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MSW-ITR Practicum Information

Practicum courses in the ITR field of study provide students with field education in direct and/or indirect social work practice in trauma-informed intervention, treatment, and service delivery, with a focus on the connection between personal, cultural, professional, and academic development. In their practicum, students discern individual resiliency through values, ceremonies, and teaching of their cultural heritage.

The development of social work competence is the primary objective of the MSW program at FIFSW. Graduates, employers, and educators credit field education as one of the most important elements of social work education programs. Social service, education and health organizations voluntarily demonstrate their commitment to social work education by offering practicums where theory is integrated with practice, and social work competence can be developed.

  • The ITR Coordinator will work with students to set up your practicum. It is a collaborative process between the Coordinator and the student.

    If you already have an idea of where you would like to complete your practicum(s), you can reach out to the Coordinator early on to set up your practicum and ensure you have completed all documentation needed.

    Visit the Practicum Manual to learn more about:

    • Practicum goals
    • Team member roles and responsibilities
    • Indirect and Direct/Mixed Practice
    • Supervision models
    • Practicum settings
    • Requirements
    • Practicum evaluations and more

  • Beginning

    Orientation

    • Establishing safety
    • Relationship-building
    • Educational assessment, objective setting, contracting
    • Selecting learning assignments

    Middle

    Shadowing / Observation

    • Professional relationship development
    • Giving and receiving feedback
    • Guiding the learning process

    Collaborative Practice

    • Co-facilitating interviews
    • Sessions
    • Groups
    • Therapy
    • Assessment
    • Contributing to policy development and research

    End

    Increased Independence & Leadership

    • Evaluation
    • Achievement of learning objectives
    • Successful conclusion of practicum
    • Dialogue regarding future leadership role as a field instructor

    Note: Ongoing Supervision, observation of student, feedback, and evaluation occurs throughout the phases.

    Reference: Bogo, M. (2010). Achieving competence in social work through field education. University of Toronto Press.

  • Employment-Based Practicums

    Are you currently in the field and have support from your workplace to complete your practicum at work? If so, please consult with your ITR Coordinator to ensure you can apply for an employment-based practicum. Request the form from the ITR Coordinator.

    Please keep in mind:

    • Beginning conversations with your workplace and the ITR Coordinator early on will be beneficial to set you up for success in setting up your practicum.
    • Your current supervisor, cannot be your practicum supervisor.
    • Your supervisor is still required to have a BSW for year 1 – SWK4516H and an MSW for year 2 – SWK4703Y.
    • If you need to complete a year 1 and year 2 practicum, you may want to consider doing a scaffolded practicum, which means you would continue on in year 2 with the same practicum (you would not need to re-apply for an employment-based practicum).

    Scaffolded Practicums

    A policy is in place which allows for Year 1 students to complete their Year 2 practicum within the same setting, under the supervision of the same Field Instructor (FI). This may be beneficial if you:

    • Secure a paid/employment-based practicum that you would like to continue with
    • If your organization/setting prefers longer-time practicums
    • You have located the only practicum opportunity you are interested in or available to you in your community

    Please keep in mind:

    • You and your field instructor need to request and sign the Scaffolded Practicum Application, which acknowledge the benefits and potential disadvantages. Request the form from the ITR Coordinator.
    • Your Year 2 learning contract should reflect new learning opportunities within the same setting.

  • This is optional and can be done in combination with your Year 2 practicum, the 40-hour community intervention is an opportunity to gain further additional experience in trauma-informed approaches. This could occur through information and skills training, supporting a healing process, conducting community-based research or contributing to policy enhancement and/or development.

    Examples of past 40-Hour Community Interventions include:

    • Supporting a community healing intervention facilitated by a trauma-informed practitioner.
    • Volunteering at a trauma-informed conference or gathering.
    • Developing a trauma-informed resource for a community agency.

    Keep in Mind: If you have your own idea for a 40-Hour Community Intervention, get in touch with the ITR Practicum Coordinator to confirm eligibility of the opportunity.

