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Home / Essential Skills Profile / Community and Social Service Workers / Communication

Communication

Level 2

Community and Social Service Workers

  • respond to requests for information and help
  • ask questions about clients’ needs
  • outline what their organization does
  • refer clients to other services
Level 3

Community and Social Service Workers

  • discuss social work practices, programs and clients with co-workers
    Examples

    • community and social service workers share information about community resources, best social work practices, administrative process and program planning at regular staff meetings
    • group home workers discuss concerns about clients’ behaviors with the group home operators
  • advocate for clients with colleagues and co-workers
    • before boards
    • in court
    • at social planning meetings

    Example

    • a mental health worker may speak with members of an appeal committee to advocate for the return of a client’s financial benefits
  • interview clients to assess their needs and goals
    • ask questions to get information about clients’ backgrounds, case histories and current situations
    • discuss clients’ goals, explain action plans and suggest resources

    Examples

    • a social service eligibility worker explains what disability benefits are available to a client
    • a settlement worker interviews a new immigrant to get information about the client’s background and employment plans in Canada
  • work with clients who are struggling with personal problems
  • work with clients who have social problems
  • give emotional support and talk about strategies to help clients’ change their behaviors and improve their coping skills
    Examples

    • a drop-in centre worker listens to a client who is upset about not being able to find housing they can afford and talks to them
    • about ways to cope
    • a family worker talks with a client’s new partner and how this might affect the family
    • a halfway house worker counsels a resident about how to deal in a positive way with her anger
  • deliver presentations and workshops to groups of clients, co-workers, colleagues and committee members

 

Methods of Communication

Community and Social Service Workers communicate

  • in person
  • using a TTY, videophone, blackberry or email