If you’re the type of person who loves helping others and feels rewarded when you see your community thrive, then a career as a community service worker might be for you. Community service workers create tangible positive changes and growth for the members of their community, which is difficult but highly rewarding work. If you’re interested in becoming a community service worker, here’s what a day in your life might look like.

It’s All About Variety

The life of a community service worker can’t be described easily—it’s not a one-shoe-fits-all job. Community service workers could sit in an office, or have the bulk of their work happen on their feet. This is because community service covers a broad spectrum of areas, including

• Home Care
• Senior Care
• Disability Support
• Mental Health and Counselling
• Community Care
• Adult Protective Services

Some of the more specific roles under these umbrella areas can include being a caseworker, counsellor, crisis intervention worker, advocate, child protection officer, halfway house supervisor, personal caregiver, and more.

Working in an Organisation

Many community service workers are employed by a community center or organisation, meaning that they primarily conduct office duties—but that’s not all they do. Office duties can include assessing patients/clients, planning and executing community support programs, etc. Other duties can include providing personal care to patients, including feeding and grooming. Your patients or clients can range from seniors to homeless families, to teenagers.   In the case that you are employed in a long-term care facility, you may have to work closely with patients with mental and physical disabilities. In this case, you will likely be involved in shift work. In a long-term care center, your shift will start by meeting the previous shift’s staff to get updated on any events. After this, you will take over and continue with your shift by preparing for the activities of the day and helping your patients get ready. You may have to help them shower, get dressed, and eat. Once your shift is over, you will need to write a report and prepare the staff for their shift takeover from you.

Working as a Personal Caregiver

Community service workers who work on a personal level will typically provide in-home care, where they assist the client with daily activities like cleaning, cooking, and running errands, as well as bathing and grooming them. Depending on the client and their needs, your responsibilities will change as well.   Some clients may need more help with physical activities, while others might be isolated and require more emotional and mental support.

How Can You Become a Community Service Worker?

The main skills and attributes that community service workers need are a passion for helping others, the ability to self-motivate, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. That being said, it’s important to learn the other skills required to become a successful community service worker—including counselling techniques, crisis intervention, conflict resolution strategies, risk assessment, and more.   At Computek College, we teach all of this and more with our Community Service Worker Diploma Program. Our goal is always to prepare our students to hit the ground running, which is why we focus on practical and theoretical learning equally. If you’re interested in starting your career as a community service worker, call us at 416-321-9911 or visit our website today!