The Field Education Coordinator will determine year 3 and Year 4 practicum agency assignments. In choosing agency partners, the Field Education Coordinator considers each agency's ability and willingness to host students and its ability to provide quality-learning opportunities. Agencies also must be willing to enter into a Student Work Placement Agreement with the University. Trent's partnerships change every year based on agency capacity, and field instructor and student feedback.
In response to community agency requests and the operational needs of the program, students are not permitted to contact field agencies and/or field instructors to arrange their own field practicums. All practicums must be arranged through the Field Education Coordinator. If a student knows of an agency that is interested in taking on students, the Field Education Coordinator is always happy to receive leads for follow-up on the potential for long-term placement commitments. Some agencies request students contact them directly to apply for a placement; in this case students are encouraged to apply directly to the agency. A list of previous and current placement agencies is provided to professional years students every year.
Planning Timeline
Students should expect to begin the third year placement matching process in late September, with matches being facilitated in October and November in preparation for January. Fourth year planning begins in March, with matches being facilitated through the summer in preparation for September.
Mandatory preparation
All students are required to attend a multi-day orientation for the program in the fall of Year 3. This will include an Experiential Learning orientation (and will explore placement planning/matching in detail) and a resume writing/interviewing/professionalism workshop. Students taking placement in Year 3 will be required to attend a half day placement-specific orientation in January before placement begins. Students who are only taking placement in Year 4 will be required to attend a half day placement-specific orientation in early September (before placement begins).
Students are required to complete a one day De-Escalation Training and a two day Suicide Intervention training in the Fall of Year 3. The Social Work Department organizes these trainings on behalf of students, but students are required to pay for the registration costs. More details are provided to students before starting the Professional Years.
Exemptions from 3000Y
In certain circumstances, students may be exempted from completing SWRK-3000Y (Third-year placement). If students are exempted, they should ensure that they still meet program and University/graduation requirements. This may mean taking different courses in place of SWRK-3000Y. The Academic Coordinator will be able to walk students through these requirements. Please note that some community agencies will not take a fourth-year placement student who does not have a university-level third-year placement. Being exempt from the third-year placement might limit your options for fourth-year placements.
Exempted students will be required to participate in a short series of workshops during the Winter term of their third year in lieu of placement. These workshops are designed to familiarize students with the Field Education process in the BSW program, help prepare students for fourth-year placement, and address placement agency concerns. Students will be provided with further details in the fall semester. These workshops are mandatory for students not taking SWRK3000Y due to a transfer credit or successful completion of the Field Exception Package (details below).
1. Social Service Workers who received 3000Y as a transfer credit
Some students with a Social Service Worker diploma or an Addictions and Mental Health diploma receive 3000Y (the third-year placement) as a transfer credit. These students still must complete all the orientation components and practicum seminars that take place in the fall of the third year as well as ASIST training and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI). Please note that in some instances, students may be required to take other courses in place of SWRK3000 so students with transfer credits should check with the Social Work Academic Coordinator to ensure they are meeting all program requirements. Further, please note that some community agencies do not consider a college-level placement to be equivalent to a third-year BSW placement. As such, some community agencies will not take a fourth-year placement student who does not have a university-level third-year placement.
2. Students who have significant Social Work experience in the field
Third-year Professional Year students with significant supervised work experience in the social service field who believe their level of performance is equivalent to or exceeds the level of performance of a third-year field practicum may request an exemption for the 3000Y Social Work Field Education credit.
Criteria:
Students will:
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have had a minimum of three years, full-time previous work experience in a social work role, in a social work/social service agency; and
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have been supervised by a social worker with a minimum of a BSW degree.
Approval of equivalency of the work experience is at the discretion of the Director of the Department of Social Work in collaboration with the Field Education Coordinator. Successful students will not be required to complete SWRK 3000Y. Please consult the Academic Coordinator of the Department to ensure that without the SWRK 3000Y credit, you will have sufficient credits to meet the BSW degree requirements. You may be required to take additional Social Work elective half credits.
Application Process for the Exemption:
Students who meet the criteria listed above may apply for the exemption by first informing the FEC of their intention to apply no later than October 10 of their third year. The FEC will then provide interested students with the Field Exemption application package and review important instructions and details. Students will then be required to submit an electronic copy of the Exemption package to the Field Education Coordinator by November 01.
The Field Exemption application package must include:
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A cover letter stating the student’s request for exemption from SWRK 3000Y Social Work Field Education Placement. Please include the number of hours per week and years in a social work role, the name and contact information of the social work/social service agency, the student’s job title, Social Work Supervisor’s name and credentials. You may also include any further information you believe may support your request for exemption.
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Current resume.
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A completed “Exemption from SWKR 3000Y Social Work Field Education Placement” document.
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A letter of reference from a previous Social Work Supervisor. You must provide this supervisor with your completed “Exemption from SWKR 3000Y Social Work Field Education Placement” document (Practice Objectives 1-6). Please ensure that the letter of reference attests to your completion of each Practice Objective. Reference letters should include email and telephone contact information.