SSW Practicum Information

The Practicum refers to all components of the course, which are as follows:

The field placement refers to the placement component of the Practicum course in which students work under the supervision of a qualified Field Supervisor and gain hands-on experience in a social work setting in the community.

The field placement setting is an agency/organization/program that has partnered and contracted with the School of Social Work to provide a field placement opportunity to a student and provide a Field Supervisor who will supervise the student for the duration of the placement.

Field Supervisors are agency-based instructors who are responsible for providing students with formal supervision, training and guidance in the field placement setting.

The Practicum Seminars are the mandatory classroom component of the Practicum course where students focus on integrating social work theory and values with practice in their field placement setting. Students also learn about a range of community agencies and services, and the work of social workers in a variety of settings, through sharing agency summaries, case presentations, and emerging practice issues amongst a group of peers completing field placements in different settings.

The Faculty Liaison is an individual assigned by the School of Social Work to teach the practicum seminars and act as the primary link between the student, the Field Supervisor, and the Field Coordinator for the purposes of monitoring and supporting the field placement.

The Practicum Coordinator is a faculty member who is responsible for field education development, coordination, administration and monitoring. The Practicum Coordinator is primarily responsible for all aspects of the placement process as it relates to the matching and placing of students.

The Practicum Administrator is part of the School of Social Work’s staff team and is responsible for a number of administrative activities related to field education, including processing students’ Practicum application forms and all forms and documents related to finalizing field placements.

The student is primarily responsible for their own learning during the Practicum.  The student is responsible for the following tasks related to the practicum:

Pre-placement responsibilities:

• Attend all required pre-placement activities.
• Complete and submit the Practicum Application Form by the established deadline in this manual.
• Follow all steps for setting up a field placement, and adhere to all placement policies and protocols, outlined in this manual.
• If accommodations are required, follow the steps outlined in the Carleton University Student Guide to Academic Accommodation, and notify the Practicum Coordinator as soon as possible if any special accommodations are required in the field placement.
• Maintain regular communication with the Practicum Coordinator on progress and feedback from the field setting(s) during the placement process.
• Respond to all emails from the Practicum Coordinator, Practicum Administrator, and/or field settings within one week (7 days).
• Once contacted by a potential field setting, schedule and prepare for an initial interview.
• Once a placement is offered, negotiate a start date and work schedule with the field setting.
• Assume financial responsibility and provide the required documentation and health requisites set out by the field setting in advance of the field placement (e.g., references, police records check, tuberculosis skin test, required immunizations and health records).
• Submit all required forms to finalize your field placement with the School by the established deadlines in your confirmation email.

Practicum responsibilities:

• Meet all Practicum time requirements, which include a minimum  field hours (352 for BSW and 450 MSW) and attendance in all required Practicum Seminars.
• Complete all assignments and evaluations required for the Practicum course by the appropriate deadlines.
• Prepare for and actively participate in supervision with the Field Supervisor(s). Be open to feedback and critique.
• Assist in coordinating the on-site consultation(s) with your Faculty Liaison.
• Coordinate and participate in the mid-point and end-point evaluation conferences with your Field Supervisor.
• Raise any questions and/or concerns that may arise about the Practicum with the Field Supervisor and/or Faculty Liaison in a timely manner.
• Report any workplace accident or injury sustained on placement to the Practicum Coordinator as soon as possible following its occurrence.
• Uphold standards of professionalism while in the field setting including: professional dress code, punctuality, meeting deadlines, and keeping commitments made to the agency.
• Comply with the policies, procedures, and operational standards of the field setting.
• Comply with the confidentiality policy outlined, as well as the field setting’s privacy rules and policies related thereto and sign any necessary confidentiality agreements.
• Keep a record of placement hours completed and submit to your Faculty Liaison at the end of placement.
• Abide by the CASW Code of Ethics (2005) and the Guidelines for Ethical Practice (2005).

