BSW HANDBOOK: FIELD INSTRUCTION

A. Field Instruction and Field/Focus Course

Students are encouraged to register for a Field/Focus of Social Work topic that corresponds with their field placement area (SWRK 4200 and SWRK 4300). All students requesting a field placement are required to complete a Field Preference Form (FPF) along with an updated electronic and paper copy of their résumés. Students requesting field placement during the regular academic session (September – April) or summer session (May to August) must submit a completed FPF and resumé by March 1st. Students who do not meet the deadline are not guaranteed a field placement in that term.[1]

B. Field Instruction Taken at Place of Employment[2]

Purpose of Field Instruction: Field education is a critical component of the social work curriculum and gives students the opportunity to learn to apply the knowledge they have garnered in the classroom to actual practice situations with individuals, families and/or communities, under the supervision of a field instructor. The purpose of field instruction includes:

a)providing opportunities for students to develop specific practice skills;

b)providing opportunities for students to successfully integrate theory into practice;

c)preparing students with the necessary knowledge and values-based skills for social work practice;

d)facilitating increased professional development and self-awareness; and

e)preparing students to apply the knowledge, skills and values from one field setting in social work to a variety of settings with a range of clients and identified issues.

1.0Eligibility Criteria for Field Instruction Courses to be Taken at their Place of Employment

Requests to take the field instruction course, SWRK 3150 or SWRK 4120, at a student’s workplace will be considered in accordance with specific criteria.

1.1A student must have completed all pre-requisites for the field course for

which s/he is registering.

1.2A student is to be registered in all of the required co-requisite courses.

1.3A student is ineligible if s/he has previously failed any field course.

1.4A student must have a minimum SGPA of 2.5.

1.5The work setting must provide the student with the opportunity to use a range of knowledge and skills, in accordance with the Faculty of Social Work curriculum requirements of the BSW program.

1.6The student’s proposed field roles and responsibilities and field education learning goals must be separate and distinct from his or her paid employment duties.

1.7The student must have a different field instructor (BSW minimum requirement) from his or her employment supervisor.

2.0Procedures to Apply for Field Instruction at their Place of Employment

The student will apply to the Field Education Coordinator to take his or her field instruction, SWRK 3150 or SWRK 4120, at his or her place of employment and submit a proposal, along with the other field placement administrative requirements (as outlined in the preceding section) by the deadline date for all field applications. The proposal will include the following information items and will be submitted to and reviewed by the Field Education Coordinator who will assess the suitability of the placement for field learning.

2.1The student is to provide a summary of his or her paid work experience, roles and responsibilities in the current work setting;

2.2The student is to identify and provide contact information regarding his or her current employment supervisor;

2.3The student is to provide names of two references from the current work setting who are in agreement with being contacted for additional information regarding the applicant’s work performance;

2.4The student is to draft a summary of the proposed field placement including specific learning objectives, goals and activities to be undertaken in SWRK 3150 or SWRK 4120. The proposed learning must be distinct and unique from the student’s paid employment duties;

2.5The student is to provide contact information, along with confirmation of qualifications (i.e. BSW, MSW) pertaining to the individual who has agreed to assume the role of field instructor. This individual cannot be the same individual who supervises the student in his or her paid employment duties; and

2.6The student is responsible for negotiating the use of his work setting for field instruction with his or her employer. The student will provide material, if required, to confirm the employer’s acceptance of these terms.

3.0Additional Guidelines

3.1An interview with the student and representatives of the workplace may be

held prior to the decision regarding acceptance or denial of the proposed practicum.

3.2A student who receives remuneration (i.e., stipend, wage, subsidy) in their field placement (SWRK 3150 or SWRK 4120) should not have been employed in that position prior to accepting the field placement. However, in the event that a student is employed in a paid position in the agency and is requesting placement, the student must ensure the criteria as specified under 1.0, and the procedures as specified under 2.0, are satisfied.

3.3The Faculty reserves the right to review individual contracts and arrangements and to determine whether any additional requirements need to be addressed.

3.4Where questions arise regarding the suitability or acceptance of the proposed workplace field practicum, the Field Education Coordinator will consult with the BSW Program Committee in arriving at a final decision.

Fort Garry and Inner City Social Work Programs

Prior to applying for field placement, students are expected to participate in the “Everything You Wanted to Know About Field” workshop and “The Resumé and Interview Preparatio” workshop offered at Fort Garry and Inner City programs prior to Field Information Day. Field Placement Request forms are available during the winter term at Field Information Day and/or by contacting the Field Program Assistant or Field Coordinator. Students requesting field placement during the regular academic session (September – April) or summer session (May to August) must submit a completed Field Placement Form and resumé by March 1st. Field placements will not be secured for students who do not submit their request, along with all required documentation, by the aforementioned deadline date.

Fort Garry students in the regular, three-year program who are registered in SWRK 3150 or SWRK 4120 attend field placement two days per week (15 hours) during Fall and Winter terms. Inner City campus students registered in SWRK 3150 or SWRK 4120 attend field placement two days per week during Fall and Winter terms. Fort Garry campus students in the Concentrated Program and Inner City Accelerated Field students attend field placement four days per week (30 hours) during Fall and Winter terms, participating in one field placement only. Students contemplating switching to a concentrated or accelerated field placement are required to make themselves aware of eligibility requirements of the Concentrated Program/Accelerated Field and to contact the Coordinator of Student Services and Admissions/Advising Office for confirmation of their eligibility no later than February 1.

