Embedded Files
Overview
Overview
This page identifies and explains the four tiers of support and accountability for NYU graduate student clinicians while participating in their field placement experiences, the action items involved at each tier, and who should be involved in each step of the process. The three categories of support are academic and professional practice competencies, mental health, and wellness. A graduate student clinician could be struggling in one or more categories. The tiers increase in urgency and allow all stakeholders (including and especially the graduate student clinician) to understand the concern, what supports are in place to help the graduate student clinician improve, what concrete steps can be taken to support the improvement, and what is at stake if the improvement is not made. (Note: If you are new and this is your first time driving the process, consult with the Clinical Field Placement Team for guidance.)
Tier 1: The concern is identified and addressed in multiple informal conversations with relevant stakeholders. Tier 1’s output is the Recommended Conversation Starter.
Tier 2: The concern is more formally addressed, and a time-bound action plan is co-constructed by the relevant stakeholders (e.g., field placement supervisor, member of the Clinical Field Placement Team, and student). A meeting is held with all relevant stakeholders. Tier 2’s actions are developing and implementing the Practicum Success Plan (PSP) .
Tier 3: The concern continues to persist, despite the formal implementation of support, such as the agreed-upon PSP plan goals. Tier 3’s output is a meeting with NYU stakeholders (e.g., Student Progress and Awards Committee (SPAC), CSD Department Leadership, etc.) to determine the best next steps.
It is important to note that at any point in this process, the field placement supervisor has the discretion to terminate a student from their field placement should there be ethical concerns or behaviors that compromise client care (see Withdrawal and Termination of Field Placement policy for additional information). In these instances, it is crucial that the Clinical Field Placement Team is immediately notified along with relevant Tier 3 stakeholders.
Tier 1
Tier 1
There is a pattern of behavior in one or more of these categories of support: academic and professional competencies, mental health, and wellness. Some examples include consistent late assignments, consistent tardiness or absences, difficulty with case management, consistent revisions required with documentation, consistent lack of preparedness for sessions, etc.
Driver: The field placement supervisor who identifies the concern
Action: First, have (an) informal conversation(s) with the graduate student clinician. Sometimes, this is all that is needed to address a concern. If the pattern continues, fill out a Recommended Conversation Starter. This notifies the Clinical Field Placement Team (CFPT), who will then inform all relevant stakeholders. Support can then be put in place. If the desired improvement is not made within the detailed timeline, the driver can discuss with the graduate student clinician whether any different or additional support/resources would be helpful. If the pattern continues after at least two informal conversations, move to Tier 2 (the exact number of conversations is at the discretion of the driver).
Stakeholders: Graduate Student Clinician, Field Placement Supervisor, Clinical Field Placement Team. If the concern is site-based, the Clinical Field Placement Team should be immediately informed.
Tier 2
Tier 2
The graduate student clinician continues to struggle in one or more of these categories (academic and professional practice competencies, physical and/or mental health that is impacting patient care) and is in need of more intensive support. Some examples are: received below a B- for a midterm grade, is regularly tardy or absent from field placement, demonstrates difficulty implementing feedback, etc. Tier 2 involves a high-touch support plan with measurable outcomes and a much more formal conversation with multiple stakeholders.
Driver: Clinical Field Placement Team (CFPT)
Action: Since the concern has persisted after multiple informal conversations, a more formal meeting and action plan are necessary. The CFPT should prepare a Practicum Success Plan (PSP) in collaboration with the field placement supervisor and student and set up a meeting to review it. The PSP has prompts that will lead stakeholders through the process of co-constructing a time-bound action plan for improvement. At a minimum, the PSP meeting should involve the Field Placement Supervisor, CFPT, and the Graduate Student Clinician. At the PSP implementation meeting, it is imperative that the driver be exceptionally transparent about the next steps if the improvements are not made by the agreed-upon timeframe. Students & supervisors will assess PSP goal progress on a weekly basis and communicate this progress to the CFPT.
Required Stakeholders: Graduate Student Clinician, Field Placement Supervisor, Clinical Field Placement Team.
Potential Additional Stakeholders: NYU Academic Advisor, Practicum Instructor (informed, in attendance if applicable), Site Liaison (informed, in attendance if applicable), Principal (informed, in attendance if applicable), Student Progress and Awards Committee (SPAC) (informed, in attendance if applicable), Office of Student Affairs (informed, in attendance if applicable)
PSP Signatories: Graduate Student Clinician, Field Placement Supervisor, Clinical Field Placement Team
Tier 3
Tier 3
The graduate student clinician has not shown improvement after 2 rounds of co-constructing their PSP’s improvement goals. As a result, a meeting is arranged with the Student Progress and Awards Committee (SPAC) to determine the next best steps.
Drivers: Student Progress and Awards Committee (SPAC).
Action: If the persistent concern is site-based and/or field placement supervisor-based, the graduate student clinician may be dismissed from their field placement and a meeting will be scheduled with NYU stakeholders (Student Progress and Awards Committee (SPAC)) to determine the next best steps.
Stakeholders: Graduate Student Clinician, Field Placement Supervisor, Clinical Field Placement Team.
Potential Additional Stakeholders: NYU Academic Advisor, Practicum Instructor (informed, in attendance if applicable), Site Liaison (informed, in attendance if applicable), Principal (informed, in attendance if applicable), Student Progress and Awards Committee (SPAC) (informed, in attendance if applicable), Office of Student Affairs (informed, in attendance if applicable).
Page updated
Report abuse