INNOVATIONS IN FIELD INSTRUCTION: A PILOT PROJECT Marian Klemek, MSW, LCSW Coordinator of Field Education Nancy Meyer-Adams, Ph.D, MSW Undergraduate Program Coordinator CSULB, Department of Social Work September 5, 2008

Bending over backwards

More students than you had planned

What to do?

Putting our heads together Finding a solution to benefit agencies, field instructors and studentsFinding a solution to benefit agencies, field instructors and students

NEW IDEA! Instead of finding new internships, can we find a new way to work with the internships we have already established?Instead of finding new internships, can we find a new way to work with the internships we have already established?

What is the junior practicum? BASW students’ first hands-on experience in a social work agency Preparation for senior fieldPreparation for senior field 80 hours in the agency (8 hours per week for 10 weeks)80 hours in the agency (8 hours per week for 10 weeks) Goals:Goals: –Understand generalist social work at a micro, mezzo and macro level –Observe social workers in action by shadowing –Understand the function of the agency and the social work services provided to clients –Complete a written assignment based on activities in the agency

Practicum Assignments BASW students must complete a minimum of 4 interviews with:BASW students must complete a minimum of 4 interviews with: –An agency administrator to learn more about the function of the agency –Two individual clients (in whatever capacity that would be appropriate-e.g. information & referral, initial intake, etc.) –One collateral contact, to understand what and how relevant information about a client is shared and with whom within the context of confidentiality

AND THE IDEA IS….. Field Instructor supervises 2 nd year MSW student/2 nd year MSW student mentors junior BASW student for their 80 hour practicum experience!Field Instructor supervises 2 nd year MSW student/2 nd year MSW student mentors junior BASW student for their 80 hour practicum experience!

Why second- year MSW students: They have successfully completed one year of internshipThey have successfully completed one year of internship They are enrolled in an administrative practice class and learn about supervisionThey are enrolled in an administrative practice class and learn about supervision They rarely experience the role of supervisor even in a macro placementThey rarely experience the role of supervisor even in a macro placement After graduation, social workers who are promoted, are usually promoted into supervisory roles, with no previous hands-on experienceAfter graduation, social workers who are promoted, are usually promoted into supervisory roles, with no previous hands-on experience

How it was organized Letters sent to field instructors of all 2 nd year MSW studentsLetters sent to field instructors of all 2 nd year MSW students Interested field instructors approached their studentsInterested field instructors approached their students Confirmation sent to usConfirmation sent to us Arrangements were made for a pre-placement interviewArrangements were made for a pre-placement interview BASW student accepted for placementBASW student accepted for placement

Our first try: Cohort of 10 junior BASW students and 10 2 nd year MSW studentsCohort of 10 junior BASW students and 10 2 nd year MSW students The agencies includedThe agencies included –Hospice Care –Mental health agencies –School placements –Domestic violence agencies The BASW students were matched with agencies by their experience, learning needs and geography. If the agency was participating in the project, the student was mentored by a 2 nd year MSW studentThe BASW students were matched with agencies by their experience, learning needs and geography. If the agency was participating in the project, the student was mentored by a 2 nd year MSW student

MSW Activities Participated, along with their field instructors, in the pre-placement interview with the BASW studentParticipated, along with their field instructors, in the pre-placement interview with the BASW student Under the guidance of their field instructors, made plans for the BASW’s experiences in the agencyUnder the guidance of their field instructors, made plans for the BASW’s experiences in the agency Provided the one hour of supervision with the BASW studentProvided the one hour of supervision with the BASW student Monitored the BASW’s progressMonitored the BASW’s progress Completed the BASW’s evaluation at the end of the practicum with additional guidance from their field instructorsCompleted the BASW’s evaluation at the end of the practicum with additional guidance from their field instructors

BASW Activities Shadowed the MSW student, as well as other MSW students/practitionersShadowed the MSW student, as well as other MSW students/practitioners –Home visits –Initial intakes –Information & referrals –Co-facilitated/participated in groups –Attended staff meetings, team meetings, and interdisciplinary meetings –Attended Group Supervision