Students deemed eligible for field are referred by the Field Coordinator to an appropriate field placement agency for consideration of an interview. Students who are accepted and offered field placement will receive e-mail placement confirmation, including key dates and relevant field information, prior to term commencement. Every effort will be made to place students registering in SWRK 4120, final field placement, in a setting related to one of their field focus areas of interest. However, final authority for field placement referral and confirmation rests with the Field Coordinator. Decisions may be based on availability of agency openings as well as the educational needs of students.

All students registered in Field Instruction courses (SWRK 3150 and SWRK 4120) are required to attend the mandatory field orientation. Information regarding field orientation will be e-mailed to each field student in their placement confirmation letter. Students requiring additional information may contact the Field Program Assistant at 204-474-6171 or the Field Coordinator at 204-474-8300.

  1. Immunization Policy[3]

Social work students in WRHA placements should consult with their Field Instructor to confirm and meet immunization requirements of placement. As of March 2013, the WRHA policy pertaining to social work students entering placement is as follows:

  1. Students are required to make an appointment with the Occupational Health Centre at their placement site and have a Tuberculosis Skin Test (TST) completed; and
  2. Students are required to have their Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) and Varicella status reviewed at placement site.
  1. Voluntary Withdrawal Policy on Field Instruction Courses

A student is allowed one voluntary withdrawal from field instruction SWRK 3150 and one voluntary withdrawal from the SWRK 4120.[4] A student with more than one Voluntary Withdrawal (VW) from SWRK 3150 or more than one Voluntary Withdrawal (VW) from SWRK 4120 shall be required to withdraw from the Faculty of Social Work.

If a student withdraws from a Field Instruction course (SWRK 3150, SWRK 4120) the Faculty will automatically withdraw the student from the co-requisite course (Field/Focus – SWRK 4200, SWRK 4300). If a student withdraws from Field Focus course (SWRK 4200, SWRK 4300) the Faculty will automatically withdraw the student from the co-requisite Field Instruction course (SWRK 3150, SWRK 4120).

  1. Statement of Faculty and Student Obligations – Field Placement[5]

The student is responsible for the following:

  • The successful completion of prerequisite courses to field placement;
  • The review of field-related written materials and participation in sessions to assist in preparation for the field placement application and referral process;
  • The submission of a complete application form (including résumé) in request of field placement by the specified due date;
  • Professional conduct during the interview process;
  • Prompt follow-up with field placement site and/or field program staff as required in the period preceding confirmation of field placement;
  • The completion of all site-specific field requirements (such as the Child Abuse Registry, Criminal Record Check, Driver’s Licence, Driver’s Abstract and the WRHA Immunization policy) prior to the commencement of field placement; and
  • Registration in Field Instruction 1 and/or Field Instruction 2 in addition to the Field Focus of Social Work Practice co-requisite course(s) prior to the commencement of field placement.

The Faculty is responsible for providing students with the following:

  • Curriculum expectations including learning objectives;
  • Field Information Resource Booklet;
  • Field Student Manual;
  • Field Program Staff contact information and consultation;
  • Materials regarding preparation for and orientation to field placement; and
  • Requirements of field application, referral and confirmation process.

The Field Coordinator is the Instructor of Record for Field Instruction 1 (SWRK 3150) and Field Instruction 2 (SWRK 4120). While the Faculty is responsible for assisting in securing a reasonable placement for the student, it is important to note that a student is not guaranteed confirmation in a field placement setting on the sole basis of the completion of prerequisite courses. Students must demonstrate readiness for practice in the process of securing a placement. If concerns are raised regarding the student’s behaviour, judgment or practice and/or if the student demonstrates difficulty in his or her attempts to attain confirmation as a result of his or her performance in the field interview process, the Field Coordinator and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs will determine what additional steps may be taken to resolve this matter, or may determine the student is unprepared for meeting the requirements of field placement at this time.

F.Grade Point Requirement for Applying for Field Placement

Students are expected to have a Social Work (Subject) Grade Point Average of 2.50 and successful

completion of foundation courses in order to proceed with applying for a field placement. In the event

a student does not meet these requirements, their case can be brought to the Committee on Academic

Standings for special consideration of their eligibility.[6]

G.Accelerated Field Definition: Inner City and Distance Delivery Social Work Program Requirements

Accelerated Field allows eligible students to undertake Field Instruction I (SWRK 3150) and Field Instruction 2 (SWRK 4120) in one field placement between September and April. Field Instruction includes four days of placement per week for a total of 840 hours. Students who are approved to take Accelerated Field must also register for two co-requisite Field/Focus of Social Work Practice (SWRK 4200 and SWRK 4300) courses.

