1. The Mission of Field Education
From Practitioner to Educator
UW School of Social Work (

2. Competency Objectives:
1) Describe rationale for field instructor training;
2) Define mission of the UWSSW and purpose of field education: practice application of social work principles, competencies and curriculum;
3) Demonstrate understanding of the importance of the field instructor in helping student develop educational competencies;
4) Articulate the requirements of practicum

3. Why Field Instruction Training?
Field education is ‘the signature pedagogy of social work’: CSWE
EPAS guidelines mandate field instruction training to agency-based field instructors
Field supervision requires advanced training due to a teaching element

4. Training Rationale
Social work skills do not indicate expertise in teaching those skills.
Studies have identified knowledge and skills necessary for effective field supervision; CSWE developed modules
Competency-based training models help PIs reinforce student competency development (measurable knowledge, values, skills, and behaviors)

5. Intro to The UW SSW Field Instructor Training Program
Provides specialized knowledge and skills for effective field education/supervision.
Ten modules delivered over 14 hours:
Mission Integrating Theory
Agency Orientation - Evaluations
Adult Learning Cultural Competency
Learning Contract Ethics in Practicum
Supervision Challenging Situations

6. MISSION OF FIELD EDUCATION:
Practicum is capstone of social work education:
Learn by doing, under supervision of experienced practitioners trained to instruct;
Apply social work knowledge and skills obtained in classroom; develop competencies;
Successfully integrate theory into practice;
Prepare students to begin social work practice within an agency setting.

7. Critical Role of Field Instructor
Research on social workers as educators:
Supervisory style and characteristics of the field instructor have a significant impact on students’ evaluations of the instructor and the placement experience;
Most significant factor affecting students’ satisfaction with the field placement: Quality of field instruction

8. Discussion Review participant field experience
What qualities made an effective practicum instructor?
What experiences or qualities created a negative learning experience?

9. Field Instructor Has Opportunity
to significantly influence the education and training of a future social worker;
to influence all of the student’s future interactions with clients;
To play a role in shaping the future of social work practice and our profession

10. Goals of Field Instruction
Create learning opportunities for students to integrate theory and practice
Teach students how to practice social work, NOT how to do a particular job in a particular agency
Helping students learn how to use social work skills effectively
Teach how to use social work knowledge and values to inform their actions

11. Challenges of Field Education
Demonstrate understanding of how to develop and use competencies (knowledge, values, and skills) for effective practice,
Help students see how to apply these abilities to any practice setting:
how to engage a client, stakeholder, or constituent,
how to build rapport,
how to set goals,
how to develop tasks to reach those goals,
effective and ethical practice

12. Creating a Vision
first task: create a vision of qualities and characteristics your student should attain by end of placement;
immediate vision: helping the student apply knowledge to a practice setting;
larger vision: instructor’s role in the life and professional development of the student and their client’s well-being

14. Mission of School and Curriculum – Access School Website
Instructors must incorporate the School’s mission, principles, curriculum objectives, and Core Competency Development
Review UW SSW mission
(http: depts.washington.edu/sswweb/mission/) (http: depts.washington.edu/sswweb/programs)

15. Incorporating SSW Core Values
Instructors are expected to support and reinforce the School’s core principles:
Empowerment
Multiculturalism
Social Justice
Social Change
Help students assess & incorporate these in practice:
Agency commitment to these values
Comparison of agency and School mission and agency success and status re meeting both missions
Dialogue about challenges and differences between ideal and the real; ways to influence change and justice

16. BASW/Foundation Objectives
Access Handout 1C
Review purpose of Foundation year:
Intro to the profession: values, ethics, conduct
Generalist, entry level skills
Micro, mezzo, macro exposure and learning opportunities
Learning to use supervision
Identification of strengths and niche for advanced year

17. Advanced MSW Concentrations
Access Handout 1D
Review Concentration Specializations

18. Advanced MSW Concentrations Access Handout 1D
Review Concentration Specializations
Day Program
Administration/Policy
Children, Youth, Families, Elders
Health/Mental Health
Community-Centered Integrative Practice
Extended Degree Program
Integrative Health/Mental Health
Children, Youth, Families, Multigenerational Pct.

19. Competency-Based Education
2008 CSWE Mandates re Required Competencies and related Practice Behaviors = revised curriculum
Focus is on outcomes expected
Learning to be reflected in demonstrable skills (practice behaviors)
Practice Behaviors are to be assessed via visible, specific, measurable activities

20. Ten Competencies Identity as a SW Ethics Critical Thinking Diversity
Human Rights and Social Justice
Research / Evidence-Based Practice
Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Policy
Contextual Practice
Practice skills in
Engagement
Assessment
Intervention
Evaluation

21. Review Competencies (handouts 1E.1- 1E.5)
Ten competencies are incorporated into new Learning Contracts and Evaluations, each with detailed practice expectations
BASW/Foundation focus: generalist practice at micro/mezzo/macro levels; professional roles, behavior, ethics
Review Foundation Competencies and Practice Behaviors
Review Adv. Competencies/Behaviors

22. Activities to Match Curriculum Requirements and be Measured
Student activities to meet required competencies, student interests, agency needs; and measurable practice behaviors
Practice behaviors to be measured through documentation, observation, presentations, supervision discussion, etc.
Instructors legally responsible for work of student; insure adequate oversight of practicum, and supervision documentation

23. Activity: Teaching to Competencies - Handout 1F
Identify agency mission with mission and social work services and compatibility with SSW mission and competency education
Identify areas of agency overlap and challenge in providing instruction in SW competencies
Module 4 will assist in developing agency-specific activities to meet competency requirements;
Assigned Field Faculty can also consult, assist

24. UW SSW Programs (handout 1C, 1D )
BASW / Foundation Objectives (handout)
Generalist practice with micro, mezzo, macro level assessments, interventions, evaluation
Two year MSW Day Program
Three year Extended Degree Program (EDP) for working professionals;
One year Advanced Standing MSW
MSW Advanced Concentrations (handout)

25. Practicum Credit Requirements
To be completed with Practicum Instructor:
Individualized Learning Contract: tasks designed to build competencies
Weekly instruction and supervision: to monitor progress, provide time for reflection & feedback
Quarterly Evaluations: to describe and rate progress towards competencies, development
Eval cover sheet: signatures, hours, credit recommendation submitted to field faculty

26. Partners in Education (handouts 1G, 1H)
Practicum education requires a three-way partnership: student, PI/agency, field faculty
Roles and Expectations handout emphasizes need for communication, coordination, understanding of Practicum as a class in which all have responsibilities and involvement
Expectations of Agencies handout focuses on need for agency to support PI and provide a positive learning environment; student hours

27. Practicum Credit Hours
BASW: 480 hours over 3 quarters (4 credits/160 hrs./quarter = 16 hours/week)
MSW Foundation: 320 hours/8 credits
DAY: Two quarters, 4 credits/160 hours each
EDP: Negotiable schedule, start Spring or Summer
MSW Advanced: 720 hours/18 credits
DAY: 3 quarters, 240 hours/6 credits/quarter
EDP: Negotiable, start Spring or Summer