Sheridan College, SSW Program, Social Service Practice
CSRV17749 Social Service Practice
Group Role Play Assignment (30%)
Purpose:
1. To illustrate effective helping skills, helping values and social service roles by developing a
simulated role play with a client or clients from an identified marginalized population.
The topics include LGBTQ+, older adults, new immigrants, indigenous populations, women
and children experiencing violence, people experiencing mental health concerns/addictions,
people with exceptionalities (disabilities), and people who are in poverty/homelessnes.
2. To engage in written and verbal reflection about all aspects of the assignment in order to
connect theory to practice and consolidate learning.
The interviews will be carried out live in the classroom. Groups are to share their draft plan
with the Professor before the mid-term break.
Directions:
Students will form teams of 4 – 5, and will work together to create a scenario which involves a
client from your chosen marginalized population attending an interview (or interviews) with a
social service worker. The team will decide which of the helping skills, roles and values they
wish to illustrate. Each team member will be responsible for one of the following four roles:
• Social service worker (counsellor)
• Social service worker (broker)
• Client
• Facilitator
Scenarios can involve two SSW’s or two clients if the group has more than four members.
Presentations will be scheduled during week’s 11-13.
Student Roles:
• Social service worker (counsellor) and Social service worker (broker) - Will portray
verbal and non-verbal helping skills and values according to the helping roles designated
by the scenario. They will be expected to model the skills taught in class.
• Client - Will portray verbal and non-verbal communication ‘as if’ they were the client in
the scenario. This requires an effort to play the client role as if they are in that client’s
shoes (empathy).
•
Facilitator - Introduce the team members, presentation and role play scenario; prepare
three open-ended questions to facilitate a class discussion of the interview; and invite
feedback after the presentation about what was done well and areas for improvement.
All members will carry out the role of researcher. Together they will explore the following:
• Who is the population?
• Statistics
• What are the typical issues or challenges faced by this population?
• Are there issues of oppression and discrimination that this group faces?
• What local agencies provide services or resources?
These research findings will be collated into a professional handout which will be
shared during the presentation day and posted on SLATE.
