The School of Social Work policy requires that all practicum placements maintain a primary focus on the education and development of the student as a social worker. To ensure this, students should experience and be exposed to a broad variety of social work practice experiences in the BSW/MSW program. Students may use their place of employment as a practicum site under certain circumstances.
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) standards requires that we maintain the educational focus of the practicum experience and differentiate between job duties and practicum activities. The option of using the student's place of employment as the practicum site is considered on an individual basis by the Practicum Education Director to ensure students receive a variety of learning experiences and supervision during their practicum.
General guidelines for student placement in employing agency:
The practicum must be designed in such a way that it's implementation will facilitate the student's development as a professional social worker. It is essential to provide opportunities to pursue and achieve the specific objectives of practicum instruction as the BSW, MSW foundation, or MSW concentration level
The Practicum Instructor (PI) must have a BSW/MSW degree (depending on the level of student) two years post-grad.
The practicum instructor should not be the student's employment supervisor unless it is clear that practicum supervision will be distinct from employment supervision - careful thought should be given to the nature of the student's relationship with the proposed practicum instructor with regard to potential conflicts of interest (e.g. a co-worker who has become a friend would not be appropriate)
Ideally, a student would be assigned to a program/department other than the one where they are employed
The practicum will consist of new student roles, tasks, or responsibilities for at least 30% of the student's practicum hours - 30% equates to approx. 7 hours per week for a 24 hour per week practicum and approx. 5 hours per week for a 16 hour per week practicum
The other 70% of practicum hours can consist of roles, tasks, or responsibilities that are already part of the student's regular employment as long as they are directly linked to the social work core competencies
Students are required to complete and submit the Employment-Based Practicum Proposal prior to being approved to start hours at their place of employment
Advantages of employment-based practicum
student receives a salary and remains employed while completing the BSW/MSW practicum
student is familiar with agency policies and practices
student may be given more advanced learning activities, groups, special projects and the employer is able to contribute to the employee's education
Challenges of employment-based practicum
student is viewed foremost as employee
student attempts to take risks and make mistakes and may be interpreted as incompetent by other staff
process of supervision may be taken less seriously
student may not receive same feedback
student may be removed from practicum activities to meet agency needs