The Field Supervisor has responsibility for assisting the student in placement to meet the intended learning objectives of the Practicum course and the specific learning objectives outlined in the student’s learning contract. The Field Supervisor is responsible for the following tasks related to the practicum:

• Provide the student with an appropriate working space and work-related materials.
• Ensure the student receives a well-organized orientation to the agency, the client group or community served, the staff team, and agency policies and procedures, including safety policies and procedures.
• Learning contract:
  1. Meet with the student once they have prepared their initial learning contact and offer suggestions regarding how the learning objectives might be met in the setting, the tasks and activities available, and the possible limitations.
  2. Attempt to work out a mutually agreed upon learning contract with the student.

• Use the learning contract in the following ways: to guide the work of the student, to review the student’s progress in supervision sessions, and to evaluate the student’s achievement of learning outcomes at the mid-point and end-point of the placement.
• Select and provide the student with appropriate work assignments to ensure that the student is given the opportunity to work on tasks that are related to the learning objectives.
• Provide a minimum of one hour per week of regularly scheduled supervision with the student to work towards achieving the student’s learning goals and competencies.
• Expose the student to other learning opportunities such as training workshops, staff meetings, team conferences, agency visits, etc.
• Meet and consult with the Faculty Liaison as required during the placement to discuss the student’s progress and performance in the field placement.
• If concerns develop about the student’s progress in placement: discuss the concerns with the student as early as possible and document the specific behaviours or indicators of lack of progress in writing, discuss remedial action with the student, and contact the Faculty Liaison and/or Practicum Coordinator for consultation.
• Complete the written Mid-Point and End-Point Evaluation Forms, facilitate mid-point and end-point evaluation conferences with the student, and provide copies of the completed forms to the student and Faculty Liaison.
• Review and approve the field placement setting description submitted by the student as part of their portfolio assignment for the BSW/MSW practicum.
• Provide a learning environment that is safe and free from harassment and discrimination.
• Ensure that the CASW Code of Ethics (2005) and the Guidelines for Ethical Practice (2005) are upheld by the student at all times.

The field setting is responsible for providing adequate facilities, equipment, and learning materials appropriate to the student’s responsibilities and in keeping with available resources. The field setting is responsible for the following tasks related to the Practicum:

• Ensure that the Field Supervisor has sufficient time and resources within the work schedule to develop planned learning opportunities and tasks for the student, prepare for supervision, attend school-sponsored workshops and training, and to prepare mid-point and final evaluations of the student.
• Provide orientation materials and opportunities, including health and safety materials or training.
• Provide the student with an appropriate workspace, including needed supplies and work-related resources for the performance of their duties.
• Inform the student of the pre-placement requirements of the field setting (e.g., references, police records check, tuberculosis skin test, required immunizations and health records).
• Provide the student with reimbursement for certain pre-determined and agreed to expenses incurred by the student during the field placement for any duties that are a required part of the field placement (e.g., travel). Students are responsible for commute to and from placement.
• Notify the Practicum Coordinator as early as possible if unable to complete the responsibility of the field setting for any reason (e.g., staffing and/or resource changes that impact the availability of student learning opportunities and appropriate supervision).
• Notify the Faculty Liaison of any change in the Field Supervisor for any reason.
• Provide an environment free from harassment or discrimination.
• Ensure that the CASW Code of Ethics (2005) and the Guidelines for Ethical Practice (2005) are upheld by the student at all times.

These are individuals assigned by the School of Social Work to monitor and support practicum students and their Field Supervisors and to teach the Practicum Seminars. Faculty Liaisons serve as sounding boards to problem solve situations and identify additional resources as may be necessary. Faculty Liaisons recommend the final grade for practicum students, based on consultation with all members of the field team. The Faculty Liaison is responsible for the following tasks related to the Practicum:

