This form is for students who would wish to apply to complete a field placement in another region. Students must demonstrate a clear rationale for a distance placement, and demonstrate that they are well prepared for distance learning. The School must be able to assess the student’s ability to benefit from a distance educational experience, including the suitability of the potential field setting for a social work placement. Each application will be considered in light of current public health and University guidelines as they relate to the COVID-19 pandemic and the specific nature of the proposed placement opportunity (e.g. remote/in-person, etc.). Distance field placements can be permitted only when the student can be adequately accommodated and supported at a distance within the resources of the School.
Distance placements constitute any placement that is more than a one-hour drive from Ottawa and include out of province and out of country placements. Travelling for the purposes of field placement is not permitted at the current time.
Criteria for eligibility for a distance placement:
Student criteria:
- Good academic standing.
- Have met all prerequisites for the applicable Practicum course
- Strong previous placement evaluation if the student completed Practicum I.
- Appropriate rationale for a distance placement.
- Learning needs could be better met at a distance than locally.
- Consideration of financial needs of student/financial issues related to placement.
- The student’s ability to participate in teleconference, email and telephone communication with a Faculty Liaison at Carleton University (this will require access to a computer with a microphone and may require a USB headset, for which the student would assume financial responsibility).
- **Quality of student references (academic references may be requested to support the student’s application).
* For students who are electing to complete a distance placement within a current or former place of employment, in addition to meeting the previously mentioned criterions, students will also need to:
- Demonstrate that you will be engaged in new work activities that allow you to develop new learning at a MSW level. This new learning may occur within your current position and/or within a new area within your organization.
- You will need to negotiate placement supervision. Wherever possible, your field placement should be completed under the supervision of someone who has not previously supervised your work in the agency. This person should have a BSW or MSW degree. If this is not possible, other supervisors (including current or former supervisors, and/or individuals with other educational qualifications) may also be acceptable depending on the nature of the agency and work. Please discuss the supervisory criteria with the Practicum Coordinator.
Agency Criteria:
- The setting must be committed to the roles and responsibilities of a field setting, such as providing the student with appropriate work assignments and a qualified Field Supervisor for the duration of the placement.
- The placement must provide the student with adequate opportunities to achieve the learning objectives of the applicable Practicum course.
- The Field Supervisor must be committed to the roles and responsibilities of a Field Supervisor, including: provision of weekly supervision; approval of the student’s learning contract; completion of mid-point and end-point student evaluations, as well as holding evaluation conferences with the student at these two intervals; consultation with the Faculty Liaison and participation in two formal consultation visits with the student and Faculty Liaison (to be held by telephone or teleconference).
Health and Safety risks, responsibilities and liability will also be reviewed when considering distance placement applications.
Applications are currently closed for Summer 2024 and Fall 2024. We are transitioning to a new system for Winter 2025. More information will be sent out closer to the Winter 2025 Application Deadline.