FIELD INSTRUCTOR FIELD INSTRUCTOR ORIENTATIONORIENTATION

Dianne D. MahanDianne D. MahanDirector of Field EducationDirector of Field EducationSFSU School of Social WorkSFSU School of Social Work

2009-20102009-2010

Academic YearAcademic Year

The Field Education Program The Field Education Program Components: Components:

website: website: http://online.sfsu.edu/~swintern

THE FIELD AGENCIES THE FIELD AGENCIES THE FIELD INSTRUCTION COURSETHE FIELD INSTRUCTION COURSE THE FIELD SEMINAR (weekly review)THE FIELD SEMINAR (weekly review) THE FIELD DIRECTOR THE FIELD DIRECTOR THE AGENCY FIELD INSTRUCTORSTHE AGENCY FIELD INSTRUCTORS THE UNIVERSITY BASED FACULTY THE UNIVERSITY BASED FACULTY

FIELD LIAISONS FIELD LIAISONS

Internship StructureInternship Structurewebsite: website: http://online.sfsu.edu/~swintern

BASWBASW MSW IMSW I MSW IIMSW II

DATESDATES Sept. 9– Sept. 9– May 16May 16

Sept. 22-Sept. 22-May 16May 16

Sept.10-Sept.10-May 16May 16

HoursHours 480480 480480 720720

Hrs/weekHrs/week 1616 1616 2424

DaysDays Mon/WedMon/Wed Tu/ThursTu/Thurs Tu/Th/FriTu/Th/Fri

SupervisionSupervision

Per weekPer week1 hour1 hour 1 ½ hour1 ½ hour 1 ½ hour1 ½ hour

Supervisory AgendaSupervisory Agenda

What to talk about for What to talk about for 90 minutes?90 minutes?– Ethics/valuesEthics/values– Collegial issuesCollegial issues– Group dynamicsGroup dynamics– DocumentationDocumentation– InterventionsInterventions– Mission/History of Mission/History of

agencyagency– Practice TheoriesPractice Theories– Problems of learningProblems of learning– Your professional Your professional

developmentdevelopment

Integrating Curriculum by Field Integrating Curriculum by Field InstructionInstruction

PRAXIS=Experiential PRAXIS=Experiential learninglearning

ConditionsConditions– Understanding errorUnderstanding error– Immediate, Immediate,

unambiguous, accurate unambiguous, accurate feedbackfeedback

Age & Time ≠ WisdomAge & Time ≠ Wisdom You are only You are only

inexperienced once but inexperienced once but you can be you can be incompetent forever.incompetent forever.

FeedbackError

Learning

Successful Field Instruction is Successful Field Instruction is Result of:Result of:

Student Choice of FIStudent Choice of FIField Instructor ChoiceField Instructor ChoiceConsistency with internConsistency with intern– DateDate– StructureStructure– AccessibilityAccessibility

Feedback to internFeedback to intern– ConsistentConsistent– ObjectiveObjective– ClearClear– SupportiveSupportive– Issue, not student focused Issue, not student focused

Clear, Mutual, Written Clear, Mutual, Written Objectives: Objectives:

Learning ContractLearning Contract

Learning Contract: Learning Contract: TheThe CriticalCritical Internship ToolInternship Tool

Primary PurposePrimary Purpose: assure integration of classroom and : assure integration of classroom and internship content and learninginternship content and learning

Identify and clarify learning goals and tasks for agency Identify and clarify learning goals and tasks for agency and student: and student:

caseload, trainings, projects, other discipline resourcescaseload, trainings, projects, other discipline resources Specify structure of internship for student, agency, Specify structure of internship for student, agency,

University: University: calendar, supervision time, variations in schedulecalendar, supervision time, variations in schedule

Defines limits of internship, basis for evaluation, Defines limits of internship, basis for evaluation, troubleshootingtroubleshooting

Protection for student and agencyProtection for student and agency

Risk Management Strategies in Risk Management Strategies in Field Field (NASW Trust)(NASW Trust)

Assume a proactive stance-Be aware/PrepareAssume a proactive stance-Be aware/Prepare Reduce foreseeable risk (best practices) –follow Reduce foreseeable risk (best practices) –follow

procedures, stay competent and currentprocedures, stay competent and current Educate yourself and your intern in ethics, safety, best Educate yourself and your intern in ethics, safety, best

current practices in your fieldcurrent practices in your field Supervision is the primary toolSupervision is the primary tool Share the burden of risk – you are never alone as Field Share the burden of risk – you are never alone as Field

Instructor or InternInstructor or Intern Follow established, written procedures in agency, field Follow established, written procedures in agency, field

education; keep current records.education; keep current records. Remember: MORE WORK WITH LESS SUPPORT & Remember: MORE WORK WITH LESS SUPPORT &

FEWER RESOURCES = INCREASED LIABILITYFEWER RESOURCES = INCREASED LIABILITY

Duties of the AgencyDuties of the Agency

Provide site free of recognized hazards (risk of Provide site free of recognized hazards (risk of death death or physical harm)or physical harm)

Bring foreseeable risk to the attention of the Bring foreseeable risk to the attention of the intern – intern – safety plansafety plan

Provide close and direct supervision and Provide close and direct supervision and monitoring of intern (School requirement)monitoring of intern (School requirement)

Comply with OSHA, ADA, your accrediting body, etc. Comply with OSHA, ADA, your accrediting body, etc. Understand and follow School policies and procedures Understand and follow School policies and procedures

(Field Manual)(Field Manual) Ethical practice (community standards)Ethical practice (community standards)

Duties of the InternDuties of the Intern

Follow the rules of the agency ~Follow the rules of the agency ~(Orientation by agency is required)(Orientation by agency is required)

Not to engage in illegal activity as part of Not to engage in illegal activity as part of the internship ~the internship ~

Use ‘reasonable care’ in internship ~Use ‘reasonable care’ in internship ~ Follow School Field policies and NASW Follow School Field policies and NASW

Code of Ethics (Field Manual)Code of Ethics (Field Manual)

Duties of the SchoolDuties of the School

Place intern in qualified placement (student Place intern in qualified placement (student choice is essential)choice is essential)

Closely monitor placement (Liaison role)Closely monitor placement (Liaison role) Supervise and ensure the educational and Supervise and ensure the educational and

safety components of the placement safety components of the placement (Liaison role)(Liaison role)

Ensure that interns know foreseeable risks of Ensure that interns know foreseeable risks of the placement (Liaison/seminar role)the placement (Liaison/seminar role)

Placement is an educational extension of the Placement is an educational extension of the UniversityUniversity

Insurance-MalpracticeInsurance-Malpractice

All SFSU social work students are covered by All SFSU social work students are covered by California State University through Lloyds of California State University through Lloyds of London for $5/15 million for professional London for $5/15 million for professional liability~liability~ While registered in required academic field classes While registered in required academic field classes During the academic/field education calendar (see During the academic/field education calendar (see

Field Education website)Field Education website) With confirmed Placement Contract in an approved With confirmed Placement Contract in an approved

agencyagency

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 WORDA LAST WORD““Now…go forth and do good (with Now…go forth and do good (with your interns) in your chosen role! your interns) in your chosen role! And remember to act, not react; And remember to act, not react; you can recreate yourself every you can recreate yourself every

moment”. moment”.

(Xena: Warrior Princess)(Xena: Warrior Princess)