Community Social Services (CSS) Placements

During your four years here, you will participate in three practicums, starting in your second year of study and continuing in your third and fourth years. You will earn approximately 850 placement hours.

How to Set Up Your Placement

1. Meet with your CSS Career & Placement Coordinator, Lindsay Van Dekerkhove, to discuss your learning objectives. To contact Lindsay, email Lindsay.vandekerkhove@guelphhumber.ca or through MS Teams.

2. Apply for your Criminal Reference Checks (CRC) and/or Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) during the last week of May to ensure your CRC/VSS is valid for the entire academic year. You must submit your processed CRC and VSS to GHworks by the second week of August.

CRC/VSS are completed in the area where you have a permanent residence.

Students who live in Toronto can contact their FPC for VSS Application information.

3. Research social service agencies.

Examples include:

• settlement.org
• 211toronto.ca
• peelregion.ca/social-services
• peel.cioc.ca
• york.cioc.ca
• halton.cioc.ca

Do not contact the field agency until authorized by the FPC.

For more information, please read the Field Placement Manual (Request a different format)

4. Complete field placement documentation and forms.

All required documents can be found on GHworks.

• Practicum Partner Agreement Form
• Student Agreement Form
• Student Declaration of Understanding (Workplace Safety Insurance) Form
• Practicum Confirmation Form
• Practicum Agreement Form

**You must upload all forms to GHworks for approval from your Field Placement Coordinator to be eligible for field placement.

Field Placement Descriptions

FCSS 2040 – Foundation Practicum I

110 hours

During your second year, take part in the day-to-day operations of a social services agency. Spend a minimum of 7.5 hours per week at an assigned field placement agency as well as one full week in placement. Debrief about placement and discuss experiences in your foundation practicum course.

FCSS 3120/3130 – Intermediate Practicum II & III

370 hours

During your third year, build on the foundation practicum by spending a minimum of 15 hours per week at an assigned field placement agency as well as two full weeks in placement. In addition to frontline work experience with a human services agency, attend a biweekly seminar class to discuss issues and topics that come up in your placement.

FCSS 4120-4130 – Advanced Practicum IV & V

370 hours

During your fourth year, prepare for the transition into the social service profession. Spend a minimum of 15 hours per week in an assigned field placement agency as well as two full weeks placement. Along with supervised field placement in a community or social service agency, attend a seminar class to discuss issues and topics that come up in your placement.

For more information, please connect with your Field Placement Coordinator.