FIELD INSTRUCTOR ORIENTATION
Steve Nakajo, MSW Field CoordinatorSonia Melara, BASW Field Coordinator
SFSU School of Social Work
2011-2012Academic Year
ORIENTATIONOBJECTIVES
• Introduce agencies to some of the staff and faculty• Provide an overview of field requirements
• Provide you with the necessary information to ensure the field learning experience is a beneficial one for your agency and our students.
For more detailed information: Please visit our website: http://online.sfsu.edu/~swinternFor orientation materials: http://sfsusocialwork.pbworks.com/FrontPage
OUR PROGRAMS
• BASW Program Sonia Melara, MSW
• MSW Program Sonja Lenz-Rashid, Ph.D. LCSW
Field Calendar
Fall SemesterSecond Year MSW Students – Sep. 6BASW Students – Sep. 7First Year MSW Students – Sep. 20
Spring semesterAll Students – January 9, 2012
All students may start earlier if needed.
The Field Education Program Components:
website: http://online.sfsu.edu/~swintern
THE FIELD AGENCIES THE FIELD SEMINAR (weekly review) THE FIELD COORDINATORS THE AGENCY FIELD INSTRUCTORS THE UNIVERSITY BASED FACULTY
FIELD LIAISONS
Supervisory Agenda
What to talk about for 60- 90 minutes?– Ethics/values– Agency issues– Individual and group
dynamics– Documentation– Interventions– Mission/History of
agency– Practice Theories– Problems of learning– professional
development
Successful Field Instruction is Result of:
Student Choice of PlacementField Instructor ChoiceConsistency with intern– Structure– Accessibility
Feedback to intern– Consistent– Objective– Clear– Supportive– Issue, not student focused
Clear, Mutual, Written Objectives: Learning Contract
Learning Contract: The Critical Internship Tool
Primary Purpose: assure integration of classroom and internship content and learning
Identify and clarify learning goals and tasks for agency and student:
caseload, trainings, projects, other discipline resources Specify structure of internship for student, agency,
University: calendar, supervision time, variations in schedule
Defines limits of internship, basis for evaluation, troubleshooting
Protection for student and agency
Risk Management Strategies in Field
Assume a proactive stance-Be aware/Prepare Reduce foreseeable risk (best practices) –follow
procedures, stay competent and current Educate yourself and your intern in ethics, safety, best
current practices in your field Supervision is the primary tool Share the burden of risk – you are never alone as Field
Instructor or Intern Follow established, written procedures in agency, field
education; keep current records. Remember: MORE WORK WITH LESS SUPPORT &
FEWER RESOURCES = INCREASED LIABILITY
Duties of the Agency
Provide site free of recognized hazards (risk of death or physical harm)
Bring foreseeable risk to the attention of the intern – safety plan
Provide close and direct supervision and monitoring of intern (School requirement)
Comply with OSHA, ADA, your accrediting body, etc. Understand and follow School policies and procedures
(Field Manual) Ethical practice
Duties of the Intern
Follow the rules of the agency ~(Orientation by agency is required)
Not to engage in illegal activity as part of the internship ~
Use ‘reasonable care’ in internship ~ Follow School Field policies and NASW
Code of Ethics (Field Manual)
Duties of the School
Place intern in qualified placement (student choice is essential)
Closely monitor placement (Liaison role) Supervise and ensure the educational and
safety components of the placement (Liaison role)
Ensure that interns know foreseeable risks of the placement (Liaison/seminar role)
Placement is an educational extension of the University
Insurance-Malpractice
All SFSU social work students are covered by California State University through Lloyds of London for professional liability~ While registered in required academic field classes During the academic/field education calendar (see
Field Education website) With confirmed Placement Contract in an approved
agency
HIGH RISK SIGNSCall the Liaison!
• Intern disappears• Intern doesn’t talk• Intern doesn’t want supervision• Intern avoids Field Instructor,
clients, colleagues• Intern has no questions• NO LEARNING CONTRACT!
CALL THE LIAISON!
• When to call for help:• Earlier rather than later• Student away for a week or more• Student disappears• You’re away for a week or more• No supervision available for ANY REASON• Your job changes; intern assignment changes• Your address and/or phone changes• Breakdown in communication with student• Difficulty with learning contract
A LAST WORDThank you for what you do
We are here to help you and our students
If you need assistance, contact the field liaison for your student,
OrContact us
Steve Nakajo or Sonia Melara MSW Field Coordinator BASW Field Coordinator
[email protected] [email protected] Or leave a message at 415-338-1004