Inner City and Distance Delivery Social Work Program students who have completed 75 credit hours including the four foundation courses (SWRK 1310, SWRK 2080, SWRK 2090 and SWRK 3140) and have maintained a minimum Degree Grade Point Average (DGPA) of 3.0 and Subject Grade Point Average (SGPA) of 3.0 are eligible to apply for Accelerated Field. Students in request of Accelerated Field must attach to their Field Placement Request Form, a written request to the Director of Inner City Social Work Program or to the Distance Delivery Coordinator indicating an interest in an Accelerated Field Placement. Requests for field placement must be submittedby March 1.[7]

H. University of Manitoba’s Health Information Act (PHIA) Training Reqiurement

Prior to entering into a first or concentrated/accelerated field placement, it is mandatory for social work students to complete the University of Manitoba’s online Personal Health and Information Act (PHIA) training and sign the University of Manitoba PHIA Pledge of Confidentiality as follows:

select “Social Work Field Placement Students – PHIA Training”. Then select “Click Here” to complete your registration, and then “Submit.” Be sure to read the instructions in the event that there is a problem submitting. Upon completion of the training, students entering into placement must follow the online instructions regarding the submission of the Pledge of Confidentiality. This must be received by the Access and Privacy Office PRIOR to the beginning of field placement.

I.Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR):*

SWRK 3152 is a self-study course in which the student (upon acceptance) will have the opportunity to

demonstrate basic skills and knowledge as required of all students in first field placement. Students will be required to demonstrate learning in social work engagement, assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation, as well as integration of values and ethics and theoretical frameworks as attained in pre-requisite foundation courses. Applicants who have been accepted and register in SWRK 3152 in lieu of first field placement, SWRK 3150, will be required to complete all workbook assignments on or before the designated due dates and to contact a PLAR Assessor when additional clarification or support is required. Subject to satisfactory completion of assignments and reports, students will be evaluated and graded on a pass/fail basis. All students registered in SWRK 3152 must also register for a co-requisite SWRK 4200 Field Focus course.

(*Under review)

A student who has two (2) or more years of previous social work employment experience in the past 5 years may apply to register for SWRK 3152 in lieu of his or her first field placement (SWRK 3150). The PLAR course requires a student to focus on his or her self-assessment of current skills and knowledge and to demonstrate integration of social work values and ethics from a practice perspective.

The PLAR Application package can be accessed from the General Office or by contacting the Field Coordinator of your respective B.S.W. program. All applications are due on or before December 1st for all students applying for course commencement effective September of the

following year.

*Currently Under Review

J. Summer Session Field Policy

Summer field placements are an opportunity for BSW students from Ft. Garry and ICSWP to complete SWRK 4120: Field Instruction 2 in a shorter time period than the regular academic session. It is an exception to the usual mode of field education at the BSW level, arranged for the convenience of students when resources permit. Because these field placements take place in summer session, they are condensed and require completion of the requisite number of field hours in less time than field for regular (i.e. non-concentrated/non-accelerated) Ft. Garry and ICSWP BSW degree plans. Access to SWRK 4120: Field Instruction 2 in summer session will be limited to students who meet criteria similar to concentrated/accelerated students. As well, due to resource limitations and placement availability, the number of students who may register for SWRK 4120 in summer session can change from year to year. It is important to recognize that the Faculty does not guarantee SWRK 4120: Field Instruction 2 will be available every summer. Please note: SWRK 3150: Field Instruction 1 is not offered in summer session.

The following are eligibility requirements for students who wish to complete SWRK 4120: Field Instruction 2 in summer session:

  1. Students must have a DGPA and SGPA of at least 3.0 to be considered for SWRK 4120: Field Instruction 2 when offered in summer session and have successfully completed all pre-requisite courses by the end of the previous winter session. This includes SWRK 3150: Field Instruction 1 and SWRK 4200: Field Focus of Social Work Practice.
  1. Students who have received an extension or incomplete in SWRK 3150: Field Instruction 1 and/or SWRK 4200: Field Focus of Social Work Practice beyond the end of the previous winter term[*]are not eligible.
  1. Students in SWRK 4120: Field Instruction 2 offered in the summer session must register for a concurrent SWRK 4300: Field Focus of Social Work Practice summer session class. Normal rules will apply for Ft. Garry & ICSWP students wishing to take SWRK 4300: Field Focus of Social Work Practice by distance delivery in summer session.
  1. Students who have previously received a grade of F in SWRK 3150: Field Instruction 1 are not eligible to take SWRK 4120: Field Instruction 2 in summer session.
  1. Students who have previously failed SWRK 4120: Field Instruction 2 and have been given the opportunity to repeat it are not eligible to repeat SWRK 4120: Field Instruction 2 in summer session.

[1]Approved by Faculty Council – February 24, 2006.

[2]Approved by Faculty Council – June 25, 2008.

[3]WRHA Immunization Policy - Student Placement Requirements August 2007; Amended March, 2013.

[4]Approved by Senate - June, 2007; Amended and Approved by Faculty Council March, 2013.

[5]Approved by Faculty Council - October 29, 2010.

[6]Approved by Faculty Council, March 22, 2013.

[7]Approved by Faculty Council, November, 2010.

[*] “End of term” is defined by the Registrar’s Office as the last day of classes in a given term.