small class learning, which can offer greater experiential learning and a more individually focused educational experience. In addition, both programs are well-known within the Peterborough, City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton counties and have established strong relationships with agencies in these specific locations. With a dual diploma, you will graduate with a broader skill set and have wider career choices.

When you choose the Dual Diploma pathway, you are creating opportunities to advance your profession and expand your prospects.

There is a high demand for mental health and addiction professionals. Roles include case manager, mental health clinician, addiction counsellor, or relief staff in residential facilities or community withdrawal management services, health promotion and outreach services.  In addition, as a practicing Social Service Worker in Ontario, you will support people to recognize, develop and sustain their strengths to achieve good quality of life while they manage and challenge a broad range of personal and environmental barriers at the personal, cultural, and system levels.

This Dual Diploma Pathway is available to students in the Social Service Worker program and the Mental Health and Addiction Worker program.

You should plan to spend approximately $700 per year for books and supplies.

Immunization Requirements

Your program has mandatory immunization requirements that include a "pre-entry" deadline date for submission. For more information, and to print a copy of the immunization form, please download the Immunization Information document

Non Academic Requirements

Your program has mandatory requirements which may include a criminal reference check, first aid, CPR-C, etc. For more information, please see the Non Academic Requirements page.

Students applying to the Dual Diploma pathway of Social Service Worker/Mental Health And Addiction Worker must successfully complete the first semester of either the Social Service Worker program or the Mental Health and Addiction Worker program.

To enter the Dual Diploma program stream, student must apply internally in Semester 1.

• Apply an anti-oppressive framework when providing respectful, equitable, and effective services to individuals, families, groups, and communities related to substance use, behavioural addictions, and mental health concerns.
• Apply recovery-oriented practices, with consideration of bio-psycho-social-cultural-spiritual factors that contribute to, or protect against, substance use, behavioural addictions, and mental health concerns.
• Create an integrated treatment plan for individuals experiencing concurrent disorders based on screening and assessment finding; providing activities and resources that reflect the client's strengths, needs, and goals.
• Use collaborative care planning and advocacy skills at micro, macro, and mezzo levels to work collaboratively between service providers and the broader sector for effective system navigation
• Select, administer, and interpret the results of evidence-informed tools and methods that inform the care and treatment plan for clients with substance use, behavioural addictions, and mental health concerns.
• Design and implement outreach and prevention programming and/or services for individuals, families, social supports, groups, and communities impacted by substance use, behavioural addictions, and mental health concerns.
• Use community development and health promotion practices to strengthen community capacity and support collective action related to substance use, behavioural addictions, and mental health concerns.
• Use a variety of evidence-informed counselling approaches, modalities, intervention techniques, and relevant methodologies to develop collaborative treatment plans aimed at improving overall well-being of people experiencing substance use, behavioural addictions, and mental health concerns.
• Integrate group work and group facilitation skills across a wide range of community service settings, supporting growth and development of individuals, families, and communities affected by substance use, behavioural addictions, and mental health concerns.
• Apply knowledge of psychoactive substances, including psychotherapeutic medication, to understand their effects and side effects in the treatment of individuals with mental health, substance use, and concurrent disorders.
• Conduct interventions in a manner that emphasizes safety and self-determination for individuals and families impacted by trauma
• Conduct oneself in a professional and ethical manner when practicing as a Mental Health and addiction worker to safeguard both self and others.
• Demonstrate a commitment to competent practice through continuous professional development and application of self-care practices.

PC / Windows

• Operating System:
  Windows 10
• Processor:
  Core i5 - 1.6Ghz minimum
• Memory:
  8GB minimum
• Hard Disk:
  160GB minimum

Apple / MacOS

• Operating System:
  MacOS 10.12 or newer
• Processor:
  Core i5 6th Gen or better
• Memory:
  8GB minimum
• Hard Disk:
  160GB minimum

Internet Connection: 2.5 Mbps Download and 3.0 Mbps Upload (minimum)