Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityDepartment of Applied Social Sciences

Induction Course of Fieldwork Placement

for Master of Social Work Students

2011-12

Ms. LAU Ching YeeFieldwork Co-ordinator

Introduction of Fieldwork Placement

APSS 5783 MSW fieldwork I (4 credits)

APSS 5784 MSW fieldwork II (4 credits)

Fieldwork Hours and Supervision Hours

ConcurrentPlacement

ConcurrentPlacement

Total Hours for each placement

Duration Supervision hours

Fieldwork I (Foundation)

25 wks/ 4sessions per wk

25 wks/ 4sessions per wk

400 hours

Fieldwork II (Professional)

25 wks/ 4sessions per wk

25 wks/ 4sessions per wk

400 hours

Fieldwork Hours and Supervision Hours

Summer Block placement will be offered for MSW students who have special needs or who have successfully applied for Chinese Mainland or Overseas Placement. Prior approval from MSW program leader or delegate for taking Summer Block Placement is needed.

The duration of Summer Block Placement is ten consecutive weeks, ten sessions per week, the supervision hours are 2.5 hours per week.

Practice Workshops Total 200 hours of practice workshops are

required to equip students for fieldwork placement and to enhance their practice competence and strengthen their professional value and skills before the graduation.

For Fieldwork I, students should attend at least 100 hours before the commencement of fieldwork. For Fieldwork II, students should attend at least 140 hours before the commencement of fieldwork.

Practice Workshops

The cut off date for Summer Block Placement is March 1 and Concurrent Placement is July 15. Students should take at least 80% of required workshop hours. For fieldwork I, that is 80 hours. For Fieldwork II, that is 112 hours.

Placement Period

Concurrent Placement usually takes place from September to March

Summer Block Placement usually takes place from May to July

Placement period will be posted in Student Practicum Information System (SPIS)

Types and Workload of Written Assignments

Learning Contract Log Sheet Group or Project Proposal(s) Session Plan(s) Case Intake Summary Process Recordings Summary Recordings Report Forms and Records Required by Agency Evaluation Report on Service Done and/or

Transfer/Termination Report Self-evaluation Report

Time Frame of Fieldwork Placement

Aug Induction Workshop of Fieldwork Placement

Oct Briefing Session of SPIS

Sept - Dec Overseas Placement Application & Interview

January Deadline of Attached Placement & Summer Block

February Approval of Chinese Mainland & Overseas Placement

March Approval of attached placement & Summer Block, Application for attached placement (Concurrent)

April Finalized the matching results of Summer Block

May Commencement of Summer Block Placement, Approval of attached placement (concurrent)

July End of Summer Block, Finalized the matching results of concurrent

September Commencement of Concurrent Placement

Important Points of Fieldwork Placement Arrangement

1. mandatory practicum for registration of all graduates.

2. No employer-employee relationship

Important Points of Fieldwork Placement Arrangement

Fieldwork placement can be an attached placement in student’s employer’s social welfare agency (one attached placement only) or fieldwork placement in another NGO or Government unit.

Fieldwork placement is arranged by fieldwork team.

Important Points of Fieldwork Placement Arrangement

Student can indicate his/her preference in location and service nature in SPIS, but the actual matching will also be based on the availability of fieldwork units, the requirements of agency, the wide coverage of different service natures, the development of social service trend etc.

Important Points of Fieldwork Placement Arrangement

Usually the traveling hour from work/home to fieldwork unit is around one hour.

Student is required to follow the working hours, work pattern, the rules and regulations of the agency.

Important Points of Fieldwork Placement Arrangement

Fieldwork manual is an essential document, student should read it clearly.

Supervisor and Supervisee Relationship

Supervision is a mutual interactive learning process

Supervisor has three major roles during supervision: administrative, educational and supportive roles.

Supervisor and Supervisee Relationship

Active Participation Sharing of

expectations and difficulties

Submit assignments on time

Agency and Student Relationship

Agency provides learning opportunities for student’s professional development.

student is encouraged to participate in agency events

Student is expected to gain background information on the agency services, function, organizational structure, the various types and levels of staff and their respective roles and responsibilities.

Agency and Student Relationship

Program funding: agency, outside resources or APSS subsidy

Agency feedback in mid-term and final evaluation

Student gives verbal progress report actively

Student mainly consults APSS supervisor

Absence from Fieldwork

100% attendance Prior approval for leave or

prompt notification of sick leave

Compensation of any leave

Earlier termination of placement

Application for Attached Placement

Full time staff More than one year in attached

agency New learning opportunities Jobs comparable with MSW level

Application for Overseas Placement

Chinese mainland and overseas placement

selection result will be based on student’s interview performance, written test and GPA result

Placement location and unit are arranged by fieldwork team

Application for Overseas Placement

Student needs to arrange his/her own accommodation, ticket and insurance

Subsidy may be applied, but it will be depended on the availability of funding, student should arrange full fee for all of the expenses, except the supervision fee

Fieldwork Team Members & Related MSW Course Personnel

Senior Fieldwork Co-ordinator Dr. LEE Tsor Kui

Deputy Senior Fieldwork Co-ordinator

Dr. HO Po Ying, Amy

Fieldwork Program Co-ordinator (MSW)

Dr. HUI LO Man Chun, Jenny

Fieldwork Program Co-ordinator (BASW, HDSW)

Ms. TSANG Sai Ling, Cecilia

Fieldwork Agency Co-ordinator (MSW, BASW, HDSW)

Ms. LAU Ching Yee

Fieldwork Co-ordinator (Workshop) Ms. WONG Sau Kuen, Stella

MSW Colleague

Program Leader Dr. LAM Chiu Wan

Instructor (Practice Workshop)

Mr. YAU Tat Yu, Ivan

Instructor (Practice Workshop)

Ms. CHAN Hoi Yan, Vivian

Chief Clerk (MSW) Ms. LEE Suk Wai

Useful links (SPIS, APSS, SWD, HKCSS, HKSWA, SWRB)

Student Practicum Information System (SPIS): http://www.apss.polyu.edu.hk/spis/

Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS): http://www.polyu.edu.hk/apss/v2/default.php

Social Welfare Department (SWD): http://www.swd.gov.hk/

Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS): http://www.hkcss.org.hk/

Hong Kong Social Workers Association (HKSWA): http://www.hkswa.org.hk/ Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB): http://www.swrb.org.hk/