Orientation for the Social Work Field Education Practicum

For UW-Milwaukee Social Work Students Entering a Social Work Field Practicum

Overview of Field Practicum Orientation

Purposes of a Field Practicum in SW Education

SW Field Education Program website

Definitions of Field Liaison & Field Instructor

Roles and Responsibilities of a Field Student

Requirements of Field Practicum

SW Field Education Calendar

Field Course Objectives

Learning Plan

Field Assignments

Evaluation & Grading Policies

Challenges

Questions

Goals of a Field Practicum

…To reinforce a students’ identification with the purposes, values, and ethics of the Social Work profession.

…To promote professional Social Work competence.

…To provide an experiential model of learning for understanding and respecting diversity.

…To foster the integration of empirical & practice-based knowledge and experience in the field of Social Work.

-Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

Field Program Website

http://uwm.edu/socialwelfare/social-work-field-education-program/

Bookmark and always check here first with any

questions!

Field Liaisons

Your Field Liaison is an employee - staff member of the UW-Milwaukee Helen Bader School of Social Welfare who :

Responsible for arranging, coordinating, and overseeing your field practicum experience

Available for information and consultation throughout the practicum.

Meets with your Field Instructor and you at the agency each semester.

Intervenes if difficulties arise during the field practicum.

Reviews the Learning Plan, and all evaluations.

Calculates and assigns the final grade for your SW Field Course.

Remote Work

• All field faculty are currently working remotely so please email or call your assigned Field Liaison during weekday hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The 24-hour emergency phone number is 414-367-9515. Stay tuned for Fall updates to hours/location

UWM Field Communication

Agency Field InstructorYour Field Instructor is a professional employee of the agency where you

are having your field practicum who:

Responsible for providing day-to-day field instruction, decision-making, and oversight of your field work at the field agency.

Responsible for providing one-hour of weekly face-to-face supervision

during each week of your field practicum.

Collaborates with you on the development of your Learning Plan

Reviews and provides feedback on your activities in the Field Practicum.

Evaluates your demonstration of competence in the 8 Learning Objectives on your Midterm and Final Evaluation Forms.

Your Field Instructor is not paid by UW-Milwaukee for their work with you.

Field Placement Structure

All undergraduate students complete one 2-semester field placement in one agency for two consecutive semesters.

Graduate students without a 721 exemption complete two, 2-semester field placements, in two separate agencies.

Graduate students with a 721 exemption complete one, 3-semester field placement, in one agency, except Double Methods students who need to complete two, 2-semester field placements (one field placement in Direct Practice and one field placement in Macro Practice)

A block placement (2 field courses completed in one semester) is possible with Field Liaison and agency approval.

All field placements are required to be completed in consecutive semesters, including the Summer semester.

You cannot start the next field course until all field work has been completed & you have been graded for the current semester course.

All BSW Students MSW Students

REQUIRED 1ST FIELD COURSE 421 FLD 401+ Integrated Field

Seminar / LAB

721 FLD 401+ Integrated Field Seminar / LAB

REQUIRED 2ND FIELD COURSE 422 FLD 401 + Integrated Field Seminar / LAB 722 - Students exempt from SW 721

must enroll in FLD 001

No Integrated Seminar / LAB with 722

REQUIRED 3RD FIELD COURSE NONE 821 - No Integrated Field Seminar

/ LAB

REQUIRED 4TH FIELD COURSE NONE 822 - No Integrated Field Seminar

/ LAB

ELECTIVE FIELD

COURSES

423 - Requires approval from

Field Liaison

921 - Requires approval from

Field Liaison

Required Courses to Take Concurrently with Field Education Practicum

All Students registered for a Field Education are required to take a Methods Courseconcurrently with their Field Education Practicum Course.

BSW Students – SW 410; SW 427

MSW Students – SW 709,711,713 or 811

See your Faculty Advisor to ensure that you are in the correct Methods Course.

When you begin placement

• Read the UW-Milwaukee SW Field Manual and Safety Manual. You are expected to know and adhere to the Field Department’s policies and procedures and the NASW Code of Ethics.