    The ITR Coordinator will circulate information about opportunities for the 40-Hour Community Intervention as it becomes available.

    Supervision

    You are required to have a Field Instructor (FI) with a BSW designation for Year 1 SWK4516H and an MSW designation for Year 2 – SWK4703Y. However, if your organization does not have someone with these designations, the ITR Coordinator will support you in finding an external supervisor to work with you and your FI in a cosupervision model.

    When To Complete a 40-Hour Intervention

    • If you have your BSW, you must attend the first intensive week and then you can complete your 40-hour intervention at any point throughout your two years of study.
    • If you do not have your BSW, you must complete the first year of the two-year program before commencing your 40-hour community intervention.

    40-Hour Community Intervention Evaluation

    The evaluation process for the 40-Hour Community Intervention is separate from the evaluation for your field placement.

    Your supervisor is to complete the evaluation, and the student completes the Self-Evaluation and Reflection form. Both should be submitted to the ITR Practicum Coordinator.

    Once both the student and the supervisor have completed their portion of the evaluation, each section will be made available for review by both supervisor and student.

    Keep in Mind: In preparation for your self-evaluation, you may want to keep a daily journal to track your experiences.

  • The FFL is the link between FIFSW, the student and the Field Instructor, and will offer support and guidance throughout the duration of your practicum.

    The FFL role includes:

    • Receiving the students’ learning contract, and contributes to its development
    • Reviewing the midterm and final evaluations, to then submit the course credit form to the Practicum Office
    • Consulting and supporting students and Field Instructor(s) if requested.
    • Providing educational resources upon request.

    FFL Tips: Connect with your FFL early on, it will provide an opportunity to build rapport for when challenges or issues arise in your practicum that you require external guidance on.

    Contact your FFL, Natasha Brien: n.brien@mail.utoronto.ca.

    • Direct / Indirect evaluation tool is reviewed prior to initiating the Learning Contract
    • Student initiates the development of their Learning Contract and reviews with field instructor
    • Ongoing collaboration and discussion of the Learning Contract
    • About the Learning Contract
    • Review Practicum 2 competencies
    • Consider reflective journaling
    • Consider creating a portfolio (work samples, omitting personal information)

    Apply principles of EDI by formulating learning goals focused on cultural competence, prioritizing inclusive practice, incorporating intersectionality, and advocating for equity and social change.

  • This is the final step to finish setting up your practicum, the ITR Coordinator will send you this table and once you’ve completed it, please send it to the ITR Coordinator. Following this, you will receive an email from the Practicum Office letting you know what tasks to complete during your practicum (refer to practicum tasks).

     
    Student Name Tom Morris
    Organization University of Toronto
    Place of Employment OR Paid Practicum Place of Employment
    Direct/Mixed or Indirect Practice Direct/Mixed
    Year 1 or Year 2 Practicum Year 1
    Mailing Address 222 Sandowne St, Toronto, ON, M6K 0H1
    Field Instructor Name, Email, & Designation(MSW/BSW) Monica Dawson (MSW) – resume attachedm.dawson@utoronto.ca
    Start Date May 1st, 2024
    Days per week (which days) and # of hours per day Mondays and Tuesdays – 7.5 hours/day

    Tasks

    Once you complete your practicum set-up, the Practicum Office will send you and your Field Instructor an introduction email with tasks to complete upon starting. 

    Task list:

    • Declaration of Understanding (WSIB) (Please see email from Practicum Office
    • Orientation Checklist – Complete first day of practicum
    • Schedule meeting with FFL to review Learning Contract before completion
    • Learning Contract: Direct | Indirect
    • Midterm: Direct | Indirect
    • Final Evaluation: Direct | Indirect
    • Take time to reflect and process the learnings from your practicum

    This practicum task list includes some important documents that you will need throughout your practicum. Please review and reach out to your Faculty-Field Liaison or ITR Coordinator if you have any questions.