The Social Work Field Instructor’s Survival Guide

This is the first book to provide a one stop shop for field instructors looking for guidance in their work with students - both practicing social workers providing field instruction, and social work faculty teaching field education seminars.

Indeed, many social workers report that they learned more in their field placements than they did in the classroom, and much of this learning can be attributed to the role field instructor’s play in the professional development of students. Field instructors are generally adjunct faculty members who hold MSWs from CSWE-accredited schools of social work and who work in community agencies.

The field instructor:

Orients the student to field work, to the field agency, and to supervision Helps the student prepare the learning contract Accepts responsibility for the work of the student throughout the field placement Meets formally with the student each week to monitor cases, assess the student’s performance, and provide guidance Formally evaluates the student’s performance