University of Toronto

The not-for profit sector is primarily responsible for the delivery of social services in Canada. Discussions with community leaders in the social service sector have identified a critical need for people who are able to assume leadership roles in the field. In addition, a recent report sponsored by the Wellesley Institute identified a key administrative concern as follows: “Senior managers are very aware and worried that they cannot replace themselves. Senior managers reported that frontline staff are reluctant to take on management jobs. Moreover, the agencies do not have the administrative capacity to train the next generation of senior managers.”

In response to an identified need in the social service sector for individuals with the skills and knowledge to lead and manage social service agencies, the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work has developed an Advanced Diploma in Social Service Administration. The goal of this program is to provide a rigorous, comprehensive grounding in the key values, skills and knowledge required by administrators, managers and leaders of social service organizations. It is geared towards individuals with Master’s degrees currently practicing in the social services field.