Conflict of Interest

Conflict of interest arises when an employee with a formal responsibility in an organization also has a relationship with a student which may jeopardize his or her professional judgement and objectivity due to personal interests.

A student cannot receive, either directly or indirectly, supervision from a family member if that family member has formal responsibilities in the organization. A student can only be placed in an organization employing a student’s relative if the relative of the student is not contributing to the evaluation of the student, either directly or indirectly, and specific permission was given by the Field Placement Co-Ordinator.

A student will not be permitted to do their practicum at an agency if that student has been a consumer of services of the organization within the past year (12 months)

Employment at the Practicum Agency: Generally, students may not complete a practicum at an agency from which they have been employed or volunteered; either full time or part time during the past year. This includes working or volunteering at a future placement agency prior to placement. Exceptions may be made to this if a student can demonstrate a good reason. The agency will also need to demonstrate that supervision will be given by a different person and that there will be additional learning at the placement.

Any exception must be approved by the Placement Coordinator.

Students also may not work at their field placement agency while completing the field placement course (including holidays, weekends, etc.). If an agency wishes to hire a student for employment during this time period, it must be at an alternative site/location and the supervisor cannot be the student’s field placement supervisor