• Learn and follow all of the agency operating polices and procedures including reporting of child abuse and neglect as well as elder abuse and neglect laws.

Field Student Expectations

Use professionalism in all communication including email, voicemail, and messagesProfessionalism

Maintain confidentialityConfidentiality

Be on time and practice good time managementTime

If you are not sure, need help, or have questions make sure to tell someoneCommunicate

Strategies for Success

Ask about the professional standards and expectations of the agency.

What is the dress code?

How do people communicate?

Is texting allowed?

How should reach out if you are sick/late?

Phone etiquette during placement/client contact?

Others?

Arranging Your Weekly Schedule of Field Hours

At the beginning of each semester of your field practicum, you are responsible for establishing a consistent weekly schedule of field hours with your Field Instructor. Document in the “Learning Plan”

You are expected to maintain this weekly schedule of field hours throughout the semester.

You are expected to discuss any requests for changes in your weekly schedule of field hours well in advance of the date of the change except for illness or emergency.

Early Start and Early Completion of the Field Practicum Course

Students need prior approval from their Field Liaison and Field Instructor to begin the first semester of their field practicum or end the last semester of their field practicum course early.

Students cannot begin the first semester of a field practicum more than two weeks prior to the official first day of the semester without approval from their Field Liaison.

Students cannot end the last semester of a field practicum more than two weeks prior to the official last day of the semester without approval from their Field Instructor and Field Liaison.

All time spent on the following

activities count toward total field

hours:

Field Seminar attendance

Completion of MSW field assignments

Completion of Field Contingency Plan assignments

Completion of agency-directed field activities including training.

Field supervision

Field Orientation to the Field Practicum

COVID-19 Pandemic Changes

Reduced Field Hour Requirement for 2021/2022

**Note that these hours will be different for Fall starting students**

Field Course Field Hour Requirement

SW 421 170

SW 422 170

SW 721 165

SW 722 200

SW 821 200

SW 822 200

SW 921 200

Required Field Documents

All of the documents related to the SW Field Practicum are to be submitted on the Canvas Field Document site in the appropriate folder

• Agency COVID Safety Plan (onsite agency placements)

• Student Placement Acknowledgement form (onsite agency placements)

• Learning Plan

• Mid-term progress report

• Field Assignments-5 points (MSW students only)

• Final Self-Evaluation (done by Field Student)

• Final Evaluation (done by Field Instructor)

• Verification of Field Hours

Contact Field Liaison if you have questions!

Create a folder on your desktop with all of your

required field documents so you can find them

Summer Field Dates

Instruction begins for field Education 6/1/2021

Learning Plan: Please refer to the Field Course Objectives and sample Learning Plans while completing this form with your Field Instructor

After completing 20 hours of field (approximately)

Mid-Semester Progress ReportCompleted on the same form as the Learning Plan

After completing half of field hours (approximately July 10th)

Final Evaluations Deadline(Both Field Instructor and Student)

After completing all field hours and assignments

Last Day of Field Education 8/21/2022

Set due dates in advance for all documents with

your Field Instructor and stick to them

9 CSWE Field Competencies

Demonstrates Ethical and Professional

Behavior

Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice

Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic,

and Environmental Justice

Engage in Practice-informed Research and

Research-Informed Practice

Engage in Policy Practice

Engage with Indviduals, Families,

Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Assess Individuals, Families, Groups,

Organizations, and Communities

Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families,

Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Learning Plan

The Learning Plan is the plan / road map for how you are going to specifically develop social work competence and skill in the 9 Field Course Competencies.

You are to develop a Learning Plan for each semester of your field practicum in collaboration withyour Agency Field Instructor ,or Field Liaison if on a Field Contingency Plan.

Review of your Learning Plan with you Agency Field Instructor before giving it to your Field Liaison.

Your Learning Plan is due when you have completed the first 20 hours of your field practicum each semester.

Submit via CANVAS to your SW Field Liaison

Look at the final evaluation where the competencies are broken down further.