Evaluation of the project Field InstructorsField Instructors –Final Evaluation of Field Experience (Feedback for liaisons and department) –MSW (Comprehensive Skills Evaluation) & BASW (Student Evaluation by Supervisor) –Pilot Project Questionnaire MSW studentsMSW students –Beginning and Mid-semester Pilot Project Questionnaire –Focus groups BASW studentsBASW students –Agency Evaluation –Focus groups

What we learned Field InstructorsField Instructors –Excellent learning opportunity for both BASW and MSW students –Met expectations –MSW students brought mentoring issues to their own supervision –Other feedback from the audience?

What we learned MSW Students MSW Students –Apprehensive at first about their own skill level Can I do this?Can I do this? Will I let the BASW student down?Will I let the BASW student down? –Built confidence in their own skills TeachingTeaching Role modelingRole modeling Supervisory/mentoringSupervisory/mentoring Interviewing and appropriate interventionsInterviewing and appropriate interventions Time managementTime management Delegating appropriate learning experiences and tasksDelegating appropriate learning experiences and tasks –Provided a first experience in supervision –Learned from each other (MSW & BASW) –Adjust their schedules to accommodate the new role

What we learned BASW Students BASW Students – Helped reduce anxiety about first field experience –A variety of experience were made available –Shadowed several social workers and able to observe different styles of intervention –Felt supported by both mentor and field instructor

The focus groups

The MSW students told us… They would definitely recommend that this program continueThey would definitely recommend that this program continue “I think by far this was one of the best experiences for students to have”“I think by far this was one of the best experiences for students to have” They must know their threshold and what they can and cannot take onThey must know their threshold and what they can and cannot take on It would have been helpful to plan for this earlierIt would have been helpful to plan for this earlier

The MSW students told us… They worked collaboratively with their field instructor to develop a game plan which was successfulThey worked collaboratively with their field instructor to develop a game plan which was successful “It was a reciprocal learning experience; it solidified what I learned at the agency to pass on to someone else and to get a fresh perspective on difficult situations…it definitely impacted my educational experience” “It was a reciprocal learning experience; it solidified what I learned at the agency to pass on to someone else and to get a fresh perspective on difficult situations…it definitely impacted my educational experience” “An opportunity to see if I wanted to be a supervisor and what were my strengths and what are the things I needed to work on to pursue that”“An opportunity to see if I wanted to be a supervisor and what were my strengths and what are the things I needed to work on to pursue that”

The BASW students told us.. It should definitely be continued next year The MSW students should be recognized for their contribution, and the extra timeThe MSW students should be recognized for their contribution, and the extra time The shadowing and feedback made it an excellent learning experienceThe shadowing and feedback made it an excellent learning experience It helped relieve anxiety because the mentor was also a student in the learning roleIt helped relieve anxiety because the mentor was also a student in the learning role It was not very planned out at the beginning, but got better as the practicum continuedIt was not very planned out at the beginning, but got better as the practicum continued

The BASW students told us… There was some confusion about roles and who was my field instructor There was some confusion about roles and who was my field instructor They felt very supported as new internsThey felt very supported as new interns “The MSW made a conscious effort to be considerate of what my skills were and how to build on those…also to bring awareness to things I could work on.” She also made me aware of what a social worker does at the agency…the ins and outs of that agency.”“The MSW made a conscious effort to be considerate of what my skills were and how to build on those…also to bring awareness to things I could work on.” She also made me aware of what a social worker does at the agency…the ins and outs of that agency.”

Our goal is…. To give MSW students another learning opportunity and have:To give MSW students another learning opportunity and have: –An experience integrating knowledge about supervision into practice –More understanding and insight about the role of a supervisor To continue to provide excellent field placements for our BASW students as they:To continue to provide excellent field placements for our BASW students as they: –Enter the workforce as a bachelor level social worker –Enter the MSW program

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