F/T and 2-Year Year 1 MSW Applying For Placement Orientation May 17, 2011 May 17, 2011

Introductions Sheryl Abraham – Assistant Field Education Coordinator – , ext Vina Sandher – Field Education Manager – ext

Introduction to the School of Social Work Placement Process Student’s Obligations in the Placement Process Factors for Agencies to Consider Factors the Field Office Considers MSW Practicum Road Map Researching Agencies Factors for Student’s to Consider Work Placements International Placements Cover Letters and Resumes Interviews Pre-Placement Agency Requirements Confirmation of Placement Process Accommodations Technical Support MSW Applying For Placement Orientation

The School’s Mission Statement Critical Social Work Perspective Anti-Oppressive Practice Social Justice Issues

We encourage you to think about your placement in terms of the social justice issues you wish to address and the skills you will need to develop to do so effectively.

Placement Process Collaboration between Field Office and Student is essential All placements must be confirmed by the Field Office Field Office StudentAgency

Student’s Obligations in the Placement Process Students are not guaranteed a placement simply because they have completed the academic portion of their degree Students are expected to demonstrate readiness for practice in the process of securing a placement in addition to the fulfillment of the practicum hours

Student’s Obligations in the Placement Process Completing the on-line placement application Complete core courses Know what skills you want out the placement and be able to express this when meeting with the Field Office and with agencies Informing the Field Office of interviews before they happen Following up with agencies as required and as appropriate Being professional

Factors for Agencies to Consider Agency support in taking a student Interest in taking students Learning opportunities Supervision Physical Space Timelines of placement

Factors the Field Office Considers Non-Profit Agency Agency’s social work philosophy Educational qualifications of Field Instructors Supervision Learning opportunities Practicum, not an Internship Legal Requirements for the Agency

The placement process can take some time because of the previous factors. We work on your first two choices. If you are feeling anxious, please feel free to me to set up an in-person or telephone meeting.

MSW Practicum Road Map Site search Advising Appointment Selection of top 4 placement choices Application submitted latest by: Monday September 12 th, 2011 Interview with Placement site –Tell the Field Office before it happens –Placement is still not guaranteed Field Office follows up with the Field Instructor Confirmation of Placement Package if everything is okay Beginning Placement Orientation (Dec. and Jan.)

Placement Timelines 450 Hours 3 Full Days/Week –Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Begins after January 4 th 2012 Ends May 2012

Internet Sites: 211Toronto SW Database Advising Appointment Researching Agencies

Social Work Populations Elderly Families Women Youth Different Abilities Substance Use Issues Newcomers to Canada LGBTQ Aboriginal

Social Work Direct Practice Skills Case-management Counseling Assessment Referrals - Knowledge of Community Resources Documentation Outreach Advocacy

Social Work Practice Skills/Settings (cont’d.) Grant Writing Program Development Community Development Policy Research

Social Work Practice Day September pm and/or 1:30-4:30pm Please RSVP to attend

Geographic Regions

Do you take un-paid placement students? Do you have a social worker with a social work degree on site (MSW). If not, do you have someone interested in taking a student at this time? If so, what is their educational background? What are the learning opportunities at this agency? May I have the potential field instructor’s contact information? (name, phone number, ext., and address) Note: (1) this information to the MSW Assistant Field Education Coordinator if you are interested in this agency. The Field Office can follow-up from there. (2) Please bear in mind the possible placement may still not meet our other requirements or other factors may be involved Questions Student’s Can Ask Agencies the Field Office Does Not Have Connections With

Factors for Students to Consider Past work / volunteer experience Education / Training Social work issues / population Skill development Supervision Learning style Self-care practices

Work Placements Criteria to be met Contact the Field Office to discuss Proposal to be ed to Assistant Field Education Coordinator by: September 12th, 2011 (also submit on-line placement application at the same time) All proposals must be approved by Field Education Manager

International Placements Pros and Cons Factors to Consider Timelines

Cover Letter and Resume Work and Volunteer Experience Education Introduce yourself and what you have to offer

Cover Letter and Resume Save resume and cover letter under one document Word doc or.rtf format Save it with first and last name as the title of the document Ex. “Esther NG 2011” Try to keep resume to 2 pages Spell check and have someone else read it over

Cover Letter/Resume Workshop Friday June 24, pm Please RSVP on our website to attend

Interviews Professional Dress Discuss why you chose to explore this agency/setting Discuss what you can offer Be clear about your learning goals Be sure to ask what you will do on a daily basis, what programs you will be exposed to, and who you will be working with Ask how supervision will work Discuss timelines

Interview Workshop Friday August 26, pm Please RSVP to attend

Pre-Placement Agency Requirements Vulnerable Sector Screening License/Access to a car Health Documentation: –**10 year booster shot (MMR and DTP) –**Varicella (Chicken Pox) immunizations –Hep B immunizations –2-step TB test –Mask Fit Test –Flu shot

