1. Orientation to BSW Field practicum Session 1
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

2. Helping you Prepare for Field
Provide brief background on the rationale for the six sessions
Highlight that the sessions are mandatory meaning students must complete all six sessions in year two before they can go into their first field internship
WHY ARE WE HERE?

3. AGENDA Welcome and Introductions Video What is social work?
The Big Picture
Field Education at the School of Social Work, MUN
Practicum and curriculum
Process of matching students and field practica
Small Group Exercise
Q & A Session
Wrap up and evaluation
BSW FIELD PREPARATION SESSION 1

4. The Field Team Joan Cheryl Sheri Lisa
Talk about the FEC role and Lisa’s role with respect to field administrative support
Lisa
BSW Field preparation session 1

5. Field education at Memorial
Field Education is an integral part of the BSW program and is designed to provide students with opportunities for:
Field based learning experiences in community agencies
The application of social work theory to practice in a social work setting
Regular professional supervision by a field instructor
Professional development as generalist social work practitioners
BSW Field preparation session 1

6. Social work education Accreditation standards
The BSW program at Memorial is accredited in accordance with the standards established by the CASWE.
Students have to complete two practica as requirements for the BSW program
SCWK 3300 is the first practicum and is completed during the fall semester of year 3
Students also complete SCWK 3311 along with their practicum
SCWK 4302 is the second practicum and is completed in the winter semester of year 4
Students complete a SCWK elective course along with their practicum
Each practica consists of 350 hours at an assigned agency over the course of a semester
Students are usually at the practicum site 4 days per week for approximately 28 hours/week until the total hours are completed
BSW Field Preparation Session 1

7. Fast field Facts for students
Students are assigned a Field Instructor for each practicum
Social work practicum can take place in a variety of community settings i.e. government departments, health authorities, community agencies
Practica can take place anywhere in the province of Newfoundland & Labrador
Students do not seek out their own practicum
Students follow the agency schedule, not the university schedule, while in practicum
If you miss time, you must make it up
Students cannot be guaranteed specific types of practica
All communication regarding field will be via your MUN account
Final assignment and confirmation of field practica is the responsibility of the Field Education Coordinators
Joan to walk students through this slide and talk about the process of matching students to field internship sites.
Put in a slide later with details on each role involved in the field internship.
Students are encouraged to explore different social work practice areas in each of their internships
BSW Field Preparation Session 1

8. Field education: What it is not…
Field education is not employment
Field education is not volunteer work
Professional employment and volunteer work are not consistent with learning in a field practicum. There is a different emphasis between the roles of students and staff or volunteers. There is a different balance between the goals of educational development and delivery of service to clients. 
Cochrane, Susan F. & Hanley, Marla Martin (1999). Learning through field. A developmental approach. Boston: Allyn and Bacon
Discussion regarding paid internships here
Bsw field preparation session 1

9. Field Education: What it is …
Field education is a joint venture of the social work program, the agency, and the student. This relationship is characterized by:
A learning-centred model
Harmonious goals
Clear learning objectives
Consistent criteria for selection of agencies and field instructors
Educational goals, which are consistent with CASWE’s Accreditation Standards, to prepare social work professionals
Cochrane, Susan F. & Hanley, Marla Martin (1999). Learning through field. A developmental approach. Boston: Allyn and Bacon
BSW field preparation session 1

10. A Learning - Centred Model
Two important implications:
Students must be focused actively on their learning: to be aware of and responsive to their learning needs, to advocate for these needs, and to be open to feedback about their learning styles and barriers.
Students are training for professional positions and are expected to take continual steps toward that role; they are expected to perform with professional accountability, abide by professional ethics, utilize professional skills, and apply professional knowledge.
Cochrane, Susan F. & Hanley, Marla Martin(1999). Learning through field. A developmental approach. Boston, Allyn and Bacon
BSW Field preparation session 1

11. The practicum process
Become familiar with the field documents on the School’s website
During the W2015 semester, you will complete BSW Student Application for Field Practicum and BSW Field Practicum – Student Brief Resume and submit electronically to Lisa Muise. Lisa will prompt students regarding this via .
Students will attend pre-placement interviews with a Field Education Coordinator (FEC).
FEC’s will arrange agency interviews for students. Information concerning interviews will be communicated to students via MUN accounts only.
Pull up the website and show where the field information and appendices are located. Highlight orientation to field and the BSW Field Manual
BSW Field Preparation session 1

12. The practicum process
FECs will not explore other practicum options for students until the outcome of each interview is known.
Agencies have the right to make decisions concerning student selection.
Once a match between student and agency has been identified, the practicum will be confirmed. Lisa facilitates the confirmation.
Placement agencies may require police checks, health checks, proof of immunization, etc. This is the responsibility of the student.
Transportation to/from and during the practicum is the responsibility of the student.
If students reject a practicum offer, they will be placed on the bottom of the list. Alternate practicum options will be explored once all other students have been placed.
BSW field Preparation session 1

13. Accommodation and field practicum
What is Academic Accommodation? Academic Accommodation entails adjusting a course, program, policy, procedure, or the physical environment adversely affecting a student, without compromising academic integrity or changing the essential educational requirements of the internship. Having prior knowledge of any required accommodations generally results in students having a greater likelihood of success in field internship.
Documentation for medical conditions is required
BSW Field preparation session 1

14. Accommodation and field practicum
What types of things can be considered for accommodation?
mental health, physical or environmental challenges or conditions
learning challenges
any personal circumstances that may require reasonable accommodation
If you do not disclose, prior to your Field Practicum, any need for reasonable accommodation during your placement, the field setting is not expected to provide accommodation.
What types of things cannot be considered for accommodation?
Mortgages, leases, rent, pets, employment, volunteer work
Speak to how accommodation is used with respect to priority of field internship assignments
BSW Field preparation session 1

15. Small group activity
What are your hopes, fears, and unanswered questions in relation to your social work practicum?
Small groups of students
Share thoughts and feelings
Large group report back and debrief
Opportunity for questions/clarification
Break to coincide with small group activity
BSW Field preparation session 1

16. Thank you & Good luck
Special thanks to our friends and colleagues in Field Education at the School of Social Work, Renison University College, for sharing their BSW field orientation resources.
Karen Deb Trish
BSW Field preparation session 1