DCS – Social Service

Social service technicians generally work in facilities overseen by the Ministry of Health and Social Services such as youth centers, local community service centers, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and rehabilitation centers. They may also be employed by the Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale du Québec or by school boards. Lastly, social service technicians may also work in community organizations such as community centers, shelters, support groups, human rights groups, and public education groups.

These technicians often work as part of a multidisciplinary team and demonstrate a great deal of autonomy in carrying out interventions. Although the tasks they are entrusted with vary depending on their work environment, social service technicians are ultimately responsible for choosing how best to intervene in various situations.

Social service technicians, for the most part, work directly with individuals, families, groups, and communities. The intervention goals they set vary depending on the situation and can include: preventing problematic situations from occurring, resolving problems by supporting individuals in making changes, or fostering collective change. Because their work mainly involves supporting individuals in their environments and aiming for a successful social reintegration, social service technicians often find themselves contributing to the development of resources and services of all types to foster overall social and community development (Les Cégeps du Québec).