The Department of Social Work looks to agency supervisors to provide a variety of learning experiences for their interns. This process will be enhanced if the field instructor will:

1. Introduce the intern to staff members and provide an orientation to the field setting, familiarizing the intern with:
1. the functions, policies, and goals of the agency
2. the clientele served
3. the relationship of the agency to the community and other agencies
4. the agency's expectations of the intern
2. Afford the intern the opportunity to observe other staff members at work in specific situations (such as interviewing and other social work tasks).
3. Arrange for the intern to attend staff and board meetings whenever possible. The intern should be encouraged (when appropriate) to participate in such meetings.
4. Select the work load of the student so that it is in harmony with the setting, taking into consideration the intern's capacity, interests, past experiences, life patterns and program objectives of the Department of Social Work whenever possible. "Busy work" is not appropriate for the intern. The jobs assigned need to be meaningful in which he/she makes a contribution to the agency while learning and which represents a broad exposure to social work roles and responsibilities.
5. Give the intern an opportunity to work with individuals, families, groups, and in the community. Appropriate research assignments are also expectations of field placement.
6. Arrange for a weekly supervisory conference when the intern is present at the field setting. Among the various topics covered in conference, attention should be given to:
1. Helping the intern prepare for, and participate in, these conferences.
2. Explaining the purpose and process of recording where it is required.
3. Emphasizing the intern's application of basic social work concepts, values, and skills in the field assignments.
4. Raising the student's awareness of the steps, skills, and knowledge that he/she has used in performing each assignment, and the attitudes and feelings experienced during that time and afterwards.
7. Prepare an outline of steps for the intern to follow in order to improve his/her work. Whenever the student is performing at a substandard level, a copy should be sent in a timely manner to the faculty supervisor. This will avoid a "last minute notification of failure."
8. Participate in the midterm and final evaluations of the intern.
9. Evaluate the student in accordance with the Field Evaluation Instrument, a sample copy of which appears in this Manual.
10. Inform the assigned faculty liaison whenever it appears that a potential or actual conflict or problem situation in the field placement arises.