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School of Social Work

NEWS & EVENTS

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Home / School of Social Work / BSW Programs / BSW Field Education / Filed Placement Planning Process

Field Placement Planning Process

1. See the Field Education Policies and Standards Manual

2. Review the BSW Field Education website

3. Complete and submit the Placement Planning Form. It is important to articulate the major learning goals you have for your placement.

4. Criteria for matching students and placements includes a consideration of:

  • Learning goals

  • Prior volunteer and employment experience

  • Special needs and considerations

  • Geographical location

  • Languages spoken

  • Generalist practice perspective


5. The planning period occurs from the end of February until mid-August. You may not hear from field education staff until Summer Session. Once the field office has a tentative assignment for you, you will be contacted. The field education staff recognizes that this process can create some anxiety and we make every effort to ensure an efficient placement planning process.

6. Field Education staff are responsible for the final decision regarding your placement.


Note: Students need to be flexible and willing to travel within a one-hour radius. Having access to a car means more placement options. Agencies requiring a car as part of their service will not accept students without cars.
 

Steps in the Field Placement Planning Process

 

Step1

The Field Office sends formal requests for placements to all approved placement settings.

The process is completed in the spring and updated in the Fall.

The agencies provide information regarding

  • the number of students they are able to accommodate

  • the level of students they are able to accommodate

  • the qualifications of their staff, e.g. BSW or MSW and

  • other pertinent information.

The completed list is available on the School of Social Work website for reference.

Step 2

Placement II
The Placement Planning Form and placement information are posted on the website in January.

The student retrieves, completes and submits the Placement II Planning Form to the Undergraduate Secretary by the due date in FEBRUARY.

Step 3

Placement II
The planning period occurs from February to April and involves reading each student file, including the Placement II Planning Form, reviewing available placements, reviewing agency requests and completing the matches.

Step 4

Once the matching process is complete and the Field Office has confirmed a tentative assignment, the Field Learning Specialists will contact the student directly to discuss the tentative assignment.

Step 5

Placement II
The student’s Placement Planning Form is sent to the potential agency for review. If accepted, the initial matching process is complete and the Field Office contacts the student to present the match.

All necessary contact information is provided to the student and Field Instructor via emailed memoranda.

Step 6

Placement II
The student is required to contact their potential Field Instructor to set an appointment for a personal “pre-placement” interview. This should occur as quickly as possible to avoid any delay in entering the field in September.

Step 7

Placement II
Following the pre-placement interview, the agency/Field Instructor and Field Office confer on the suitability of the match.

Both students and agencies are informed of the final decision by the Field Office via emailed memoranda.

NOTE:

  • All students are required to secure a yearly Vulnerable Persons Check. This is a requirement of the School of Social Work. The process to secure the Vulnerable Persons Check varies from agency to agency, city to city and region to region.

It is the student’s responsibility to discuss the process to secure the clearance with their field placement agency as well as the police department in their geographic area.

  • All students are required to ensure they have a yearly TB test prior to beginning their field placement. Students who have had a previous TB test must complete a one-step test. Students who have never been tested for TB must have a two-step test.

It is the student’s responsibility to check with their health provider, local clinic or university-based clinic to complete the TB test. There is no form to fill out for the TB test; students are expected to submit a copy of the document provided by their health care provider.

  • Students should consult with the agency in which they are completing their field placement to ensure that all other requirements have been met.

Some agencies require additional medical and police clearances, etc.

Step 8

Placement II
Prior to entering the field, the student will attend mandatory orientation sessions for the purpose of review/introduction of the major requirements of the Field.

Step 9

Placement II
Student enters the Field on date indicated on the Bachelor of Social Work Academic Year Schedule and School’s website.