MSW – Practicum Courses and Application Process

SOWK 5606 Practicum I is designed to introduce students to the wide array of social programs and services, legislation and policies that exist within the community. This practicum is intended to familiarize students with the issues, complexities and impacts of providing and facilitating services at individual, family, group, organization, community and societal levels, and to deepen students’ abilities to apply critical thinking skills in practice. Practicum I provides students with opportunities to build on existing skills and experience and to develop more advanced social work skills in the areas of engagement and rapport building, assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, and termination; and to engage in social change efforts through advocacy, mediation, critical analysis and/or activism. Students are provided with opportunities to develop and apply structural and other social work-related knowledge and skills through supervised practice in an agency or organizational setting. Practicum I also provides students with a context of practice within which to construct a professional  identify, apply core social work values in practice and use critical self-reflection for personal and professional development.

The specific knowledge and skill objectives of Practicum I are:

• To understand the social services sector in a community, and the role of the field placement setting in the community (i.e., mandate, philosophy, funding and organizational structure, services and programs) and to use this understanding to sensitively and appropriately access, refer to and utilize existing programs and services in the best interests of the client.
• To identify the ethical principles and core values that guide social work practice, apply the ethical principles and values in practice situations, and critically reflect on their own work in light of ethical frameworks and guidelines.
• To evaluate one’s own values and life experience (social location) and to recognize how these influence practice.
• To identify and integrate elements of structural social work practice into their work and to begin to evaluate associated outcomes.
• To recognize and challenge the extent to which a culture’s structures and values may oppress, marginalize, alienate, or create or enhance privilege and power, with specific attention to issues of race, class, gender, age, ability, sexual orientation, religion and culture.
• To understand the relationship between personal issues and social, political and economic processes and structures.
• To identify and demonstrate sensitivity to issues of power at all levels (at the level of the social work relationship, organizational level, community level, and societal level).
• To identify different models of social work practice in action and critically reflect on their impact on individuals, families and communities.
• To develop and hone social work skills, such as engagement, assessment, planning, implementation, termination, evaluation, mediation, advocacy and activism.
• To identify and begin to challenge the research and policy issues and structures that affect practice.
• To demonstrate initiative and responsibility for own learning.
• To use supervision and consultation to advance and develop their own professional practice
• To demonstrate professional demeanour in behaviour, appearance, and communication .

SOWK 5607 Practicum II is a designed to build upon the knowledge and skills that students developed in either their first placement, or during their undergraduate Social Work education. Practicum II provides an opportunity for students to apply, test, develop and integrate knowledge, theory and skills for social work practice in one or more of the following areas: practice with individuals, families, groups and communities; research; social administration and policy. In field placements in Practicum II, students take on greater responsibility in providing services, honing their skills and bringing a critical perspective to their work in the field. Practicum II is designed to allow for the opportunity for students to contribute to the practice setting, community or policy area in innovative and/or concrete ways.

The specific knowledge and skill objectives of Practicum II are:

• To understand the social services sector in a community, and the role of the field placement setting in the community (i.e., mandate, philosophy, funding and organizational structure, services and programs) and to use this understanding to sensitively and appropriately access, refer to and utilize existing programs and services in the best interests of the client.
• To develop the ability to assess strengths and gaps in service delivery systems and resources, and propose solutions or strategies to address the shortcomings.
• To use the CASW Code of Ethics (2005), appropriate consultation, and relevant laws, regulations and literature to guide ethical decision making and enhance professional self-awareness and regulation.
• To engage in self-reflection and use critical thinking skills necessary for accountable and effective practice.
• To recognize and address the structures and mechanisms of oppression, discrimination, power and inequality, with particular understanding of systems of oppression involving race, class, gender, age, ability, sexual orientation, religion and culture.
• To recognize dimensions of diversity that combine to create one’s social location and to explore how multiple perspectives and life experiences interact in the context of social work practice.
• To form mutual, purposeful and empowering relationships with others from diverse populations.
• To develop advanced skills in social work intervention at all levels and to recognize how intervention is shaped by the personal, social, cultural, and institutional context.
• To use multiple perspectives to understand client’s strengths and problems and inform intervention.
• To review professional literature and use research methods to inform practice and identify avenues for new knowledge creation.
• To identify research questions and policy issues that emerge from practice and contribute to new knowledge creation where possible.
• To critically evaluate agency programs and/or practices in relation to client needs and articulate possible solutions where appropriate.
• To apply advocacy and social change strategies and practices to advance social and economic justice.
• To demonstrate commitment to professional development and growth.
• To engage in self-directed learning.

