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

snajako@sfsu.edu Smelara@sfsu.edu Or leave a message at 415-338-1004