School of Social Work
Resources for Organizations Interested in Offering Field Placements
What students in the Social Work Program at Ryerson can offer
Students in the Social Work Program at Ryerson University are a diverse group of people who bring a range of strengths, skills, interests, experience and learning objectives to field placement settings. Depending on the individual skills and interests and organizations' needs, students become involved in many of field placement settings' regular, ongoing activities. Some of these activities include but are not limited to:
- Intake and assessment
- Supportive counselling
- Program planning and implementation
- Outreach
- Program evaluation
- Research
- Group work
- Community development
- Accompaniments
- Case management
- Discharge planning
- Proposal writing
- Public education
- Information and referrals
- Policy analysis, policy development
- Special projects
- Clinically focused activities (MSW students)
The possibilities are endless.
With careful planning, good supervision, and an appropriate "match" between a student and a placement setting, a student can make a significant contribution to an organization over the course of the field placement. The field placement setting can in turn make a significant contribution to a student's growth and professional development.
Types of field placements that organizations can offer
Field placement goals and objectives
The values, goals, and objectives relative to BSW and MSW field placements evolve from the School of Social Work's mission and core values, and from the curriculum standards approved by the Board of Accreditation of the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE).
| BSW field placement goals and objectives |
In the field placement, BSW students are required to demonstrate the following values within an anti-oppression framework:
Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate these values while undertaking the Field Practicum and in relation to the following goals and objectives. The depth to which students are able to demonstrate and engage with these values, goals and objectives is dependent on whether they are engaged in a third or a fourth year placement experience. In third year, students are expected to demonstrate an introductory level of capacity. In fourth year, students deepen their capabilities. Consult the BSW Field Education Manual for information about specific knowledge and skill objectives. Practice goal 1: Learning about the social context The student will apply critical understanding of existing social, economic and political forces and their implications for policy and practice. Particular emphasis will be given to issues of diversity, power, privilege, oppression, individualism, and transformative change. Practice goal 2: Learning about the agency The student will gain critical understanding of the placement setting's response to manifestations of oppression from an anti-oppression framework an their implications for practice. Practice goal 3: Learning about social work practices Building on understandings of self, social location, social policy, placement setting, and the purpose of social work, the student will gain and apply knowledge and skills necessary to facilitate personal and social change processes with people experiencing barriers in social living. Practice goal 4: Learning about the self The student will apply critical self-reflective knowledge about their social location and its implications for practice. |
| MSW field placement goals and objectives |
As graduate students come to the MSW program with a wide range of skills and experiences, the focus of the field placement is on acquiring advanced practice competencies and experiences in social work practice. Objectives Graduating MSW students will:
Specific objectives for the field placement component of the curriculum include the following:
|
What the School of Social Work expects from Field Instructors
All students in placement are supervised by an employee from the placement setting, who is referred to with the title Field Instructor. Field Instructors are the "teachers" of the field placement component of the School's curriculum. As such, Field Instructors play a critical role in the School's BSW and MSW programs and in students' learning.
The School of Social Work engages Field Instructors from a wide variety of organizations. It is important to the school that Field Instructors reflect the variety of locations and contexts of social work. Although it is preferred, Field Instructors do not require a Bachelor or Masters of Social Work degree.
Field Instructors are expected to:
- be available to the student in an ongoing way to problem solve, answer questions, etc;
- make time on a regular but periodic basis for formal supervision with the student;
- complete a written mid-term and final evaluation;
- understand that the student is in a learning role;
- understand their own role as a teacher/mentor/facilitator of student learning;
- be available for the duration of the placement.
For more information about the Field Instructor's responsibilities, consult the BSW Field Education Manual, the MSW Field Education Manual or contact the School's Field Education Manager.
Physical space for students
Students do not necessarily need to have their own office, computer, or phone. They do however need to have a place where they can safely store their work and personal materials, as well as a suitable space to engage in their work.
How to decide if a field placement is suitable for a third year BSW student, a fourth year BSW student, or an MSW student
A conversation with the School's Field Education Manager or one of the Field Education Coordinators is often helpful in this regard. Organizations are encouraged to be in touch with the Field Education Manager or one of the Field Education Coordinators to discuss this further, especially if it is the first time a placement setting is considering students from the Social Work Program at Ryerson.
How to request a BSW student and/or an MSW student
The School of Social Work recruits BSW and MSW field placements from a variety of organizations. While it is preferred, Field Instructors are not always required to have a Social Work degree. If your organization is interested in offering a BSW and/or an MSW field placement, please complete and return a Student Field Placement Request Form or contact the Field Education Manager or one of the Field Education Coordinators. The more information you provide about a placement opportunity, the better we can match you with a student who will meet your needs.
How to get the student you want and want the student you get
Provide the Field Education Office as much information as possible regarding the kind of student who would be best suited to do a placement with your organization or program. The more the Field Education Office knows about the criteria and qualifications required, the better it can match placement settings with students that can meet each organization's needs.
When completing a BSW and/or MSW Student Field Placement Request Form or speaking with the Field Education Manager or a Field Education Coordinator, an organization should consider the following:
- Can the placement setting provide a structured environment with regular supervision or does it require a student to work more independently and adjust to a more flexible supervision style and process?
- Does the placement setting require a student with a valid Ontario driver's licence or access to a car on placement days?
- Does the placement setting require flexibility in hours (e.g., evening hours or some hours on a day outside of the usual field placement days)?
- Does the placement setting require that the student have particular skills (e.g., has taken an addiction or research course, etc) or experience?
- Are there particular identity or language groups that are preferred?
- Is there a range of activities that the student can participate in or will the field placement be focused in a particular program?
Summary of placement processes
Police record checks
The School of Social Work does not oversee police record checks for student placements. Once matched with a placement setting, each student is responsible for inquiring about the organization's protocols concerning police record checks and, if applicable, how to obtain one. Unless informed otherwise, students are responsible for covering the cost for obtaining police record checks.
Refer to Resources for Students for additional information about police record checks.
Bookmark with:
