UFV School of Social Work and Human Services
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Transcript UFV School of Social Work and Human Services
UFV
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK AND HUMAN
SERVICES
Field Instructor Training:
Everything You Need to Know
Objectives
Participants will increase their knowledge of The UFV Social Work
Field Education Program
Participants will develop an understanding of the stages and roles
inherent in the field instruction experience
Participants will gain insight into the process and skills involved in the
Student/Field Instructor relationship
Participants will become familiar with the basic requirements and
expectations of educational supervision
Overview
School of Social Work and Human Services
Diploma Program
Bachelor of Social Work Program
Master of Social Work Program
Differences in Field Placements between Programs
Diploma :
shorter time frame
May be more observation based
Background of field supervisor may vary
Bachelor of Social Work
3 – 4 days per week over 15 weeks
Professional program
Expectation for students to be engaged in direct practice
Supervisor to have a Social Work background
1-1.5 hours of direct supervision per week
Engaged in a variety of activities
Higher level course work, integration
of theory and practice
Glossary of terms
Field Education Coordinator
Field Instructor
Faculty Liaison
Social Work Consultant
Bachelor of Social Work
Fully accredited program
Accept approximately 40-50 students per year
Two field placements –
one
in 3rd year, one in 4th year
Diverse population of students
Admit students from across Lower Mainland
Students must meet strict criteria to pursue field
placement
BSW Field Education Objectives
Upon successful completion of the field education practicum,
students will be able to:
•Identify with social work as a regulated profession
•Critically assess social work practice experiences through
reflection, peer review, constructive feedback and consultation
•Examine, through critical reflection and discussion, the various
applications of theory to
practice and the suitability of various practice methods
•Identify, apply, and reflect on their social work knowledge,
values, and skills in developing
their social work practice
•Understand and articulate the various contexts of social work
practice e.g. community, organizational, social, political and
ideological
• Develop and practice effective assessment, planning,
intervention, termination and
evaluation skills
BSW Field Education Objectives
•Develop an understanding of social justice as it relates to social work
practice
•Develop an understanding of the relationship between social policy
and social work practice, and the impact of social change
•Develop an awareness of and demonstrate respect for human
diversity in all its forms
•Develop and practice effective communication skills (verbal, nonverbal, written)
•Develop knowledge of and demonstrate effective use of self
•Work collaboratively as part of an inter-disciplinary team
•Actively participate in class discussions and supervision as an adult
learning opportunity
•Understand and apply the Social Work Code of Ethics and Standards
of Practice
• Demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively and collectively with
other students and agency staff in furthering learning and professional
development
•Continue the process of integrating social work theory into practice
Characteristics of placement
Block placements for winter and fall terms
3rd year: 315 hours
4th year: 420 hours.
Try to incorporate all three levels of practice
Generalist Practice
Definition:
Characterized by a variety of roles and different levels of
practice:
Micro
Mezzo
Macro
Levels of Practice
Micro :
individuals, Families and Small
groups
Mezzo:
Organizations and Formal Groups
Macro:
Communities and Societies
Social Work Profession: Social Work
Professional Associations
Reflection
What has drawn you to the Field Instructor Role?
Make a note of three characteristics of supervision
that you valued and three things that concerned you
as a student in your own field placement.
Do
you think you can offer the first three and avoid the
second three?
Factors to consider before supervising a student
Are you ready to have a supervise a student?
Does your agency support having a student, what sort of work is available for the
student
How will you determine the right ‘fit’ between you, the student and the agency?
What would you expect of a supervisor if you were a student?
What characteristics of supervision do you think are important?
What do you know about teaching?
Preparing for Supervision
What is the structure of the relationship?
What are the process dynamics of the relationship?
How do you make sure the relationship follows
ethical guidelines?
Changing Roles
Think about your changing roles:
Supervisee – supervisor – educator
Doer to explainer
Service provider to service critic and analyst
Conveyer and interpreter of theory to practice
Employee to advocate to have a secure learning
environment in your organization
Consumer of professional education to educator,
collaborator with other social work educators
Some suggestions
Keep a field instruction journal
Reflective
in nature
Great modeling
Listen and convey a nonjudgmental attitude
Accept criticism
Discuss diversity openly
Be clear about expectations
Demonstrate consistency and structure
Manage the power differentials
Field Education
Important part of professional education
Opportunity for the student to apply what has been
learned in the classroom to actual situations
Experience the role of a social worker
Field Placement Content
Placement process
Initial interview
Timesheet
Learning contract
Mid-term evaluation
Final evaluation
Journals for Faculty Liaison
Feedback forms
Agency Expectations
Planned and structured learning experience
Clear statement of your learning and performance expectations
Orientation to the agency, staff and programs
Consistent professional and educational supervision throughout the placement
Opportunity for individual and group learning experiences
Respectful and ethical treatment by field instructors and faculty
A evaluation process that provides the student with both positive feedback and constructive
criticism
Expectations of students
Practice professional habits
Be proactive
View the field placement as a process
Seek opportunities to go beyond expectations
Manage your time effectively
Abide by expectations for professional behaviour
Actively pursue your learning goals
Leave a legacy for the agency
Getting Ready
How do you get ready for a student?
