Change of Placement

Under exceptional circumstances, your placement may be changed after the following protocol has been followed:

Following discussion with the Field Instructor and Faculty Liaison, you (the student) may request, in writing, a change of practicum prior to January 31 (Winter). Such a request will be directed to the Field Director, who in collaboration with all parties involved will be responsible for making the final placement decision. If an alternate placement is assigned, a new Learning Contract will be completed and agreed upon by all parties. You may not request a change of placement due to performance issues.

Field Instructors requesting a placement change for you must document the reason for such a request. Documentation will be presented at a meeting of the Faculty Liaison, Field Instructor and you. The Field Director will then be informed of the relevant issues and will make a decision regarding the placement to a new practicum setting. If you have performance issues, you will not be approved for a change in placement unless the performance issues are resolved.

You must have an evaluation before changing a practicum in order for those hours to count toward the 350 required practicum hours. If a change of practicum is approved by the Field Director, you must complete a minimum of 180 hours at the second set. This may result in you completing over the required 350 hours.

*You are responsible to find a new placement (in collaboration with the Practicum Coordinator) if a practicum change is approved. All placements are required to be approved by the Field Director.

NOTE:
The student’s learning contract with the new agency would clarify the need to discuss wit the Field Instructor the reason for the termination of the previous placement. For example, if the reason for termination was due to a violation of professional standards (code of ethics, standards of practice, violation of confidentiality, violation of boundaries) the Field Instructor would be asked to work with the student on these issues and learning goals would be developed in the learning contract to focus on the issues. Supplementary learning to be completed prior to or during a subsequent placement could also be a part of the learning contract. The Faculty Liaison, Field Instructor will work as a team to ensure issues are addressed. Updates will be provided to the Field Director.