Transcript Slide 1

MENTORING STUDENTS
FOR PROFESSIONAL
SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
Pamela Long, ACSW, LCSW
Director of Field Education
St. Ambrose University School of Social Work
Field Orientation for
Agency Field Instructors
August 21, 2012~ 54th St Building
This Morning’s Content
• Mission of St. Ambrose University School of Social Work
• The Central Importance of Field Education
• Competency Based Education
• The Learning Agreement and Evaluation of Learning
• Applications, Practical Matters and Discussion
Purpose of Social Work
• The purpose of the social work profession is to promote
human and community well-being. Guided by a person
and environment construct, a global perspective,
respect for human diversity, and knowledge based on
scientific inquiry, social work’s purpose is actualized
through its quest for social and economic justice, the
prevention of conditions that limit human rights, the
elimination of poverty, and the enhancement of the
quality of life for all persons (CSWE).
Goals of Social Work
• To enhance social functioning of individuals, families,
groups, organizations, and communities
• To link client systems with needed resources
• To improve the operation of the social service delivery
network
• To promote social justice through development of
social policy
St Ambrose University School of
Social Work Mission and Goals
To prepare competent and ethical social
work professionals who enrich lives
and advocate a just society.
Consultancy
Resource
Management
Education
Micro Practice
Counseling with
families;
In home services
to prevent child
placement
Linking families
with community
resources
(case
management)
Providing
groups services
to learn about
parenting
MidLevel
Practice
Facilitating
organizational
change to prevent
staff burn out
Coordinating
service delivery
planning among
local agencies
Implementing
training on
mandatory child
abuse reporting
at agencies
MacroLevel
Practice
Participating in
community
planning for child
welfare
Developing
funding base for
child welfare
services
Begin a public
education
campaign for
child protective
services
Empowerment: What it is *Not*
• Entitlement
• Something one
bestows or receives
from someone….we
do not “empower”
clients.
• Necessarily easy for
students to understand
and to practice
The Empowerment Method
• Empowerment practice directs social workers to
address challenges at all system levels
• Empowerment is achieved through synchronized
efforts that work with - not on - people, their
relationships, and the impinging social and political
environment.
• An empowering approach reveals the worker's
unwavering commitment to social justice.
Empowerment Method
• The empowerment method focuses on the
achievement of goals and change of systems by
utilizing available strengths, resilience, and
resources.
• By focusing on competence rather than deficits in
individual or social functioning, the empowerment
model supports resourcefulness and the
development of skills to remove social barriers for
individuals and communities.
THE CENTRAL IMPORTANCE
OF FIELD EDUCATION IN THE
CURRICULUM
Signature Pedagogy
Field as Signature Pedagogy
“Field education is systematically designed,
supervised, coordinated, and evaluated on the
basis of criteria by which a student demonstrates
the achievement of program competencies”
(EPAS, 2008, Section 2.3).
Competency Based Education
• A defined set of specific skill competencies
• Establishment of individual learning goals based on these
competencies
• Assessment of student skill level based on these
competencies at beginning and completion of field
• Integration of classroom and fieldwork
Competencies
Knowledge,
Values, Skills
Traits and
Characteristics
Traits and Characteristics
• Personal Qualities
• Approach to Learning
• Ability to Conceptualize Practice
• Relational Abilities
• Behavior in the Organization
(Bogo and Powers)
Educating for Competencies
FROM THE CONCEPTUAL
TO THE PRACTICAL….
Turning to your folder.
The Competency-Based Learning
Agreement
• Competency Areas
• Practice Behaviors
• Indicators
• Evaluation
The Learning Agreement and other Tools
• Knowledge, Values and Skill Indicators for Practice
Behaviors
• Learning Agreement
• Attendance Log
• Field Instruction Student Competency Portfolio
• Mid Semester Evaluation (student)
• Semester End Evaluation Form (agency field supervisor)
Core Competencies - CSWE
• 2.1.1 Identify with the social work profession and
behave professionally.
• 2.1.2 Apply social work ethical principles to guide
professional practice.
• 2.1.3 Apply critical thinking to inform and
communicate professional judgments.
Core Competencies, Continued
• 2.1.4 Engage in diversity and difference in practice.
• 2.1.5 Promote human rights and social justice.
• 2.1.6 Engage in research informed practice and
practice informed research.
• 2.1.7 Apply knowledge of human behavior in the
social environment.
Core Competencies – cont’d
• 2.1.8 Engage in policy practice to deliver effective
social work services.
• 2.1.9 Respond to and shape an ever changing
professional context.
• 2.1.10 Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with
individuals, families, groups, organizations, and
communities.
Preparing for your Student
Orientation to Agency
General Supervision Issues
Feedback from the Field
Prior to Intern’s Arrival
• Inform staff of intern
• Educate staff
• Identify tasks and assignment
• Formal and informal supervision
• Physical space
• Orientation
• Training needs and materials
Agency Orientation
• Multiple purposes
• Welcomes a student
• Reduce student anxiety
• Saves student from seeking out information
• Enhances the learning process
• Socialization to the Profession
• Information on the placement site
• Builds relationship
Agency Orientation
• Physical Space and Office
Procedures
• Description of the organizational
culture
• Parking facilities and rules
• Dress requirements
•
Security/Risk Management
Agency Orientation
• Mission statement/goals
• Annual report
• Brochures, public information literature
• Website
• Organizational Chart
• Job descriptions
• Policy and Procedures Manuals
• Reporting lines—staffing hierarchy
• Funding Sources
• Personnel Manual
Practicum Orientation
• Discuss confidentiality policies and procedures, including
social networking
• Orient student to documentation used in the agency
• Discuss intern’s role and expectations
• Describe expectations for supervision and establish a set
weekly supervision time
• Formulate a plan to develop the learning agreement
Practicum Orientation, Cont'd
• Provide relevant reading materials
• Discuss a plan for student to become familiar with
community resources
• Discuss opportunities where student can observe the
work of the agency
• State clearly how the student should identify themselves
in writing and orally
• Discuss teaching and learning style issues
Nuts and Bolts
• Office procedures
• Phone usage
• Signing in and out
• Lunch breaks
• Parking
• Travel reimbursement
• Scheduling clients
• Office machines
• Insurance
• Agency hours
• Computer system
• Culture
• Parking
• Dress requirements
• Special security
precautions
Field Instructor Behaviors
Valued by Students
• Emotionally Supportive Behaviors
• Designed to convey acceptance of the student and
encourage her/his accurate self awareness
• Autonomy-giving Behaviors
• Designed to encourage student independence
• Evaluative Behaviors
• Designed to give formal and informal feedback on
performance
• Cognitive Structuring Behaviors
• Designed to support student in linking theory and practice
Wrap Up
• Discussion
• Folder Material
• Final Thoughts/Questions