2-Year MSW
Orientation to the Placement Process
May 25, 2010
Introductions
• Maureen Boettcher – Field Education Manager– 416-736-2100 Ext 39488– [email protected]
• Sheryl Abraham – Assistant Field Education Coordinator– 416-736-2100 Ext 33354– [email protected]
2nd Year Student Panel
2-Year MSW Phase I Orientation
• Introduction to School of Social Work • Placement Requirements
– First Year– Second Year
• Placement Process• Things to Consider• Cover Letters and Resumes• Interviews• Confirmation of Placements• Accommodations• Technical Support• Questions/Concluding Remarks
Welcome to the School of Social Work
We are a School that strives to create a inclusive, respectful environment for our students.
We are honored to welcome students of many different and intersecting identities.
We are open to exploring alternative or non traditional placement opportunities for our students
We encourage you to be creative and proactive in your search
Mission Statement
The School of Social Work at York teaches from a critical social work perspective.
We focus on issues of social justice, marginalization and oppression
We focus on teaching students to understand social problems from this perspective and to address social problems as social justice issues.
As a result we do not have streams of practice within the program or within placements.
We encourage students to think about where to do their placement in terms of the social justice issues they wish to address and the skills they need to develop to do so effectively.
Mission Statement
Placement Requirements
Students in the 2 year MSW program are required to complete a total of 1100 placement hours:
• 450 hours the first year placement • 650 hours in the second year
placement
Components of First Year Placement
• Orientation Sessions
• Integrative Seminars
• Faculty Advisor
• Site Visit
Placement Process
• Collaboration between field office and student is essential
• All placements must be confirmed by the Field Education Manager
MSW Practicum Road Map
• Site Search• Selection of top 4 placement
choices• Application submitted latest
by: September 11, 2010• Interview with Placement site• Confirmation of Placement
Agency Search
• Internet Sites– 211Toronto:
http://www.211toronto.ca/splash.jsp
– Charity Village: http://www.charityvillage.com/
• SW Database
• Advising Appointment
Choosing Possible Placement Sites
• Past work/volunteer social work experience
• Training• Social work issues/population• Skill development• Supervision/Learning style• Self-care practices
Cover Letter and Resume
• Work and Volunteer
• Education
• Introduce self
• What you have to offer
Cover Letter and Resume
• Save resume and cover letter under one document
• Save it with first and last name as the title of the documentEx. “SMITH Marie Resume and
Cover Letter 2010”
• Try to keep resume to 2 pages• Spell check and have someone
else read it over
Interviews
• Professional Dress
• Discuss what you can offer
• Be clear about your learning goals and supervision needs
• Some sites will require a certain level of practice experience
Interviews
Interview Workshop
September 20, 2010
6-8 pm
Police Checks and Requirements
• Police check in the Fall
• Potentially need license or access to a car
• Other requirements
Confirmation of Placement
• Confirmation package• Enrollment • Orientation Session:
Beginning Placement :
Monday, December 13, 2010 1-3 pm
Accommodations
Please contact the
Counselling and Development Centre
(416) 736-5297
Room N110
Bennett Centre for Student Services
Technical Support
http://www.yorku.ca/computing/students/accounts/signupinstructions.html
YorkU Passport Instructions
• Type http://mymail.yorku.ca as website address (Netscape or Internet Explorer)
• Go to Options• Mail Management• York Mail Management Options• Edit Your Mail Forwarding Settings• In the blank field enter the email address
to which you want to forward your York account
• Click save options to save the changes.
• Send an e-mail to your YorkU e-mail and make sure it goes to your other account
Forwarding YorkU Emails
Changing Your Personal Information
Open Internet BrowserOn Address Line Type: http://www.yorku.ca
Click on “Current Students Faculty & Staff”
Changing Your Personal Information
Click on “Current Students”
Changing Your Personal Information
Click on “My Student Records”
Changing Your Personal Information
Click on the information you need to change such as address and contact information, emergency contact information, etc.
Changing Your Personal Information
Log in to Passport York and make the necessary changes
Social Work Social Work Practicum/Field Practicum/Field
Placement Database Placement Database InstructionsInstructions
Open Internet BrowserOn Address Line Type: http://www.yorku.ca/laps/sowk
Registering on the Databasevia Website
Click on “Database Sign In”
Registering on the Databasevia Website
You will be directed to the SOWK Online Application Page.Select “Students”
Registering on the Databasevia Website
This will bring you to the SOWK Online Application –Students Page.
• Click on “Register new account” for 1st time users
OR enter your student ID & password as well
• Select MSW or BSW Student (if you have already registered)
• In order to do this you will need to enter your student number and create a password for future use.
Registering on the Databasevia Website
Once you login you will be directed to this screen. Click on “Agency Search” to research possible placement sites. This will bring you to the following page.
Registering on the Database via Website - Agency Search
When your Agency Search is complete, continue by Clicking on Placement Request to begin the application process.
Here you will be able to go through and make selections and view information on possible Agency’s.
Registering on the Database via Website - Agency Search
• Checking multiple checkboxes will only find exact matches to your criteria.
• Search one or a few component at a time to broaden search results.
• Searching by location will generate fewer hits because of subjective regional language (i.e. GTA is can also be Mississauga)
• Take a look at the posted links/websites to get an idea of what the place is about
• The search engine is very precise. Be sure to be exact in your spelling
• Check out http://www.211toronto.ca/splash.jsp as well
Search tips in database: ‘Learning Opportunities’
Please ensure that you’re emergency contact and employer contact information is correct and change if necessary as outlined before
Registering on the Database via Website – Placement Request
Type notes,
1-2 lines max. or it will cut you off
Registering on the Database via Website – Placement Request
Please ensure that you choose 4 distinctly different agencies (i.e., do not choose more than one location of the same agency as separate choices). If Agency does not exist, click on Other Agency and complete requested information.
Attach Resume and Cover letter in one document twice. You MUST submit your resume and cover letter at the time of your application. Click SUBMIT.
SUBMIT
Registering on the Database via Website – Placement Request
• Please DO NOT contact agencies unless the field office has said you can
• Most agencies prefer if the field office contacts them up
• Generally makes it a smoother process for agencies and students
• All placements MUST be confirmed by the field office
Registering on the Database via Website – Placement Request
• Please ensure that you have all documentation completed, for example resume and cover letter, before submitting your application. No editing privileges are permitted, therefore if you have omitted any details to your application, you will have to start over and complete it again.
• Please write on the application an alternative e-mail address if you do not use your yorku e-mail account.
• Please note that the “SUBMIT” button will disappear from the on-line database application once the deadline date September 11, 2010 has passed.
• Please e-mail the field office any changes to the application after you have submitted it.
• We work on securing your first or second choice first – think about your ranking of choices
Registering on the Databasevia Website – Other Information
QUESTIONS/CLOSING REMARKS
Thank you for coming
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions
Questions/Closing Remarks