Comp I: Demonstrates Ethical & Professional BehaviorCompetency I Outcomes to be graded:• Understands and demonstrates appropriate professional boundaries and demonstrates professional demeanor in behavior and appearance• Demonstrates appropriate and effective communication with all parties related to the field practicum including HBSSW faculty and staff• Demonstrates the ability to manage time effectively and efficiently• Understands the supervisory relationship and role of the student in the practicum setting• Demonstrates professional skills in written documentation and electronic communication• Identify and analyze one’s personal ethical conflicts which may occur during the field practicum • Recognizes and addresses professional ethical issues in the field placement utilizing the NASW Code of Ethics and an ethical decision-making model

Student’s Learning Goals for Competency I:-I will learn and implement the professional standards of my agency around written communication(email, text, etc.)-I will use my weekly supervision to discuss ethical conflicts that may arise for myself, as well as common ethical dilemmas that occur at this agency. I will practice using an ethical decision-making model with my supervisor.

Ask yourself: What am I already proficient in? What might I need to practice or learn new?

Field Supervision

• Field Supervision needs to occur weekly with your assigned Field Instructor. Student needs to notify their assigned Field Liaison if supervision is not occurring on schedule.

• Prepare for weekly supervision by coming with questions, issues, and situations you would like to discuss

MSW Field Assignments

Field Assignments topics, subjects, or activities that are designed to help the field student go more deeply into specific aspects of the field practicum. They are intended to be used as “supervision tools.”

Each Field Assignment listed on the SW Field Department website and contains the specific instructions and point value for that assignment.

All Field Assignments have to be related to learning experiences consistent with the focus of the field work and the mission of the field agency.

Major Field Assignments worth all 5 points need prior approval from both the Field Instructor and the Field Liaison.

Pick assignments that will help you to achieve competencies that might not be

part of every day field work.

Submitting Field

Assignments

Submit each Field Assignment, along with a cover page (found on the field department website), to the Field Instructor for feedback during supervision.

All Field Assignments are meant to be demonstrations of your developing social work competencies and should be processed in supervision where your Field Instructor will provide you with feedback.

After discussing your Field Assignments in supervision, your Field Instructor is to sign & date the assignments and return them to you.

All Field Assignments should be submitted before the Final Evaluation from the Field Instructor has been completed.

Failure to turn in all of the required Field Assignments will be reflected in a reduction of your final grade according to the percentages outlined in the grading matrix.

Final Field Course Evaluations

You will complete a Self-Evaluation of your field performance including a written summary under “Comments” of the details in all rating categories listed on the Evaluation Form. Submit your completed Self-Evaluation to your Field Instructor, or Field Liaison if on a Field Contingency Plan.

Your Field Instructor or Liaison will then complete their Final evaluation of your field performance.

The Evaluation Forms are identical for both the Field Instructor and student.

Make sure you are using the right version (Macro

vs Direct Practice)

Example of Written Summary Under “Comments” Section

For the rating category - Listed Under Competency I: DEMONSTRATES ETHICAL & PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR

“Responds appropriately to the supervisory relationship and understands

and accepts the role of the student in the practicum setting.”

Here is an example of a written summary under “Comments”

“I have actively participated in weekly supervisory meetings throughout the semester with the Field Instructor and have prepared in advance for supervision. I have completed three Client Assessments by the Mid-Term and have received positive feedback on all Assessments from the Field Instructor.”

More detail helps remind your Field Instructor of

things they forgot or didn’t realize you learned.

Scoring of the Final Grade

Students with “Exceptional Competence” in most or all categories would receive an approximate final grade of “A” on the Final Evaluation from their Field Instructor.

Students with “Exceeds Competency” in most or all categories would receive an approximate final grade of “B+ to A-” on the Final Evaluation from their Field Instructor.

Students with “Basic Competence” in most or all categories would receive an approximate final grade of “B to B+” on the Final Evaluation from their Field Instructor.

