SWRK 6050 Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes refer to what a student is expected to possess and demonstrate during his or her course instruction. Specific learning objectives are identified in the field evaluation completed at each term. In order to provide specific measurement outcomes, the following series of tasks have been identified to guide and assess students in their demonstrated learning. These tasks also serve to support the development of essential skills and attributes required for the study of social work in areas of professional values, effectiveness within agency and community, comprehension and integration of theoretical knowledge, use of supervision, self-awareness, written skills, diversity, communication and engagement skills, assessment, planning, intervention, closure and evaluation. As a result of participating in Pre-MSW field placement, SWRK 6050, a student will be able to respond to the following, in formal supervision with field instructor or in reflective journals:
Professional Values / Date of Completion- Identify and summarize the six core social work values underlying the CASW Code of Ethics. Describe how these guide your practice.
- Summarize the confidentiality guidelines of your field placement agency or program. Describe how you have complied with these guidelines.
- If you were meeting a client for the first time, how would you describe the services and supports offered at your agency?
- Describe three examples of how you have demonstrated professional and respectful behaviour in your field placement, with clients, co-workers and collaterals.
- Identify three ways in which you have demonstrated a willingness and interest to ongoing professional development.
- Describe the difference in roles and activities between social workers in your field agency and other helping professionals.
- Explain the meaning of the right to self-determination in social work practice. Can you identify situations in which the right to self-determination should be limited?
- Describe a practice situation which has presented some ethical challenges, including how you resolved this dilemma.
- The role of social worker carries with it significant responsibility including authority to carry out certain duties. Explain to what extent you are expected to assume this role in your current placement. What have you learned from your instructor and others regarding their approach to taking on this role in a responsible or respectful manner?
- Identify the organizational skills, and any relevant tools, you use to plan and carry out field placement responsibilities.
- Provide three examples of how you have taken responsibility and initiative for your own learning in placement.
Effectiveness within Agency and Community / Date of Completion
- Identify and describe the purpose and mandate of your placement agency.
- Based on your experience in field placement to date, how would you describe the key concerns and needs of the client group being served?
- Describe how policy influences practice in your field placement.
- Identify the strengths and limitations of service delivery within your current setting.
- Describe the lines of authority within your specific field agency. Identify who you are accountable to in this setting.
- Describe the approach you have taken to establish effective working relationships with clients, instructor and co-workers.
- Describe the relationship between your agency and the community at-large. From your perspective, how is the agency viewed by others (e.g., clients, citizens, or other service providers.)
- Identify 5-6 community resources of relevance to the clients being served by your agency.
- Provide 1-2 examples in which you have referred clients to other needed resources within the community.
- Describe a situation in your field setting in which a conflict developed. Identify what steps you took to facilitate resolution in this situation.
Comprehension and Integration of Theoretical Knowledge / Date of Completion
- Identify and describe the literature you have reviewed in your placement to assist you in becoming more effective in your student role.
- Describe a specific example of how theory has guided your practice in placement.
- Explain the meaning and importance of professional boundaries in practice.
- Assess and identify your professional strengths and areas in need of improvement.
- Describe why it is important to understand and apply a range of knowledge and theory in practice. Identify the contributions of systemic theory in your understanding of others.
- Identify the steps you have taken to further your understanding of a client from a diverse background or culture.
- Identify a practice situation in which you were able to transfer knowledge from one situation to another.
- Describe a research item or policy proposal that you have drafted or, if given the opportunity, would be interested in developing.
- Describe how you have used a particular theory as a rationale for intervention?
Student’s Use of Supervision / Date of Completion
- Why is it important to identify and define learning goals in field and in social work practice?
- Identify the steps you take to prepare for supervision meetings.
- Provide an example within your field setting of how you have sought and used supervision?
- Describe a situation in which your instructor has provided you with constructive/critical feedback. How have you used this feedback in practice?
- Identify a situation when your perception was different from another professional’s perception (e.g., co-worker, instructor). How did you address this difference?
- Describe a situation in field in which you made an error and the follow-up steps you took to deal with this situation?
- Identify a situation in which you actively sought the feedback of your instructor and implemented recommendations in your practice.
- Describe how have you begun, during this term, to take more initiative for your own skill and knowledge development. How has this changed since the beginning of term?
- In the context of your current placement, critically evaluate your own practice. Describe the steps you have taken during the past term to become more effective in your practice.
Self-Awareness / Date of Completion
- Discuss the importance of ongoing learning in one’s professional development. Explain how you have demonstrated your commitment to this in your current field placement.
- Describe the dress code of your field agency? What changes, if any, have you had to make in order to meet this expectation?
- Describe three ways in which you have demonstrated that you are reliable and conscientious?
- Provide an example of how you have purposefully developed and maintained professional boundaries in a casework situation. Describe the potential risks inherent when the distinction between professional and personal boundaries is unclear?
- How have your personal skills and areas of need changed throughout this term of field placement? What areas do you need to improve upon?
- Describe a practice situation in which your own personal needs, values or bias interfered with service delivery. How did you address this situation?
- What are the problems with dependency in client-worker relationships? What steps do you take to minimize the risk of dependency in practice?
- In order to develop professionally, one takes risks and steps out of one’s “comfort zone”. Describe the risks that you have taken to promote your development as a beginning social worker?
- Identify any personal issues which may impact negatively upon your social work role? What process have you undertaken to address these issues?
