Field Placement Supervisor
- Participate in the selection of the practicum student by interviewing and determining suitability.
- Provide the student with an orientation to the agency, including the agency’s historical development, mission, range of services, operating procedures, policies, eligibility requirements, administrative structure and linkages to other services.
- Review the expectations of attendance and procedure for reporting absences (see ‘Absences’ under Additional Policies and Procedures for more information).
- Establish with the student, in conjunction with the college, a detailed Field Placement Goal Plan with specified objectives, enabling tasks, activities and timeframes for each semester at the beginning of placement.
- Provide a variety of meaningful direct service tasks that give the student an opportunity to apply and integrate theoretical knowledge from the generalist Social Service Worker Program perspective.
- Provide a regular supervision time to the student and continuous feedback as to the student’s performance, strengths, areas needing improvement, human service values, etc. Some examples of regular supervision are scheduled meetings each week or two, or a meeting at the end of each shift, ongoing supervision as student and supervisor work side by side throughout the day or phone access to the supervisor as needed throughout the day.
- Review the weekly Attendance Form email, completed by the student, for accuracy of shift days, time accrued, along with tasks and activities performed. Contact the student’s Field Placement Specialist with concerns or questions regarding this weekly form.
- Have support available for students at all times and clearly outline to the student the procedure for a student to follow if they feel unsafe in any way. Support may be provided by actually being present with the student or by the supervisor or another responsible person from the agency being within ear shot or easily available by phone. This may require that an agency cell phone be given to the student if the student is doing out of office visits. In all cases, the student should not knowingly be placed in a high-risk situation.
- Facilitate linkages for the student with other staff members, programs and services as appropriate.
- Participate in one agency visitation per 200 hours with the Field Placement Specialist. A visit with the Field Placement Specialist in semester 4 is at the discretion of the College.
- Complete a written Evaluation using the Evaluation Report format provided by the student, before the end of each semester. The Evaluation should be reviewed jointly with the student to maximize the learning potential of this feedback tool. Evaluation forms are semester specific and located on our website. This Evaluation is to be completed and submitted online after the student has finished 200 hours or is close to completing these hours.
- Ensure that the person completing the Evaluation has had direct contact with the student throughout the practicum period. If there is a change in supervision, please inform the Field Placement Specialist as soon as possible.
- Complete a written Evaluation if a student is terminated from a placement before completion. A Student Practicum Feedback Sheet and/or an exit interview must also be completed so that the student can learn from this experience and so that the college can support the student in their further learning.
- Have a minimum of one year’s experience in the social service field.