Field Directors

I had this same issue arise this spring: a first year MSW student was placed at an agency where their activities were primarily supervised by someone who had graduated from our BSW program and was just accepted into our advanced standing MSW program to start this fall - which would put them in the same courses at the same time. In this case, the supervisor was not listed on the learning plan, so we did not learn this until midway through the practicum. Ultimately, I had a conversation with the practicum instructor - who worked in the agency but not directly in that department - and confirmed that competency ratings were being completed based on their observations and judgment, not the direct supervisor. Overall, the situation created a dual relationship that I would have preferred to avoid. The timing of the situation was tough, however, since the placement was established before the supervisor was accepted into our advanced standing program. I am now considering an enhanced conflict of interest/dual relationships policy for practicum sites to attempt to avoid this situation in the future. 

On the other hand, I had an MSW student employed in a supervising role in a key program where other MSW students are often placed. We knew this was coming, and that student changed roles in the agency to prevent dual relationships, despite being in a different "learning center" from the other students and therefore unlikely to ever interact with them in our program. This was the ideal decision, in my opinion.

I had this same issue arise this spring: a first year MSW student was placed at an agency where their activities were primarily supervised by someone who had graduated from our BSW program and was just accepted into our advanced standing MSW program to start this fall - which would put them in the same courses at the same time. In this case, the supervisor was not listed on the learning plan, so we did not learn this until midway through the practicum. Ultimately, I had a conversation with the practicum instructor - who worked in the agency but not directly in that department - and confirmed that competency ratings were being completed based on their observations and judgment, not the direct supervisor. Overall, the situation created a dual relationship that I would have preferred to avoid. The timing of the situation was tough, however, since the placement was established before the supervisor was accepted into our advanced standing program. I am now considering an enhanced conflict of interest/dual relationships policy for practicum sites to attempt to avoid this situation in the future. 

On the other hand, I had an MSW student employed in a supervising role in a key program where other MSW students are often placed. We knew this was coming, and that student changed roles in the agency to prevent dual relationships, despite being in a different "learning center" from the other students and therefore unlikely to ever interact with them in our program. This was the ideal decision, in my opinion.

Hi Sarah and others! Would anyone be able to please share any policy language you have around dual relationships and/or conflict of interests as it relates to practicum? Thank you!

I had this same issue arise this spring: a first year MSW student was placed at an agency where their activities were primarily supervised by someone who had graduated from our BSW program and was just accepted into our advanced standing MSW program to start this fall - which would put them in the same courses at the same time. In this case, the supervisor was not listed on the learning plan, so we did not learn this until midway through the practicum. Ultimately, I had a conversation with the practicum instructor - who worked in the agency but not directly in that department - and confirmed that competency ratings were being completed based on their observations and judgment, not the direct supervisor. Overall, the situation created a dual relationship that I would have preferred to avoid. The timing of the situation was tough, however, since the placement was established before the supervisor was accepted into our advanced standing program. I am now considering an enhanced conflict of interest/dual relationships policy for practicum sites to attempt to avoid this situation in the future. 

On the other hand, I had an MSW student employed in a supervising role in a key program where other MSW students are often placed. We knew this was coming, and that student changed roles in the agency to prevent dual relationships, despite being in a different "learning center" from the other students and therefore unlikely to ever interact with them in our program. This was the ideal decision, in my opinion.