• The organization must meet the criteria for a field setting outlined in this manual.
• The student’s placement assignments and workload must be substantively different from their responsibilities as an employee.
• The student is located in a different work unit or department.
• The student must be assigned a qualified Field Supervisor, who is a different individual than the student’s work supervisor.
• The Field Supervisor must be committed to the roles and responsibilities of a Field Supervisor, such as providing a minimum of one hour of regular weekly supervision, consulting with the Faculty Liaison, completing the Mid-Point and End-Point Evaluation Forms, and facilitating evaluation conferences with the student.
• The student is discharged, during placement hours, from any encumbrances and duties associated with regular employment.
• There is clear understanding among all agency personnel that the primary focus of the placement is education/learning.

The student must submit a proposal for a placement in their place of employment, along with a completed Practicum Application Form and a copy of their resume, to the Practicum Coordinator through mySuccess by the applicable Application Deadlines.

In the proposal for a placement in their place of employment, students should provide the following:

• A summary of the student’s roles and responsibilities as an employee in the current work setting.
• The name and contact information of the student’s current employment supervisor.
• A summary of the proposed field placement, including specific learning objectives, goals and activities to be undertaken.
• The name and contact information of the potential Field Supervisor, and confirmation of their credentials (i.e., BSW or MSW).
• An outline of the expected placement tasks and activities that have not been a part of the student’s previous employment/practicum roles within the agency.

The Practicum Coordinator will make a decision based on the criteria outlined in this section.

Distance placements will only be considered for students at the Advanced level of the MSW program who have met all of the prerequisites for SOWK 5607.

The following criteria will be considered when reviewing distance placement applications for MSW students:

Student Criteria:

• Maturity of student and demonstrated ability to follow-through.
• High level of self-direction, initiative, clarity of purpose.
• Good academic standing.
• Strength of proposal.
• 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.
• Consideration of a student’s future employment possibilities.
• 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).

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 Practicum II.
• The Field Supervisor must be committed to the roles and responsibilities of a Field Supervisor, such as providing a minimum of one hour of regular weekly supervision, consulting with the Faculty Liaison, completing the Mid-Point and End-Point Evaluation Forms, and facilitating evaluation conferences with the student.

Health and Safety risks, responsibilities and liability will also be reviewed when considering distance placement applications.

The student must submit their distance placement proposal, along with the Practicum Application Form and copy of their resume, to the Practicum Coordinator through mySuccess by the applicable Application Deadlines.

In the proposal for a distance placement, students will be asked to provide the following:

• Rationale for wanting to do a distance placement.
• The location in which they would like to secure a field placement.
• An outline of how the placement will meet the student’s learning objectives.
• The name and contact information of the Field Supervisor who would supervise the student and confirmation of their credentials (i.e., BSW or MSW).
• A summary of the proposed field placement, including specific learning objectives, goals and activities to be undertaken.

For international placements, students will be required to sign a Carleton University Assumption of Risks, Responsibility and Liability Waiver. Available on the International Students Services Office (ISSO) website.

* The Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities provides limited private insurance coverage (through Chubb Insurance) for students in unpaid field placements which the School has approved to take place outside of Ontario (international and other Canadian jurisdictions). However, the student is advised to obtain complementary insurance since Chubb Insurance does not provide full compensation. This private insurance is an accidental death/injury policy, and does not cover many healthcare benefits, so students should have additional health insurance. Information on the Ministry provided insurance coverage for students in unpaid placements is available at: http://tcu.gov.on.ca/pepg/publications/guidelines.html#03

Students must apply to take a Practicum Course by submitting a practicum application through mySuccess. Deadlines posted here.

Due to large number of students in field each semester, the practicum application deadlines are firm.   Applications that are submitted after the deadline may not be considered and can also delay placement in an appropriate agency, and therefore, the student’s completion of the MSW degree program. Students may turn in their Practicum Application Form prior to the deadlines posted and are encouraged to do so.

Students are asked to list their areas of interest for a field placement on the Practicum Application Form. Students should consider the following when listing their preferences:

• Population group: i.e., children, youth, adults, women, families, older adults, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, etc.
• Level of practice: i.e., direct intervention, social administration and policy, research.
• Areas of concentration: i.e., mental health, addictions, anti-violence, disabilities, poverty and homelessness, housing, criminal justice, immigration, child welfare, long-term care, employment, recreation, community development, etc.
• Specific agencies of interest with the understanding that placements in these agencies may or may not be possible to accommodate.

Submitting a Practicum Application Form does not mean the student has secured a placement, nor does it mean that the student is officially registered for a Practicum Course. The Practicum Application Form is there to signal that the student intends to register for the Practicum in the upcoming semester and has reviewed and met all prerequisites.