• Conduct Practicum Seminars that provide opportunities for students to integrate social work theory and values with practice in their field placement setting, to expand their knowledge of the social services sector, and to develop their practice knowledge and skills.
• Be available as the first point of contact for the students assigned to their Practicum Seminars and for their Field Supervisors.
• Provide the necessary support to the student and Field Supervisor as needed (e.g., information, consultation, problem-solving, identifying resources, initiating policies and procedures) to facilitate the learning experience in accordance with the field education curriculum and related policies and procedures outlined in this manual, as well as by the School, the University, and the field setting.
• Arrange and conduct a minimum of one on-site consultation with the Field Supervisor and student during the field placement, generally within the initial weeks of the placement, to review the student’s field placement arrangements, progress and performance.
• Arrange and conduct a minimum of one telephone consultation with the Field Supervisor, generally at the mid-point of the field placement, to review the student’s placement arrangements, progress and performance.
• Promptly prepare and provide dated, written reports summarizing the consultation sessions and their outcomes to the Field Supervisor and student.
• If concerns develop about a student’s progress in placement: ensure that both the student and Field Supervisor are aware of the policies related to students at risk of failing the placement; consult with the student and/or Field Supervisor as needed to develop remedial plans; promptly prepare and distribute written summaries of the consultation(s)/plans to the student and Field Supervisor; and inform the Practicum Coordinator of the situation.
• Disseminate and collect all paperwork and evaluations necessary for the practicum course.
• Ensure that students are fully informed of their responsibility to uphold the CASW Code of Ethics (2005) and the Guidelines for Ethical Practice (2005) cat all times and to respond at the earliest indication that this is not happening.
• Take reasonable steps to ensure that the student placements are safe and free from harassment and discrimination.
• Submit each student’s grade recommendation and all required documentation to the Practicum Coordinator immediately following the last day of classes for the term.

The Practicum Coordinator is responsible for the overall functioning of the field education component of the BSW/MSW program. The Practicum Coordinator is primarily responsible for facilitating appropriate matches between students and field placement settings in accordance with the curriculum, the student’s learning needs, and the needs of the field setting. The Practicum Coordinator is responsible for the following tasks related to the Practicum:

• Ensure strong pedagogical linkages between the practicum courses and BSW/MSW curriculum objectives.
• Create and update the BSW/MSW field education policies and procedures, forms and information.
• Engage and actively cultivate relationships with area agencies/organizations/programs in order to facilitate appropriate field placements for Carleton BSW/MSW students.
• Work with the Practicum Administrator to facilitate the process of creating and renewing affiliation agreements with field settings, and to provide consultation on issues related to safety and liability in field placement.
• Develop and facilitate pre-placement and early placement workshops and activities for students entering the field.
• Work with each student to collaboratively plan the student’s field education experience for the appropriate term(s), and coordinate the matching and placing of students in field settings.
• Review and approve alternative placement options, which include distance placements and placements in students’ places of employment.
• Review and approve Waiver of Practicum I applications.
• Assign a Faculty Liaison to each student, and assign each student to Practicum Seminars.
• Provide orientation and other training to Faculty Liaisons, and be available for Faculty Liaisons to provide consultation and guidance in decisions related to field placements, including the decision to terminate a field placement.
• Provide orientation, training, and professional development workshops to Field Supervisors.
• Enter each student’s grade upon receipt of the grade recommendation and all required documentation from the assigned Faculty Liaison.
• Serve as a member of the Field Education Committee.

The Field Education Committee is chaired by the Practicum Coordinators at the School of Social Work. Membership includes all Practicum Coordinators at the School (BSW and MSW), a minimum of two community agency representatives, and student parity with faculty. Student representation generally includes a BSW and MSW student.

Responsibilities:

• Development, interpretation and review of field education policies.
• The presentation of recommendations and changes in policy and procedures to the appropriate bodies of the School (e.g. for consultation to the BSW and MSW Committees, Departmental Board, and Director).
• The continuous review of the Practicum Information.
• Planning of the annual Field Supervisors’ Appreciation and Professional Development Event(s).

Role of Community Representatives on Field Education Committee:

The community representatives on the Field Education Committee provide an important link with agencies. Community representatives should be experienced social workers and employees of agencies/organizations that provide placements for Carleton University School of Social Work students.  Community representation should also be reflective of the diverse range of field settings in which our students engage in field education.

Community representatives will be selected and invited by the Field Education Committee to serve a 2-year term that is renewable if both parties (Field Education Committee and Community representative) agree. Community representatives will bring valuable opinions, concerns and suggestions. They are not expected to formally represent Field Supervisors nor their agencies. They may informally canvas colleagues for opinions. They will be encouraged to join sub-committees of the Field Education Committee.

Terms of Reference:

A formal Terms of Reference guides the work of the Field Education Committee. It can be obtained by contacting the Practicum Administrator of the School of Social Work.