Field Directors

Hello, fellow field directors! I am the field director for a relatively new online MSW program in New York, and we are running into issues finding enough placement sites with on-staff licensed MSWs. We want to create a pool of qualified candidates we can utilize as needed to provide regular supervision for our interns when needed. What is the going pay rate for this? Does your school pay hourly or per semester? Do all schools/programs offer this service? Thanks so much! 

We do not pay for field instructors, but some agencies we work with sometimes do (though not often)

The concern I have with paying field instructors is that it does become an equity issue and we are a profession with a code of ethics that asks/expects us to give back. However, I absolutely understand why this model is used when programs run into this issue. 

--Courtney

Hello, fellow field directors! I am the field director for a relatively new online MSW program in New York, and we are running into issues finding enough placement sites with on-staff licensed MSWs. We want to create a pool of qualified candidates we can utilize as needed to provide regular supervision for our interns when needed. What is the going pay rate for this? Does your school pay hourly or per semester? Do all schools/programs offer this service? Thanks so much! 

We do not pay for field instructors, but some agencies we work with sometimes do (though not often)

The concern I have with paying field instructors is that it does become an equity issue and we are a profession with a code of ethics that asks/expects us to give back. However, I absolutely understand why this model is used when programs run into this issue. 

--Courtney

Hello, fellow field directors! I am the field director for a relatively new online MSW program in New York, and we are running into issues finding enough placement sites with on-staff licensed MSWs. We want to create a pool of qualified candidates we can utilize as needed to provide regular supervision for our interns when needed. What is the going pay rate for this? Does your school pay hourly or per semester? Do all schools/programs offer this service? Thanks so much! 

Hello, fellow field directors! I am the field director for a relatively new online MSW program in New York, and we are running into issues finding enough placement sites with on-staff licensed MSWs. We want to create a pool of qualified candidates we can utilize as needed to provide regular supervision for our interns when needed. What is the going pay rate for this? Does your school pay hourly or per semester? Do all schools/programs offer this service? Thanks so much! 

Hi Leigh,

we pay outside supervisors $50/hour and offer a group supervision model for students that do not have a BSW/MSW AFI on site. Outside supervisors, most of them are LCSWs and program alumni,  meet with students 1-1.5 hours every other week via Zoom. I am including the intro email below and am attaching the position overview as well for your review. 

Best

KAT

Hi [names],

I hope this email finds you both well as you dive into this academic year and your practicum roles. I wanted to take a moment and get you connected to .... (LCSW, MSW) who will serve as your outside MSW supervisor for this academic year since your AFI at your agency does not meet the CSWE (Council on Social Work Education) MSW supervision requirements, which state that all MSW students must receive supervision from a person who holds a MSW with at least two years of post-degree experience. Thanks ...for agreeing to serve in this role and sharing your insight and experience with both our campus and online MSW students. [outside SV bio here]

ROLE:

In the outside supervisor role, ...will offer mostly educational and supportive supervision with a focus on the social work and social justice lens of our profession. Your day to day work and responsibilities at your practicum sites will be supervised and guided by your AFI on site who will assist with the development of your learning agreement, follow through on goals, regular site visits at the agency, practicum evaluations etc. ... is another support person for you who will have much to offer as you integrate your classroom learning into your practicum experience.

TIME:

Your regular group supervision time with ... will be every other Friday, 3:00-4:30pm (MST) via Zoom throughout this fall and spring term. ... will follow up with the exact first official meeting date and a regular Zoom link.

EXPECTATIONS:

• Please be advised that outside MSW supervision is not optional and that it happens in addition to your regular on-site supervision at your agency. You are expected to actively participate in these meetings, utilize supervision as a tool for reflection and learning, and come prepared for engagement and discussion. You can count outside supervision time towards your practicum hours.
• Students are allowed one excused absence from MSW supervision meetings per semester (one in the fall, one in the spring); absences must be professionally communicated to the outside supervisor as soon as you know you will not be able to attend the meeting. Students missing more than two outside supervision meetings per term will risk not receiving a passing grade in their practicum course.  
• While students are allowed one excused absence per semester, a written reflection will be required if a student misses additional meetings. Please save the attached document to your computer and review the essay guidelines and deadlines carefully! Due dates for missed meeting reflection essay:

·         If students know they will be missing an upcoming outside supervision meeting, they must email reflection to outside MSW supervisor the day of the scheduled meeting.

·         If students miss a meeting due to an unexpected illness or situation, they must email reflection to outside MSW supervisor within FIVE days of the scheduled meeting.  

·         Assignments must be saved in a digital Word file as follows: First Name_Last Name_SVreflection

Any questions please let me know. I hope you have a great semester together and will utilize this small supervision group as an additional community of practice space!

Best

KAT

Hello, fellow field directors! I am the field director for a relatively new online MSW program in New York, and we are running into issues finding enough placement sites with on-staff licensed MSWs. We want to create a pool of qualified candidates we can utilize as needed to provide regular supervision for our interns when needed. What is the going pay rate for this? Does your school pay hourly or per semester? Do all schools/programs offer this service? Thanks so much! 

Hello, fellow field directors! I am the field director for a relatively new online MSW program in New York, and we are running into issues finding enough placement sites with on-staff licensed MSWs. We want to create a pool of qualified candidates we can utilize as needed to provide regular supervision for our interns when needed. What is the going pay rate for this? Does your school pay hourly or per semester? Do all schools/programs offer this service? Thanks so much! 

Hello,

At University of Minnesota Duluth we pay offsite field supervisors a $500 stipend. We have a student field fee from which the money comes. Through this payment they are also required to go through our background check process. It has really helped grow our pool of offsite folks who are willing to supervisor for us. We actually have more than we need, which is a good thing. :)

Sara Lien

Hello, fellow field directors! I am the field director for a relatively new online MSW program in New York, and we are running into issues finding enough placement sites with on-staff licensed MSWs. We want to create a pool of qualified candidates we can utilize as needed to provide regular supervision for our interns when needed. What is the going pay rate for this? Does your school pay hourly or per semester? Do all schools/programs offer this service? Thanks so much! 

Hello, fellow field directors! I am the field director for a relatively new online MSW program in New York, and we are running into issues finding enough placement sites with on-staff licensed MSWs. We want to create a pool of qualified candidates we can utilize as needed to provide regular supervision for our interns when needed. What is the going pay rate for this? Does your school pay hourly or per semester? Do all schools/programs offer this service? Thanks so much! 

Hi Leigh Ann,

We have started paying a $500.00 stipend for supervising a student at an agency without a social worker. It helps agencies, the students (when we do not move them to a different agency) 

Hello, fellow field directors! I am the field director for a relatively new online MSW program in New York, and we are running into issues finding enough placement sites with on-staff licensed MSWs. We want to create a pool of qualified candidates we can utilize as needed to provide regular supervision for our interns when needed. What is the going pay rate for this? Does your school pay hourly or per semester? Do all schools/programs offer this service? Thanks so much!