Practicum Team

Here is a general overview of your practicum team.

Coordinator: The Practicum Coordinator maintains administrative responsibilities as well as an advising role for students registered in practicum courses. The Coordinator will provide a list of agencies accepting students each year and will support you in the completion of required paperwork for the practicum course. The Coordinator is the key contact for agencies that are interested in practicum students. The Coordinator and the Field Director work together to assist with connecting students and agencies, provide Practicum Safety Training, Orientation, and other issues relevant to practicum delivery.

Field Director: The Field Director is a full-time faculty member who provides leadership in field education/practicum. The Field Director works in collaboration with the coordinator, faculty liaisons, agencies and students to ensure that practicum coordination and delivery is effective and meets the standards required of BSW Programs. Administrative responsibilities include the development and maintenance of policies, practices and procedures ensuring consistency and continuity across the Program and across jurisdictions where practicum may take place (Alberta, other provinces). The Field Director is the key contact for Faculty Liaison questions or concerns related to agency and student matters during practicum.

Field Instructors (Agency Supervisors): The Field Instructor is the individual in the Agency responsible for overseeing learning opportunities and providing regular, weekly supervision.

The Field instructor should hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work AND be a Registered Social Worker (RSW). Where this is not possible additional supervision will be provided by faculty in the BSW program.

NOTE: One (1) hour of supervision is required for every 15 hours of practicum. Supervision may include:

1. INSTRUCTION (integration of knowledge) – values, and skills with practice situations,
2. SUPERVISION (workload management and case/project supervision) – feedback on progress and professional development,
3. EDUCATION – provision of other educational activities as available.

The Field Instructor orients the student to the agency and ensures that the student has access to a variety of appropriately supervised, direct, and indirect activities that will enrich the learning experience and meet the expectations of the learning contract. The Field Instructor participates in the ongoing evaluation of your agency work, completes a Learning Contract with you as well as a Mid-Term Check-In and Final Evaluation. They provide input to the MRU instructor and yourself that informs your final grade.

Faculty Liaisons (MRU Instructors): Faculty Liaisons are faculty members (full-time or sessional) who are the instructors of record for practicum courses. Students are assigned to a Faculty Liaison who facilitates integrative practicum seminars, interacts with the student and the agency supervisor to monitor progress and achievement. They are responsible for meeting with you and your agency supervisor (online or in-person) to review your Learning Contract, Mid-Term Check-In, and Final Evaluation. The MRU instructor assigns your final grade in the course. The Faculty Liaison is responsible for ensuring that specific content related to social work practice is delivered in the seminar. The Faculty Liaison is the key contact for the student and the agency supervisor regarding the student’s role in practicum, communication of information, ensuring course expectations and timelines are met.

Students: To be placed in Practicum you must be enrolled in the appropriate practicum course. Practicum is a shared responsibility between the student and the Program. Students are expected to read, understand and follow the expectations of the practicum courses, the processes that are required to be eligible for practicum (pre-requisites, required record checks) and to meet expected timelines as set out in this manual and through other communication between the Program and the student. Each of you is expected to manage your own practicum process in a professional manner respecting the Agency, University, and Professional Guidelines (Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice). Maintaining good communication with your agency supervisor and your faculty liaison is important to your success.