First practice placement

Authors

  • Wing Hong Chui

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1921/jpts.v9i2.398

Keywords:

practice placement, student learning, supervision, social work education

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of a small-scale study examining the expectations and anxieties of social work students regarding supervision for fieldwork instruction. A cohort of students in their first year of a postgraduate programme for professional training was questioned about their aspirations and anxieties as they approached their first period of practice placement assessment. Their responses were wide-ranging and varied, and shed light on what they wanted from their supervisors and supervision. Students” concerns related to supervision as a vehicle for compliance and performance issues rather than as a purveyor of culture and values for social work. It is viewed by the respondents as an important site of learning and development whose opportunities for promoting self-awareness and the skills of critical reflection must be safeguarded. This paper argues for the importance of listening to students in order to shape the delivery and mode of fieldwork supervision, and posits supervision as a means of fostering notions of social work values that are prerequisite for practice.

References

Bennett, L. and Coe, S. (1998) Social work field instructor satisfaction with faculty field liaisons. <i>Journal of Social Work Education</i>, 34, 3, 345-352\nBoe, S. (1996) The experiences of students and practice teachers: Factors influencing students’ practice learning. in M. Doel and S. Shardlow (Eds.) <i>Social Work in a Changing World: An International Perspective on Practice Learning</i>, Aldershot, Hants: Ashgate (pp.117-127)\nBrown, A. and Bourne, I. (1996) <i>The Social Work Supervisor: Supervision in Community, Day Care and Residential Settings</i>, Buckingham: Open University Press\nClare, M. (2001) Thinking systematically about fieldwork education – A third way. <i>Australian Social Work</i>, 54, 1, 53-66\nDoehrman, M.J. (1976) Parallel processes in supervision and psychotherapy. <i>Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic</i>, 40, 1-104\nDoel, M. and Shardlow, S. (Eds.) (1996) <i>Social Work in a Changing World: An International Perspective on Practice Learning</i>, Aldershot, Hants: Ashgate\nDominelli, L. (2002) <i>Anti-oppressive Social Work Theory and Practice</i>, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan\nFeltham, C. (2002) Supervision: Critical issues to be faced from the beginning. in M. McMahon and W. Patton (Eds.) <i>Supervision in the Helping Professions: A Practical Approach</i>, Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Education Australia (pp.327-338)\nFernandez, E. (1998) Student perceptions of satisfaction with practicum learning. <i>Social Work Education</i>, 17(2), 173-201\nFisher, B.L. (1989) Differences between supervision of beginning and advanced therapists: Hogan’s hypothesis empirically revisited. <i>The Clinical Supervisor</i>, 7, 1, 57-74\nFord, D. and Chui, W.H. (2000) Where east meets west: Fieldwork instruction in Hong Kong and England and Wales. <i>Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work</i>, 10, 2, 19-39\nFortune, A.E., Lee, M. and Cavazos, A. (2005) Achievement motivation and outcome in social work field education. <i>Journal of Social Work Education</i>, 41, 1, 115-129\nFreeman, S.C. (1993) Structure in counselling supervision. <i>The Clinical Supervisor</i>, 11, 1, 245-252\nGelman, C.R. (2004) Anxiety experienced by foundation-year MSW students entering field placement: Implications for admissions, curriculum, and field education. <i>Journal of Social Work Education</i>, 40, 1, 39-54\nGoldstein, B.P. and Harris, V. (1996) Innovations in practice teaching. in S. Jackson and M. Preston-Shoot (Eds.) <i>Educating Social Workers in a Changing Policy Context</i>, London: Whiting and Birch (pp.190-210)\nGoodman, H. (2001) In-depth interviews. in B. Thyer (Eds.) <i>The Handbook of Social Work Research Methods</i>, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, (pp.309-319)\nGranello, D.H. (1996) Gender and power in the supervisory dyad. <i>The Clinical Supervisor</i>, 14, 2, 53-67\nGray, S.W., Alperin, D.E. and Wik, R. (1989) Multidimensional expectations of student supervision in social work. <i>The Clinical Supervisor</i>, 7, 1, 89-102\nHawkins, P. and Shohet, R. (2006) <i>Supervision in the Helping Professions</i>, 3rd ed., Maidenhead: Open University Press\nHenderson, C.E., Cawyer, C.S. and Watkins, C.E. (1999) A comparison of student and supervisor perceptions of effective practicum supervision. <i>The Clinical Supervisor</i>, 