Sick Kids Hospital, Lymphoma Program & Blood and Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Program
Year 2 Practicum
September 2025- April 2026
Name of Practicum Site, Unit or Program:
SickKids – The Hospital for Sick Children
Leukemia/Lymphoma Program & Blood and Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Program
Location: 555 University Avenue, Toronto
Description of the practicum site and student activities:
The Hospital for Sick Children is an academic and health sciences facility. Within this framework, the department of social work provides a robust teaching program for graduate student social workers. This includes: assignment to a field instructor/s, weekly group seminars, and a family therapy teaching program. As well, students have the opportunity to participate/collaborate with other social workers in the hospital and attend other social work and inter-professional teaching opportunities that fall outside of the traditional field instructor/student relationship. While students may work flexible hours to accommodate some of these opportunities, it is anticipated that the number of hours in a placement at SickKids may extend beyond the hours in placement required by university. SickKids provides services in one of the most diverse cities in the country, and we are committed to enhancing health equity, respectful service and inclusion of all populations served by the hospital, this includes all learners. As such, we welcome all learners, Black, Indigenous or racialized individuals and those who may have accessibility needs. Only students who are ready to commit to this teaching program and expectations, should consider SickKids as a placement.
The placement includes working with families in the Division of Haematology/Oncology with a focus on families with children with leukemia/lymphoma and those undergoing stem cell transplant. The student can also be involved in facilitating a 7 week group using Photovoice as a methodology with teenage cancer patients, with the potential of a second group for teenage siblings of cancer patients. We are a multi-cultural/multi-racial program. The families come from a wide variety of socio-economical backgrounds. For some families the medical diagnosis is their only life crisis, while others the diagnosis is but one of many life stressors they are dealing with. Students will work within busy inpatient and ambulatory inter-professional programs. It is important to be aware that this placement may involve working with children and families through end of life.
Practicum Requirements:
(Click on all the boxes that apply.)
☒ Immunizations per PHA Guidelines
☒ N95 Respirator/Mask Fitting
☒ Covid Vaccinations
☒ Influenza Vaccination (Flu shot)
☐ Police Reference/Vulnerable Sector Check
☐ Driver’s License
☐ Use of Own Car
☐ Travel by public transportation between home visits, or satellite offices, or community meetings, etc.
☒ Comfort working with the population being served
☒ Comprehensive report writing and documentation
☐ Lived experience/Current member of the community being served
☐ Evening attendance
☐ Weekend attendance
☐ Changing shift attendance
☐ Language (specify in field below)
Other requirements:
Please select Fields(s) of Study:
(click on all boxes that apply.)
☒ Children and their Families
☐ Social Justice and Diversity
☒ Mental Health and Health
☐ Social Work in Gerontology
☐ Human Services Management & Leadership
Does your practicum require any previous experience?
(If yes, please specify.)
Some prior direct clinical work (counseling skill and/or crisis intervention) is required for this placement. Please ensure you meet this requirement prior to choosing this placement.
Is this practicum in-person, remote or hybrid?
In-Person
Will this practicum involve direct work or a mix of direct and indirect?
Direct Service Delivery/Interventions/Working with Recipients of Service:
Conduct intake/needs assessments
Provide resource and referral information
Hold responsibility for a defined caseload/case management
Develop and implement individual, family, or group interventions – assessment, implementation and evaluation of interventions
Counselling & Crisis Intervention
Interprofessional collaboration:
Attend staff/administrative meetings & Collaboration with multidisciplinary team
Indirect Service Delivery:
Evaluate social work interventions
Prepare and maintain case notes, reports, statistics which meet the organization’s accountability guidelines
Develop skills in cross-cultural/spiritual competence
Number of practicums offered: 1
Field Instructor name and credentials:
Sonia Lucchetta, MSW, RSW
Wendy Shama, MSW, RSW
Application deadline:
April 3, 2025
Do you require a resume? Or resume and cover letter?
Resume & Cover Letter
Accessibility Considerations:
- Will the student have access to a private space for notes or computer use? Yes
- Are there breaks between clients/patients/meetings? Yes
- Is the practicum considered fast-paced? Fast
- Is there a high noise level in the practicum? Medium
- Is the site wheelchair accessible? Yes
- What are the physical demands of the practicum? Walking between physical sites
- Are there any other accessibility considerations that potential applicants with disabilities should be aware of?
To apply for this practicum, please send a cover letter and resume to miri.ben.dat@utoronto.ca by 4pm April 3, 2025. Applications will be sent to the site.