The Importance Of Field Placement

Field placement is the time were social work students integrate the classroom learning with the various tools they will learn in various human services settings. According to researchers, “Field education is considered central to social work training programs and substantial staff time and financial resources are invested to ensure that students are provided with quality field placements to adequately prepare them for the increasingly complex world of practice” (Cleak & Smith, 2012, p.243). The basis of field placement was initially used to allow students the opportunity to “do”, why the field instructors acted as the role model. This traditional model of field education is characterized by the placement of a student with a professionally

qualified practitioner who assumes responsibility for professional practice learning (Cleak, Hawkins, & Hess, 2000). As the student majority of our experience will be generated through a student- supervisor relationship. This rapport helps to outline and structure the variety of student learning responsibilities and experiences. Throughout duration of practicum studies, the social work student spend a lot of time under the supervisor. At my field education site, I have several supervisor that oversee or supervise my daily activates. I have my field instructor, and she is in charge of the community portion of my internship.

My field supervisor, is the Social Worker, that I complete weekly supervision, and is my site supervisor in Port Arthur. Completing my practicum at a very large site, I am given the opportunity to work with the site supervisors for the region offices. According to Garthwait, supervisors is that skilled master of social worker that oversees the mentor. My field supervisor job at Adult Protective Services is to train all the new hires, and interns. She has been doing that job for many years. Ms. Laura enjoys working with new social workers. Administrative function, Educational Function, and Supportive Function are the 3 different type of social work supervision. The administrative function main focus is to ensure the social work job is done correctly and acts as the peacemaker between staff and administration. The educational supervision involves the teaching, training, and educating future social workers will need to perform well. The supportive function is the role of enhancing the social workers job performance. The role included building a well-rounded work team. With the different functions of supervisors comes the different types of supervision. Individual, Group, Peer, are the three different types of supervision. I Supervision in

this field is critical. By being supervised, a social worker has the correct tools when dealing with cases. Researchers believed that individual supervision is the most effect and allows that relationship building between student and teacher. Group supervision, allows for the supervisor to supervise a number of people for long periods of time. The group supervision allots the most time frame in gathering information and building common relationships between field instructor and students. My group supervision involves myself, field supervisor, and field community supervisor. During these meetings we recap my week, and compare the community and services tasks. The Peer supervision are meetings attended by a small group of social workers who assume responsibilities for providing guidance to other students. The peer supervision, would be the time I spend shadowing and attend the caseworkers meetings.
Supervision also provides constructive feedback on performance, past or present, and is essential for the duty of the social worker. When pertaining to my field placement, I have a establish a great relationship with all my supervisors. I welcome all positive and constructive feedback, because that will help in developing my social work career. The role of a supervisor is essential to any practicum field placement.