18, 1, 47-74\nKissman, K. and Van Tran, T. (1990) Perceived quality of field placement education among graduate social work students. <i>Journal of Continuing Social Work Education</i>, 5, 1, 27-30\nKnight, C. (2001) The process of field instruction: BSW and MSW students’ views of effective field supervision. <i>Journal of Social Work Education</i>, 37, 2, 357-379\nKnowles, M.S. (1971) Innovations in teaching styles and approaches based upon adult learning. <i>Journal of Education for Social Work</i>, 9, 2, 32-39\nKadushin, A. and Harkness, D. (2002) <i>Supervision in Social Work</i>, 4th ed., New York: Columbia University Press\nLeung, A.Y.L., Hui, H.S.K. and Ip, F.Y.S. (2002) Integrating people and services: A practice and learning experience through field instruction. in S.M. Shardlow and M. Doel (Eds.) <i>Learning to Practise Social Work: International Approaches</i>, London: Jessica Kingsley (pp.59-76)\nMaidment, J. (2000) Methods used to teach social work students in the field: A research report from New Zealand. <i>Social Work Education</i>, 19, 2, 145-154\nMaidment, J. and Cooper, L. (2002) Acknowledgement of client diversity and oppression in social work student supervision. <i>Social Work Education</i>, 21, 4, 399-407\nMunson, C.E. (2002) The techniques and process of supervisory practice. in A.R. Roberts and G.J. Greene (Eds.) <i>Social Workers’ Desk Reference</i>, New York: Oxford University Press (pp.38-44)\nNelson, G. (1978) Psychotherapy supervision from the trainee’s point of view: A survey of preferences. <i>Professional Psychology</i>, 9, 539-550\nNisivoccia, D. (1990) Teaching and learning tasks in the beginning phase of field instruction. <i>The Clinical Supervisor</i>, 8, 1, 7-22\nParker, J. (2006) Developing perceptions of competence during practice learning. <i>British Journal of Social Work</i>, 36, 6, 1017-1036\nPepper, N.G. (1996) Supervision: A positive learning experience or an anxiety provoking exercise?. <i>Australian Social Work</i>, 49, 3, 55-64\nPractice Learning Task Force (2006) <i>Developing Strategies in Practice Learning: A Guide for Organisations New to Practice Learning</i>, Leeds: Skills for Care\nPritchard, J. (1995) Supervision or practice teaching for students. in J. Pritchard (Ed.) <i>Good Practice in Supervision: Statutory and Voluntary Organizations</i>, London: Jessica Kingsley (pp.193-201\nReichelt, S. and Skjerve, J. (2000) Supervision of inexperienced therapists: A qualitative analysis. <i>The Clinical Supervisor</i>, 19, 2, 25-43\nRice, P.L. and Ezzy, D. (1999) <i>Qualitative Research Methods: A Health Focus</i>, South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press\nRogers, G. and Langevin, P. (2000) Negotiated learning contracts. in L. Cooper and L. Briggs (Eds.) <i>Fieldwork in the Human Services</i>, St Leonards, NSW: Allen and Unwin (pp.216-226)\nRomph, E.L., Royse, D. and Dhooper, S.S. (1993) Anxiety preceding field work: What students worry about. <i>Journal of Teaching in Social Work</i>, 7, 2, 81-95\nShardlow, S.M. and Doel, M. (Eds.) (2002) <i>Learning to Practise Social Work: International Approaches</i>, London: Jessica Kingsley\nSmith, M. (2000) Supervision of fear in social work. A re-evaluation of reassurance. <i>Journal of Social Work Practice</i>, 14, 1, 17-26\nSpeck, M. (1996) Best practice in professional development for sustained educational change. <i>ERS Spectrum</i>, Spring, 33-41\nSun, A. (1999) Issues BSW interns experience in their first semester’s practicum. <i>The Clinical Supervisor</i>, 18, 1, 105-123\nThompson, N. (2005) <i>Understanding Social Work: Preparing for Practice</i>, 2nd ed., Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan\nThompson, N. (2006) <i>Anti-discriminatory Practice</i>, 4th ed., Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan\nTorry, B., Furness, S. and Wilkinson, P. (2005) The importance of agency culture and support in recruiting and retaining social workers to supervise students on placements. <i>Practice</i>, 17, 1, 29-38\nWayne, J., Bogo, M. and Raskin, M. (2006) The need for radical change in field education. <i>Journal of Social Work Education</i>, 42, 1, 161-169\nYeung, V., Lee, T-K. and Chung, K-W. (1998) Student satisfaction in social work placement in Hong Kong. <i>Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work</i>, 8, 1, 80-88\nYoung, P. (1967) <i>The Student and Supervision in Social Work Education</i>, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul\n

Downloads

Published

2012-12-20

How to Cite

Chui, W. H. (2012). First practice placement. The Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning, 9(2), 10-32. https://doi.org/10.1921/jpts.v9i2.398

Issue

Section

Articles