Find
a space, collect paperwork for computer access,
Prepare the agency
What supports are available for field supervisors?
Secure supervision time
Engage agency staff in task supervision
Think about your supervisory style
Preparation
Be realistic about our limitations
Identify with what it is like to be supervised
Identify what makes you anxious
Respect the student’s desire to learn
Be prepared to listen carefully
Recognize and handle resistance
Build a trusting relationship
Develop a frame of reference for critical thinking
Explore learning opportunities in agency
Open ourselves to other ways of knowing and learning
Apply your clinical skills to your role as teachers, not counsellors
Points to consider
Field instruction is very rewarding yet demanding and time consuming
Barriers or blocks to effectiveness will surface
Be conscious of tendencies to overprotect students or overestimate their abilities
Expect to work with a diverse group of students
Rapport building with students happens over time
Openly discuss the fit of personal style and professional style
Conflicts between educational expectations and agency based practice might
emerge
Consider the time it takes to secure possible assignments within the organization
Openly discuss power and authority
Points to consider cont’d
Expect questions that challenge protocols
Know that mistakes will be made, this is a natural
part of the learning process
Linking theory to practice
Can you describe the knowledge, skills and values
that underpin your approach to practice? Can you
answer these questions?
Why something occurred
How were ideas put into practice
What matters to them as social workers
Phases of the Field Placement
Beginning Phase:
Individual
Discuss the supervisory relationship
Agency
Supervisory Level
level
Agency structures, policies, confidentiality, safety,
Community
level
Resources, services , how is it defined, social policies
Learning Contract
To be developed by student and field instructor is to
provide input regarding learning opportunities and
evaluation
Steps to developing the learning plan
Review the Social Work program expectations
Identify the differences between goals, objectives and outcomes
Goals: broad, general statements about what you intend to learn
Objectives: specific steps that lead to the accomplishments of goals
Outcomes: the end results that are produced by your accomplishments that can
be measured or observed
A Goal Should be specific, performance-oriented, identifies your involvement in
accomplishing the goal, is realistic and can be accomplished during the
practicum and
observable and can be measured
Range of student assignments
Micro
Mezzo
Macro
4 key components within these realms:
Diversity
Timing
and pacing
Environments
Settings
Orientation to Agency and the
community
What are some ways that you can orient the student
to the agency and the community ?
What are some factors to consider?
Social Justice in the Field Placement
What is Social Justice?
Social Action activities include
lobbying
Face to face contact
Letter writing
E-mail
Telephone contact
Demonstrations
Testifying before committees
Media work
Civil disobedience actions
Social Justice
Social justice activities can begin with client experiences
Try to raise clients’ awareness
Explore your direct involvement with committees, groups or coalitions of which
your agency is a member
Consider social action activities of affiliated agencies or advocacy efforts that
you would interest you.
Be sure to be realistic about your role within the time frame of your field
placement
Professionalism
The Field placement is a key avenue for students to
learn how professionalism is translated into practice.
How can you as the field instructor teach students
about professionalism?
evaluations
Evaluations at mid-term and end of term
To be completed jointly by student and field
instructor
Comments are very important in the evaluations
Ethics in the Field Placement
Know the Code of Ethics
Confidentiality
Client right to self-determination
Boundaries/Dual Relationships
Professionalism
Issues in the field
Professional suitability
Process for addressing concerns
first
speak directly with the student
inform the Faculty Liaison
may require a meeting with the student and the faculty
liaison and field instructor
document
Disability accommodation
It is important to have this discussion with the
student.
Physical
disabilities
Learning disabilities
Health/mental health issues
What else might I do to support every aspect of
your learning?
SWHS Field Placement Policies
Student Professional Behaviour Policy
Students Experiencing Difficulty in the Field
Harassment and Discrimination
Labour Disputes and Strike Procedures
Witnessing Client Documents
Confidentiality
Use of Personal Vehicle During Field Placement
Personal Safety and Security in the Field Placement
Liability and Insurance
Extension of Field Placement
Workplace Field Placements
Volunteering After Completion of the Field Placement
Receiving Salary for the Field Placement
Accommodation for Disability During Field Placement
Potential risks in placement
The field placement is a time for personal and
professional growth, for taking risks, learning limits and
setting boundaries. Challenge is to know which risk to
take and which to avoid.
Personal safety
Professional liability
Automobile liability
Client office visits
Home visits
Unpredictable behaviours in institutions
After hours meetings
Vicarious/Secondary Trauma
The normal reaction to the stressful and sometimes traumatizing work with
victims (Grobman, p. 102)
Field Instructors should educate students in this area and make themselves
aware of the symptoms
Discuss secondary trauma with the student early in the field placement to
ensure there is an awareness of its existence, symptoms, prevention, and
treatment
It is helpful to have a therapist/counsellor to talk to while in their field
placement
References
Grobman, Linda May, 2002, The Field Placement Survival Guide: What You Need To
Know To Get the Most From Your Social Work Practicum, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,
White Hat Communications
O’Hare, Thomas, 2009, Essential Skills of Social Work Practice: Assessment,
Intervention, and Evaluation, Chicago, Illinois, Lyceum Books Inc.