Social Work Practicum Information

About Practicum placements

The Practicum placements within the Bachelor of Applied Social Work at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) | Te P¨±kenga are an integral part of the education and training of MIT ¨¡konga (students). The practicum placements have been designed to meet the programme aims and graduate capacities as well as Social Work Registration Board (SWRB) requirements.

Supervised practical application within a field of practice, enable the application of theory to practice. Fieldwork placements provide ¨¡konga (students) with opportunities to develop their practice with integrity and professionalism (Tikanga (P¨±kenga)) whilst utilising the benefits and ongoing learning available from professional supervision (M¨¡tauranga).

Fieldwork placements also provide opportunities to practice tauutuutu (reciprocity and mutual exchange), for example, through the engagement in critical reflection on individual social work practice through self-evaluation and peer review.

The placements are based on a seven-way partnership between:

• Prepare, support and develop appropriate learning opportunities
• Provide an induction/orientation period over the first week of placement
• Ensure a safe and supportive learning environment during the placement
• Liaise between ¨¡konga (student), placement environment and MIT
• Monitor all aspects of ¨¡konga (student) performance during placement
• Within the three weeks of the start of placement, will complete and finalise the placement contract document in discussion with the ¨¡konga (student) and the Fieldwork Educator
• Provide/oversee an induction/orientation period over the first week of placement
• Ensure supervision occurs as agreed in the placement contract
• Provide formative feedback regularly to the ¨¡konga (student)
• Oversee the placement and ensure that the ¨¡konga (student)'s safety is adhered to and that the ANZASW Code of Ethics and SWRB Code of Conduct are followed
• Discuss and complete the practicum placement report with the ¨¡konga (student).

Practicum Placement Coordinator responsibilities

• Social work Placement Requirements (SWRB)
• The following programme regulations apply to fieldwork placement.
• This section has been written following the requirements of the SWRB,

Fieldwork placements are governed by the administrative processes described in fieldwork documentation. The following rules apply for the successful completion of the fieldwork placement practice.

• Two fieldwork practices must be completed
• Fieldwork placement must total no less than 120 days, 450 hours for each practicum placement.
• At least 120 practicum placement days across the final two years of their study.
• At least two fieldwork practices that occur in differently structured settings (preferably in different organisations to ensure ¨¡konga (students) are exposed to two potential fields of practice).
• All fieldwork placement practice must occur under the supervision of a fully registered social worker.
• At least one fieldwork placement practice must be supervised on-site by a fully registered social worker.
• The final fieldwork placement practice (Year Four) includes an assessment against the SWRB ten core competencies.
• A ¨¡konga (student) may only complete one practicum placement in their place of work unless they are able to meet requirement 9.7 (e) (1) Where a ¨¡konga (student) completes more than one practicum practice in their place of work, the placement must have:
  • a component or project that provides a significantly different social work experience to their regular employment opportunities;
  • learning goals related to the integration of new skills and knowledge; and
  • a placement supervisor who is not the student’s employment manager or person responsible for their performance appraisal.

It is generally expected that ¨¡konga (students) will work the equivalent business hours of their placement agency or work on a substantial part-time basis. Where ¨¡konga (students) work evenings, weekends, public holidays or some other variation, then BASW staff will ensure that the ¨¡konga (student) has appropriate work conditions and good health and safety arrangements. This is the responsibility of the Placement Co-ordinator.