Students with “Improvement Needed” in all categories from their Field Instructor would have an approximate grade of “C to C+, which is a failing grade in all field education courses, which requires a minimum of a B to pass.

Students with “Unsatisfactory” in all categories from their Field Instructor would have a failing grade on the Final Evaluation from their Field Instructor

Grading - Undergraduate Students in SW 421 & SW 422

75%

• Demonstration of SW Field Competencies

• Based on Final Evaluation of Field Instructor

• Missing documents-3% per document and Late documents-1.5%

25%• Field Seminar attendance, participation, and completion of

assignments.

Grading - Graduate Students in SW 721

75%

• Demonstration of SW Field Competencies

• Based on Final Evaluation of Field Instructor

• Missing documents-3% per document and Late documents-1.5%

15%• 5 points of field assignemnts

10%• Attendance(5%) and participation in your Integrated Field Seminar (5%)

Final Grading - Graduate Students in SW 722, 821, 822, & 921

75%

• Demonstration of SW Field Competencies

• Based on Final Evaluation of Field Instructor

• Missing documents-3% per document and Late documents-1.5%

25%• 5 points of field assignments

Process for Requesting an Incomplete

Approval Request must be approved by the Field Liaison and the Field Instructor

Fill out Students must fill out the Incomplete Request Form in full.

Talk Students must talk to their Field Instructor and Field Liaison about their inability to complete the required field hours/field work prior to the end of the semester.

MSW students should not request an incomplete in

the semester they are graduating

Transportation of Clients in a Personal Vehicle

The UWM Risk Management Department has advised all schools and colleges that student interns should be discouraged from transporting clients in their personal automobile during the completion of their field practicum requirements due to liability reasons

In the event of an accident, students who are transporting clients are legally responsible and insurance carriers may deny the claim when they determine that the student is acting as a "conveyance" for a business.

The UWM Risk Management Department has allowed an exception to this policy when the requirements of the practicum require a student to transport clients in their personal vehicle as part of their field practicum duties.

Students can choose to decline a field practicum where they are required to transport clients in a personal vehicle. Students can request other field practicum options that do not require transporting clients in a personal vehicle.

COVID & Safety

Students are expected to:

• Follow all field agency COVD-19 safety protocols

• Follow CDC recommendations when not engaged in field agency activities including wearing a mask, engage in social distancing, hand washing, etc.

• Notify the field agency immediately if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or are under quarantine after an exposure or illness.

• Upload the agency COVID policy to the Field Document Canvas site and complete the online COVID Student Placement Acknowledgement form (located at the top of the Field Homepage)

Reminder: UWM offers COVID-19 vaccinations to all students at no cost

Challenges in a Field Practicum

It is vital that you communicate challenges or concerns that come up in your Field Placement, including:

✓ Personal difficulties affecting the field practicum

✓ Ethical issues in the field practicum

✓ Concern about structure and / or frequency of supervision

✓ Concern over assigned tasks or duties

✓ Insufficient weekly field practicum hours

✓ Difficulties encountered with the client population

✓ Safety issues in the field practicum

✓ Interpersonal difficulties with your Field Instructor or agency staff

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND

What if my field placement is not working out?

• You cannot end your field placement independently

• Unexpected changes in field placements are rare and are only permitted under significant circumstances that cannot be resolved.

Talk to your Field Liaison- We are here to help!

Self-Care is a Professional SW Skill• It is critical that students practice self-care during

their field practicum experience in order to prevent burn-out and other stress related problems.

• Keep your Agency Field Instructor and Field Liaison informed of your status and be pro-active in getting help for yourself when necessary.

• Make use of the following student services on campus:

Accessibility Resource CenterNorris Health CenterWriting CenterCareer Development CenterHBSSW Mentoring Program

Mental Health ResourcesStudent Success CenterEmergency GrantCampus Food Center and Pantry

Questions?

SOCIAL WORK FIELD PLACEMENTS OFFER MANY OPPORTUNITIES

• NEW CHALLENGES

• PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

• PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

• EMPLOYMENT POSSIBILITIES

• DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS