Introduction
Do you believe having a positive and direct impact on the lives of people with developmental disabilities is a career worth pursuing? Are you looking for personal and professional satisfaction on a daily basis? If so, Fanshawe's Developmental Services Worker (DSW) program will guide you toward your goals.
Using a biopsychosocial approach to complex needs, you'll become a highly skilled and reflective practitioner supporting people of all ages to live as independently as possible, while promoting inclusive communities. Your courses will be dynamic with a focus on mental and physical health, interpersonal skills, teaching, and positive behavior supports. You'll learn how to collaborate and build relationships with family members, and to work with the diverse network of professionals who support people with developmental disabilities. And with over 700 hours of field experience with community agencies and school partners, you'll gain first-hand experience and confidence necessary for success. You'll also have the opportunity to transfer credits for further education at universities such as Ryerson, Windsor, Calgary, and Western.
High demand DSW jobs
Fanshawe DSW program graduates are in high demand. The majority of grads - if not all - find fulfilling employment within 6 months as direct support professionals, case managers/service coordinators or as educational assistants at a School Board.
Other Information
Adult applicants who have developed emotional maturity and stability through a few years of involvement in related work are encouraged to apply. Applicants must meet the admission requirements.
There is a particular need for male Developmental Services Workers.
Fieldwork constitutes half the training experience of this program. Students should be prepared for some additional personal costs.
Students on field placement are required to work evening shifts.
Students who graduate from this program and wish to transfer to another Community Studies program at Fanshawe College may qualify for some internal credits that have already been achieved.
Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
Conduct oneself in an ethical*, competent* and accountable* manner in all professional relationships.
Provide person-directed supports and services that respect and promote self-determination for people with developmental disabilities
Provide for the safety of people with developmental disabilities, self, and others in compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations, and standards of practice*.
Support the health and well-being of people with developmental disabilities.
Employ and adapt formal and informal strategies to support the learning of people with developmental disabilities.
Provide leadership in the development of inclusive communities*.
Develop professional and personal plans that enhance job performance and well-being.
Courses
Level 1
General Education - Take a 3 credit General Education elective course.
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
BSCI-1007 Abnormal Psychology/Dual Diagnosis
BSCI-1010 Developmental Psychology
WRIT-1094 Reason & Writing 1 for Community Studies
BSCI-1207 Developmental Disabilities 1
PHIL-1016 Philosophy of Support
HLTH-1197 Health & Wellness 1
BSCI-1208 Person-Directed Plans
DEVL-1055 Professionalism 1
Level 2
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
Group 1
BSCI-1020 Augmentative Communication
BSCI-1023 Teaching Strategies
BSCI-1027 Intervention Strategies 1
COMM-3082 Communications for Community Studies
BSCI-1211 Developmental Disabilities 2
HLTH-1198 Health & Wellness 2
DEVL-3007 Professionalism 2
Group 2
Take the following mandatory course: (minimum grade B)
PHRM-3019 Pharmacology in DSW
Group 3
Take the following mandatory course: (minimum grade C)
BSCI-1262 Observations, Records & Accountability
Level 3
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
Group 1
BSCI-3041 Intervention Strategies 2
HLTH-3038 Health & Wellness 3
FLDP-1014 Field Placement 1
BSCI-1212 Social Services
DEVL-3009 Professionalism 3
Group 2
Take the following mandatory course: (minimum grade C)
BSCI-1213 Abuse
Level 4
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
HLTH-3039 Health & Wellness 4
BSCI-1214 Community Building
FLDP-3017 Field Placement 2
General Education - Electives
Take 3 General Education Credits - Normally Taken in Level 1
Program Residency
Students must complete a minimum of 22 credits in this program at Fanshawe College to meet the program residency requirement and graduate from this program.
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Admission Requirements
OSSD with courses from the College (C), University (U), University/College (M), or Open (O) stream with:
Any Grade 12 English (C) or (U)
or
Academic and Career Entrance Certificate (ACE)
or
Human Services Foundation Ontario College Certificate and:
standing in the required course stated above
or
Ontario High School Equivalency Certificate (GED)
or
Mature Applicant with standing in the required course stated above
English Language Requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English by one of the following methods:
A Grade 12 College Stream or University Stream English credit from an Ontario Secondary School, or equivalent, depending on the program's Admission Requirements
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test with a minimum score of 79 for the Internet-based test (iBT), with test results within the last two years
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test with an overall score of 6.0 with no score less than 5.5 in any of the four bands, with test results within the last two years
Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) test with an overall score of 60 with no score less than 50 in any of the four bands, with test results within the last two years
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) with a minimum score of 53, with test results within the last two years
A Cambridge English Test (FCE/CAE/CPE) with an overall score on the Cambridge English Scale of 169 with no language skill less than 162, with test results within the last two years
An English Language Evaluation (ELE) at Fanshawe College with a minimum score of 70% in all sections of the test, with test results within the last two years
Fanshawe College ESL4/GAP5 students: Minimum grade of 80% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 8, 75% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 9, or 70% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 10
Recommended Academic Preparation
Any Grade 12 Mathematics (C) or (U)
Grade 11 or Grade 12 Biology (C) or (U)
Grade 11 or Grade 12 Chemistry (C) or (U)
Grade 11 Raising Healthy Children (O)
Grade 11 Working with Infants and Young Children (C)
Grade 12 Challenge and Change in Society (U)
Grade 12 Families in Canada (C) or (U)
Grade 12 Human Development Throughout the Lifespan (M)
Recommended Personal Preparation
Students should develop personal responsibility and leadership traits by participating in school and social organizations which are concerned with helping people
Work or volunteer experience in this field is important
Applicant Selection Criteria
Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:
Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario.
Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full).
Achievement in the Admission Requirements.
Note:Admission to the Fanshawe College Human Services Foundation program does not guarantee admission in a subsequent year to the Developmental Services Worker program. Successful completion of the Fanshawe College Human Services Foundation program, however, does enable the student to be given additional consideration when applying to the Developmental Services Worker program. The Human Services Foundation program is the preferred designated preparatory program for admission to the Developmental Services Worker program.
Post-Admission Requirements
The following items are applicable to the program and are time-sensitive.
Possession of a Standard First Aid course certificate (either St. John Ambulance or Canadian Red Cross or equivalent) and a Basic Rescuer course certificate (Level "C" CPR)
Evidence of Good Health
Police Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening, including a check of the Pardoned Sexual Offenders Database
Placement Agreement
Career Opportunities
Graduates from this program will be employed within community-based agencies and boards of education to work with persons with developmental disabilities. Graduates are trained to provide accommodation, advocacy, education, employment, and leisure support. As well, the graduates have training in life skills, counseling, advocacy, health, and pharmacology.