Written Skills / Date of Completion
- Identify three different types of documents that you have drafted, as a responsibility within your placement setting. What are the expectations regarding documentation and how do you strive to meet these expectations?
- Assess your written skills with regard to spelling, grammar, organization, comprehensiveness and timeliness. What are your goals for future development in this area?
- Describe the use of information technology within your field setting. In what ways are you expected to use this technology and what have you had to learn in order to meet this expectation?
- Comment on agency guidelines and how you have used these to assist you in completing the written work to which you are assigned.
- Provide a case specific example of how you have clearly demonstrated a respectful and unbiased position, in your written work.
- Describe what you perceive as “essential content” and provide an example of how you have included this in documentation.
- List the different audiences that you are required to write for in your current placement? In what ways does your approach differ, if at all, depending upon the audience?
Diversity / Date of Completion
- Consider your own personal history and experiences associated with ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, age and (dis)ability. Describe how these experiences impact upon your practice.
- Describe how you integrate consideration of and issues of diversity in social work practice. Provide an example (from your field placement) to illustrate.
- In what ways do you demonstrate appreciation for the uniqueness of individuals in your field setting?
- Define cultural competence in social work practice. What specific measures have you taken to enhance your cultural competence in your practice?
- Provide 2 examples of how you have advocated for a client (individual, group or community) from a diverse background.
- Describe a practice situation in which you have successfully connected a client to a culturally appropriate resource. Describe the steps you took to learn about this resource.
- Provide a summary of how a particular minority group has experienced discrimination and oppression, historically and/or currently. What steps have you taken to demonstrate empathy and understanding of this, in your social work practice?
- In what ways does variation exist within diverse groups?
- Provide an illustration of how you have incorporated understanding of diversity within the assessment and intervention process?
- Describe a practice situation in which you have explored culture in order to better understand the presenting issues of concern.
- Provide one example of how you have promoted social justice by advocating for policy or practice which better serves the needs of a diverse client or client group.
Communication and Interviewing Skills / Date of Completion
- With reference to a recent meeting or interview, describe 4-5 ways in which you demonstrated active listening skills and positive verbal communication skills.
- With reference to a recent meeting or interview, describe 4-5 ways in which you demonstrated positive non-verbal communication skills.
- With reference to a specific practice situation, describe the way in which you responded, verbally and non-verbally, successfully demonstrating empathy and objectivity.
- Describe the ways in which you have worked towards understanding and demonstrating when it is appropriate to talk and to listen. How would you describe your comfort with “silence” in your meetings with clients?
- Provide a practice example of how you have used language appropriate to the level of a client’s understanding.
- Provide an illustration of a situation in which you were able to effectively convey your own feelingsand ideas, different from those of others.
- Explain why it is important to use a range of verbal and non-verbal skills to facilitate communication with clients and others.
- Define “empowerment”. Provide three examples of situations in which you have attempted to empower clients.
- Provide an overview of your personal style of communication in practice. In what specific areas do you hope to improve?
- Observe a client or staff person in your field agency. Describe the individual’s style of communication, with reference to his/her verbal and non-verbal skills.
- Provide an example in your field setting in which you questioned, challenged or confronted? Why are these skills important to develop and use?
- Provide a summary description of how your inter-personal communication skills have developed this year. Provide illustrations of how you have used and demonstrated these skills in work with individuals, families, groups, organizations or communities.
Engagement Skills / Date of Completion
- Describe a practice situation in which you effectively demonstrated acceptance and respect for a client. Identify the skills you used to convey these feelings.
- In paragraph format, provide a summary of how you articulate your current roles and responsibilities, as a practicum student within your agency, to clients, others in your agency and in the community.
- Define “client-centered”. Describe the approach you use to be client-centered in your work with others.
- Provide an example of how you have responded effectively to a client’s questions or concerns. Describe how you would handle a situation in which you were uncertain how to respond.
- Identify and describe four interpersonal communication skills which you used during an individual or group meeting. In what ways did these skills promote effective engagement with others?
- Identify a situation in which a client appeared to be experiencing difficulty in expressing his or her feelings, thoughts or needs. Describe the approach you took to help him or her to identify relevant concerns.
- With reference to at least two practice situations, identify how you have assumed a strengths-based perspective.
Data Collection and Assessment / Date of Completion
- Describe the ways in which systemic/ecological theory is useful in social work assessment.
- Provide an example of an assessment in which you have gathered and included information pertaining to the client’s perspective and to any available historical information, of relevance.
- Identify the social policies of relevance within your field setting. How does the current policies within the agency or program help or hinder support provided to clients?
- In your own words, elaborate on the following: “Assessment is an ongoing process.” Illustrate with reference to a practice situation.
- Describe a situation in which you have modified an initial assessment and plan of intervention to reflect the changing needs of a client.
- Identify the primary agency tools used in your field setting. How have you used these to collect or assess information in your work with others?
- Describe a practice situation in which you have worked collaboratively with a client to identify needs and priorities. What were the needs and priorities identified? How did you plan and/or contract next steps with the client?
- Describe a practice situation in which you have been successful in assisting a client to recognize strengths and abilities, critical to making change. What was the outcome of this situation?
- A comprehensive assessment requires soliciting of multiple perspectives. Provide an example of a practice situation in which you were able to collect information from a variety of sources and to include in a report or assessment.
- Describe a situation in which the client’s perspective differed from your perspective or the view-point of relevant others. How did you develop a plan of intervention, with respect to these differing perspectives?