Employment-Based Placements | College of Social Work

New Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation policies allow UTCSW students to count
current employment towards field requirements if:

The student has completed a 4-week probationary period at the agency;
There is a trained social worker who meets the qualifications to serve as the student’s field
education supervisor;
Supervision process for field education is distinct from employee evaluation process;
The student and agency field instructor remain employed at the agency during the time of the field
placement;
The student’s employment agency is able to sign an agency affiliation agreement with UTK;
The employment supervisor and agency Field Instructor meet with the student’s field coordinator
and sign off on an Employment-Based Learning Plan and Agreement; and
Student assignments and activities fulfill CSWE learning objectives, and are linked to the appropriate
level of social work practice for the student

Example assignments for for Generalist students (400 hours min.):

Intake/assessment
Client engagement/empathic listening skills
Resource linkage/case management
Basics of research, evaluation, policy analysis and advocacy

Example assignments for Clinical Practice Concentration students (500 hours min.):

Advanced client assessment
Implementation of clinical interventions (individual/group counseling)
Evaluation of clinical practice
Research best practices related to client interventions
Understanding policy analysis /advocacy as a clinical social worker

Example assignments for Organizational Leadership Concentration students (500 hours min.):

Community/agency assessments
Facilitation of meetings/task groups
Fund development, including grant writing
Program development and evaluation
Advanced policy analysis/advocacy

During the placement planning process, students will complete an application and will evaluate if their employment will count for field practicum credit.

Benefits of Employer-Based Placements

Employees can pursue BSSW or MSSW degree while working
Employees can count work hours towards field expectations
Employee morale improves with employer investment
Employee retention should also increase
Employer benefits from better trained staff
CEU Opportunities for Field Instructors

*External social work supervision may be possible if the agency does not have a social worker on staff who is able to provide supervision.

UTK College of Social Work Employment-Based Field Placement Expectations

Signed Agency Aliation agreement with UTK (Memorandum of Agreement)
Identification of a qualified social worker at the agency who will oversee
student’s learning, provide weekly supervision, sign o on learning plans,
evaluations and timesheets
Employment-based field plan:
- Outline learning activities/tasks to meet required learning competencies
  for field
- Develop plan for tracking field hours
- Clarify supervision plan, delineating student learning assessment versus
  employer’s professional evaluation
- Acknowledge risks involved with an employment-based placement
- The student has successfully worked at the agency at least four weeks

For more information contact Kim Crane Mallory, Director of Field Education: [email protected]

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