Confirmation of Placement Process Registration in Practicum Course: –Full-Time Advanced Standing Students: Advanced Practicum Course (W Term) –2-Year, Year 1 Students: Practicum Course (W Term) –MUST register in the Fall although placement starts in the Winter term Confirmation Package from Field Office Beginning Placement Orientation Faculty Liaison (Faculty Advisor or PRS Director)

Accommodations Please contact the Counselling and Development Centre (416) Room N110 Bennett Centre for Student Services

Technical Support

s/accounts/signupinstructions.html YorkU Passport Instructions

Changing Your Personal Information Open Internet Browser On Address Line Type: Click on “Current Students Faculty & Staff”

Changing Your Personal Information Click on “Current Students”

Changing Your Personal Information Click on “My Student Records”

Changing Your Personal Information Click on the information you need to change such as address and contact information, emergency contact information, etc.

Changing Your Personal Information Log in to Passport York and make the necessary changes

Social Work Practicum/Field Placement Database Instructions

Open Internet Browser On Address Line Type: Registering on the Database via Website

Click on “Database Sign In” Registering on the Database via Website

You will be directed to the SOWK Online Application Page. Registering on the Database via Website Select “Students”

This will bring you to the SOWK Online Application –Students Page. Click on “Register new account” for 1 st time users If you were a previous BSW student and are now an MSW student, you will have to register again as an MSW student only once. OR enter your student ID & password (if you have already registered) NOTE: this is different than your Passport York Account Log-in Select MSW or BSW Student (if you have already registered) Click Submit Registering on the Database via Website

Registering on the Database via Website - Agency Search Once you log-in, you will be directed to your Student Profile screen. Click on “Agency Search” at the top right to research possible placement sites.

Registering on the Database via Website - Agency Search When your Agency Search is complete, continue by Clicking on Placement Request to begin the application process. The Agency Search page allows you to search agencies by Name, Address, and City. Click on Placement Search to see all the agencies in the database

There is no list of available agencies for each term The database is a list of agencies we have used in the past but may or may not be available, depends on many factors. Take a look at the posted links/websites to get an idea of what the place is about The search engine is very precise. Be sure to be exact in your spelling Check out: – –Other city’s social services search engines Research on the student’s part is key in the placement process Registering on the Database via Website - Researching Tips

Registering on the Database via Website – Placement Request Be sure to fill out the appropriate program and the Term you are applying for. Provide the number of FULL days per week you will be in placement. Provide emergency contact information and Employment Information. Other personal information will be automatically generated by the database. If any of the personal information is incorrect, please be sure to update it on the main York system.

Type notes, 1-2 lines max. or it will cut you off Registering on the Database via Website – Placement Request

Please ensure that you choose 4 distinctly different agencies (i.e., do not choose more than one location of the same agency as separate choices). If Agency does not exist, click on Other Agency and complete requested information. Attach Resume and Cover letter in one document. You MUST submit your resume and cover letter at the time of your application. Click SUBMIT. SUBMIT Registering on the Database via Website – Placement Request

We work on your first or second choice first Please do not put hospitals, school boards and CAS as your third or fourth choice, if you are interested in these settings, please put them as your first or second choice For example, your choices should look something like this: 1.Hospital (name one here) 2. School Board (name one here) 3.Community Agency (like the Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, etc.) 4.Community Agency (like Women’s Habitat, etc.) Your choices should not look like this: 1. Hospital (name one here) 1. School Board (name one here) 2. Hospital (name one here) 2. School Board (name one here) 3. School Board (name one here) 3. Hospital (name one here) 4. CAS 4. Hospital (name on here) Registering on the Database via Website – Placement Request

Please do not contact agencies we have connections with, please check with us if you are unsure if we have a connection with an agency. Please do not contact Hospitals on your own (hospital’s preference). If you are contacting agencies we do not have connections with, please keep the Field Office informed. This generally makes it a smoother process for agencies and students All placements must be confirmed by the Field Office Registering on the Database via Website – Reminders

Please ensure that you have all documentation completed, for example resume and cover letter (.doc or.rtf format), before submitting your application. No editing privileges are permitted, therefore if you have omitted any details to your application, you will have to start over and complete it again. The application will log you out after 20 minutes of inactivity Please write on the application an alternative address if you do not use your YorkU account. Please note that the “SUBMIT” button will disappear from the on-line database application once the deadline date has passed. Please the Field Office any changes to the application after you have submitted it. Registering on the Database via Website – Reminders

Database Trouble-Shooting and Help? Any questions on the Database Please contact Esther Ng Phone: , ext

Questions / Closing Remarks Thank you for coming Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns