1. Field placements for students of social policy and social work at the UB-FPS Natalija Perisic University of Belgrade Faculty of Political Sciences Department of Social Policy and Social Work Novi Sad, November 10-11, 2014

2. 2 Summary - Why are field placements so important? - What is their position in the FPS curriculum? - What are the aims of field placements? - What does the FPS have? - What the FPS does not have? - What are unresolved questions? - What should be improved?

3. 3 Field placements -Field placement are the “signature pedagogy” of social work profession (Council on Social Work Education) - Their objective should be to help students to integrate their academic learning in order to understand and develop good social work skills for entering the profession. -They provide opportunities for students to apply concepts and skills learned in the classroom in a real-world work setting and to build a work history of relevant experience that will assist them in beginning their social work careers.

4. 4 Design of field placements at the FPS - Long history of field placements in the FPS curricula, albeit with important organizational and structural differences. - Currently, gradual introduction of hours spent in the field at the Bachelor level. - Graduated objectives, outcomes and expectations within diversified settings, in order to enable students to obtain a complete “portfolio” of social work profession. - Field placements are supervised by professionals.

5. 5 I year od the studies 1 ECTS – 30 hours of field work Objectives: - to get to know the functioning and contents of work and programmes of humanitarian organizations, and their networking within the community; - to get to know the methodology of work and organization of humanitarian organizations. - to participate in the implementation of preventive, developmental and protective activities and in the recognition of problems in the comunity, with a professional support of field supervisors;

6. 6 I year od the studies (contd.) Outcomes: - developing motivation and skills for volunteering - applying theoretical knowledge to the practical context - understanding and learning values and principles of social work and social policy in the field Contents: Placement in the local humanitarian organization (e.g Red Cross) during 30 works with 3 weeks. Expected engagement: Participation in administrative activities, organization of social and humanitarian activities in the community (with children and youth, elderly, persons with disabilities, socially excluded, etc.).

7. II year od the studies 2 ECTS – 60 hours of field work Objectives: - to get to know the functioning and contents of work and programmes of Centers for social work (CSWs), and their networking within the community; - to get to know the methodology of keeping professional files and records in the CSWs; - to participate in the work with clients, with a professional support of field supervisors;

8. II year od the studies (contd.) Outcomes: - developing skills necessary for: establishing and maintaining a professional relationship with clients; interviewing and using assessment methods; keeping professional records and reporting Contents: Placement in CSW during 60 works in a continuum. Expected engagement: Participation in administrative and professional activities relating to the social work with individuals

9. III year od the studies 3 ECTS – 90 hours of field work Objectives: - to get to know the functioning and contents of work and programmes of residential care institutions, and their networking within the community; - to get to know the methodology of designing high quality programmes for clients; - to participate in the work with clients, with a professional support of field supervisors;

10. III year od the studies (contd.) Outcomes: - widening of the scope of own practical experience in the work with clients; - developing capacities for independent assessment; -creating necessary preconditions for the reactions to a problem; -developing professional identity and competencies. Contents: Placement in a residential setting or a daily care service during 90 works in a continuum. Expected engagement: Participation in administrative and professional activities relating to the social work with individuals, groups and communities

11. IV year od the studies 4 ECTS – 120 hours of field work Objectives: - to participate in planning of social policy researches, programmes and measures at the level of organizations; - to analyze preconditions for the application and development of plans and argumented evaluation of their effects; - to design a research project (terms of reference)

12. IV year od the studies (contd.) Outcomes: - getting in-depth knowledge of social policy practice, its functioning, possibilities for improvement, etc.; - integrating knowledge into a consistent theoretical framework; -creating necessary preconditions for independent professional work. Contents: Placement in an administrative and expert body, unions and NGOs, international organization, etc. during 120 works in a continuum. Expected engagement: Participation in administrative and professional activities relating to problem solving in social policy domains.

13. Standards for field placements I Field placements of social work students consist of field training and field work with a visible position with the curriculum of a faculty educating social workers. II Field training of students has a structured curriculum for each year of the studies and it is implemented in accordance with scientific and professional achievements. III Field training of students is of an appropriate length and complexity, and it gives necessary opportunities that are enabling students to be prepared for the professional work.

14. Standards for field placements (contd.) IV Field work of social work students is supervised and evaluated by qualified supervisors. V The Faculty has available all the required resources for the realization of high-quality field placements. VI Filed training and field work are implemented in accordance with the values, principles and ethical codex of social work profession.

15. Dilemmas -Evaluation and feedback to students on their field placements Formal concerns - continuity between different years of the studies and within a single year - assessment methods - the qualifications and consequent selection of supervisors - training of supervisors for field placements - the role of supervisors in assessment - the role of a person in charge of field placements at the Faculty

16. Dilemmas Substantial concerns - necessary knowledge of ethical principles in social work and social policy - the impact of field placement on personal experience and development of students - obstacles to the integration of theoretical framework into field context...