It is the student’s responsibility to have the necessary police record check completed in advance of the field placement. In Ontario, there are provincial laws that require organizations to conduct police records checks for individuals who will be dealing with children and vulnerable adults as part of their recruitment responsibilities. This police record check is required even if students have had a recent police records check completed for some other purpose. Students must apply in person by attending any of the major police stations. The possible existence of criminal convictions and outstanding charges, as well as incidents of all notable police contacts for at least the previous five years, will be considered for release. A criminal record may delay or prohibit certain field placements. Obtaining a police records check can take 6 to 8 weeks or longer so students must apply for this well in advance of the beginning of the field placement. Students will be prohibited from beginning their field placement if they fail to provide a police records check to field settings where this is required.

In Ontario, provincial laws require organizations to conduct police record checks for individuals who will be dealing with children and vulnerable adults. The Level 3 Vulnerable Sector Check is required, even if students have had a recent police record check completed for some other purpose.

Students can apply online or in person in Ottawa or their primary place of residence, by attending any main police station. For more information on in-person and online applications, please go to: https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/reports-and-requests/record-and-background-checks.aspx

The information released by the police as part of the record check might include existence of criminal convictions, outstanding charges, as well as any incident where there has been notable police contacts for at least the previous five years. If any such information is revealed on the police record check it may be difficult, if not impossible, for you to secure a practicum.

Please note that if you are not from Ottawa, your process will be different.

In certain field settings, students may be required to provide documentation confirming immunization or demonstrated immunity to the certain communicable diseases prior to entry into the setting.  Required immunizations generally include, but may not be limited to, the following:

• Rubella
• Measles
• Hepatitis B
• Varicella/Chicken Pox
• Tuberculin Mantoux Screening

It is important that students make appropriate arrangements with regard to supplying the field setting with the required documentation in advance of the field placement.

In the event of a pandemic, the impact for practicum students in health settings may vary but a likely effect would be that the student’s learning contract may be suspended and the student may be re-assigned to different areas. The priorities in the health settings would likely shift and student’s learning objectives might become low priority. In this event it would be important for the Faculty Liaison to work closely with the student regarding arrangements and looking at ways of dealing with this crisis as a useful learning experience for the student.

There are several steps that students must follow to register for a practicum course and secure a setting for their practicum learning. Incompletion or lateness in any of these steps can result in a practicum application being placed on hold and/or cancelled. Cancellation of a practicum application can have the impact of delaying and/or annulling the completion of the social work degree. 

1. Request enrollment in the applicable social work course on Carleton’s mySuccess portal. 
   1. Log into mySuccess using your MC1 credentials.
   2. Select “School of Social Work” from the left-hand navigation bar.
   3. Click on “View” under “Courses/Programs.”
   4. Choose the applicable practicum course and select “Apply.”
   5. Check off “Enrol” and click “Save.” The Practicum Administrator will need to approve your enrollment before you can move on to the application process. Please note that it may take a few days to process your enrollment request.
2. Attend the mandatory practicum orientation provided by the Practicum Coordinator at the start of the term prior to when you will be registering for your practicum course. See upcoming orientation dates here.
3. Attend and participate in the Agency Fair to learn more about different practicum settings and organizations in the community. Attendance at the Agency Fair is mandatory for students registering for practicum in the following term. All students are welcome to attend at any point in their degree. See upcoming Agency Fair dates here.
4. Complete and submit the practicum application by the established deadline (Step 1 in the applicable course on mySuccess).
5. Schedule and attend an optional one-on-one meeting with the Practicum Coordinator to discuss your learning objectives and professional interests.
6. Attend the Career Services Resume and Cover Letter Workshop (optional for MSW students) to learn how best to prepare these documents for a potential practicum agency. See upcoming workshop dates here.
7. For students applying for a workplace or distance practicum only: Complete and submit the workplace or distance practicum proposal by the established deadline (Step 2 in the applicable course on mySuccess).
8. Review your practicum match when prompted by e-mail (Step 3 on mySuccess). Once the match has been offered, students will have 72 working hours to accept or decline the match. 
9. Accept/decline the match. When accepting, submit a tailored cover letter and résumé within 72 working hours of match offer (Step 4 on mySuccess).
10. Communicate whether you were invited to an interview, along with the interview date, on mySuccess (Step 5). Contact the Practicum Coordinator by e-mail if the organization has not made contact within ten working days or has communicated a refusal of the application.
11. Prepare for interview and for sharing of references.
12. Communicate placement offer or refusal to Practicum Coordinator by e-mail. 
13. Once instructed by the Practicum Administrator via email, complete the Practicum Agreement (mySuccess Step 6) and insurance documentation.
14. Inquire about and ensure that all pre-placement requirements (e.g. criminal records check, health-related requirements, training, etc.) are met in advance of the field placement. 
15. Register for appropriate practicum course and section, once instructed by e-mail. This is typically completed two to three weeks prior to the start of term.