This form is for students who wish to apply to complete a field placement in a place of current or former place of employment.
To participate in a placement in a current or former place of employment, the following criteria must be met:
- For workplace possibilities in Ottawa, please contact the Practicum Coordinator to get permission, as this agency may have an already established partnership with the School.
- You will 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.
- Your proposed activities must meet the field hours requirements and start and end dates of your Practicum I course. This entails 4-days per week (or the equivalent of 28-40 field hours) for a term, for students applying for SOWK 5607. Field hours must enable a minimum total of 450 hours.
- Given health/safety/insurance realities, students must be paid employees for the entirety of the placement hours, OR establish a separate, unpaid placement opportunity for the entirety of the placement hours. The placement position cannot consist of both paid/unpaid hours.
- 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.
- The placement supervisor and agency will need to agree to the usual responsibilities of field sites: weekly supervision, approval of the student’s learning contract, completion of mid- point and end-point evaluations, and two consultation visits with the student and Faculty Liaison. They will be asked to sign a letter of agreement attesting to this in order to finalize the field placement.
- Completion of all required preplacement forms as directed by the Practicum Coordinator.
One caution when considering a workplace practicum:
Changes to your employment status can affect your field placement arrangements. Should this occur, it may not be possible to place you in another setting, and a deferral of your practicum may be required.
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.