FIELD WORK PRACTICUM

MANUAL
FOR
MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK

N. S. PATEL ARTS COLLEGE, ANAND
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Field Work Manual
 INDEX

No. Content Page No.

1 Field Work 03
1.1 - Introduction
1.2 - Objectives of Field Work
1.3 - Importance of Field Work
1.4 - Machinery of Field Work

2 Role of the Student in Field Work 07

3 While Working with the Agency of 08

Placement, the Students should
4 Structure of Field Work 08
4.1 - Evaluation Criteria for Field Work
Practicum

5 Suggested Field Work Activities for 10

Field Work Supervisor
6 Focused Areas to be Covered in the 11
Profile of Respective Agencies
7 Points for Making Field Work Reports 12

8 Criteria for Agency Set Up 13

8.1 - Rural Setting
8.2 - NGO Setting
8.3 - Hospital Setting
8.4 - Industrial Setting
9 Annexure 23
- Field Work Conference Record
- Field Work Hours Log
- Field Work Face sheet
- References

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1. FIELD WORK
1.1 INTRODUCTION

Field work in social work education refers to training and education. The training is
repetitive and skill oriented and education is imparted with broad prospective. It
consists of accumulating knowledge in different situations. It is a dynamic process of
observing, amassing and implementing creative and innovative ideas. Field work fosters
the development of intellectual and emotional processes and attitudes. The field work
practicum is the central mechanism for transmitting theoretical knowledge into the
practical level of work. Practice learning in social work training plays a pivotal role in
providing the students with an opportunity to explore, learn and develop professional
skills necessary for working with people, the essence of the profession. It has several
components that help the students to develop a holistic understanding of the problems,
situations, their causative factors and the possible strategies of intervention.

Field work aims at developing perspectives, understanding practice roles and learning
intervention skills. The tasks given to students were similar to those given to craftsmen
and there was dichotomy between administrative and non administrative skills.
Therefore, field work is considered to be learning through doing. Field work provides
students the opportunity to learn, understand, integrate and apply the different facets
of social work practice such as philosophy, methods, techniques, roles, principles of
social work.

1.2 OBJECTIVES OF FIELD WORK

Social work is a professional education aimed at helping students acquire a deep

knowledge of theory and techniques, of achieving social work objectives and goals.
Students are expected to learn every aspect in their course and to acquire an
understanding of the principles, concepts, policies and processes that constitute the
profession of social work. Through field work programme, students are helped to
become competent professional social workers. The general objective of fieldwork

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training to students is to make them learn and practice those professional social work
skills in the field, which are taught in the classrooms. The students try to interpret and
diagnose the situation, understand and help people to adjust to the situations in the
field. Thus, field work aims at equipping the students to deal with complex problems
and personalities. The direct interaction with people helps students to add their
knowledge of people, increase understating of people’s problems and bring emotional
power of judgment and stability in action.

The field work programme has been designed to achieve the following major objectives:

 To help students understand the socio-economic, cultural and political

environment and develop aptitude for significant examination of causative and
maintenance factors of social problems and their consequences
 To develop professional values, ethics and commitments such as respect for
human dignity and worth, to the rights of participation and self determination
compatible with a better society
 To provide students with an opportunity to apply theories in practical situations
for problem solving with individuals, groups and communities
 To develop professional skills in students through practical learning, apply
acquired knowledge for the study of relevant facts, analysis of the problem and
appropriate means of solutions towards the problems
 To help students to realize the problems and opportunities in working with diverse
populations
 To assist the students identify, plan and implement social work interventions
through the application of the methods of social work and to assess their impact
on different client systems in various specializations
 To help students for value the role of social work profession empowering
individuals, groups and communities and attain the appropriate practice skills with
each phase of the change process and apply them in work with individuals, groups
and communities

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  To help students develop skills and appropriate personality qualities required for
professional social work practice
 To provide opportunities to accept challenges and respond to them
 To understand the nature of social work practice in different specializations

1.3 IMPORTANCE OF FIELD WORK

The purpose of field education in social work is to provide the student with an interface
between classroom education and actual practice. The student is provided with
opportunities to

 Develop practice skills by applying classroom theory to real life situations

 Determine which approaches work in practice and how they must be adapted to
specific situations
 Understand the effect of the organizational context on professional practice
while developing skills in agency-based social work
 Learn to use supervision and consultation appropriately
 Begin to engage in self-assessment
 Develop a professional identity

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1.4 MACHINERY OF FIELD WORK

There are four machineries of field work training in social work education;
1. The Agency
2. The Trainee Student
3. The Field Work Supervisor
4. The Agency Supervisor

The agency and field work supervisors aim at imparting training to students who are
learners. The students work between the client or group, the agency and the
supervisors. Field work agencies provide an opportunity to the students to practice the
theory, principles and philosophy of social work taught in classroom of the social work
education institution. Students are placed in the agencies for field work training
throughout the academic year and it is anticipated they become a part of the agencies.
In fact, for all practice purposes, students need to be accepted as members of the social
agency. In the process of field work, students are gaining training under the guidance of
the trained agency persons and therefore they are required to maintain profession
relations with the agencies and agency trainers.

MACHINERY
OF
FIELD WORK

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 2. ROLE OF THE STUDENT IN FIELD WORK

Department of Social Work and the field work setting are provides the student an
appropriate and adequate sources for educational and field work learning experience.

The following are the certain norms which are expected to follow by the students during
their field work training;

 Be prepared for the day’s work assignment by the preparation of advance

planning
 Dress appropriately- The Student should keep in mind that he/she is in the role
of professional social worker
 Be punctual at agency setting and maintain maturity and adult behavior
 Follow the instructions of Field work Supervisor and Agency Supervisor and seek
clarifications whenever is required
 Participate in planned activities such as, field work conferences, field work
presentations and activities in the field
 Take initiative and creativity as an opportunity in work
 Maintain the confidentiality of the client and agency information
 Inform the field work supervisor and agency supervisor if he/she is unable to
report for work
 The students should compensate for the total number of days of absence in
order to meet with the curricular requirement of the field work practicum
 Correspond with the field work supervisor and agency supervisor when the
assistance is require
 Be punctual in field work documentation such as profile, field work reports, field
work assignments, field work activities and assigned assignments
 Emphasis on project and research work in the field

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Field Work Manual
 3. WHILE WORKING WITH THE AGENCY OF PLACEMENT, THE STUDENTS
SHOULD

 Develop beginning perceptions about agency functioning and identify

congruence or gaps between organizational stances or programs and client's
service needs (e.g. restrictive intake policies, inadequate office hours, poor
referral system for resources).
 Initiate learning about how outside regulations, organizations and funding effect
delivery of services.
 Show beginning ability to identify problems/issues in organizational terms.
 Demonstrate beginning initiative and involvement in efforts to influence agency
processes on behalf of client's needs (e.g. at least, bringing situation to attention
of someone who may be receptive and able to be influential).
 Develop beginning confidence to participate and contribute to team effort, e.g.
represent own discipline, develop some credibility, present own thinking,
receptive to others' ideas.

4. STRUCTURE OF FIELD WORK

The field work practicum has several processes through which the students have to
move towards learning about field realities and developing the essential skills to deal
with them.

Duration: - Two days per week (2 x 7 1/2 = 15 Hours) of field work in different setting

Days: - Tuesdays and Thursdays

During the field placements, the students are expected to be involved in the ongoing
work of the agency. Depending upon the settings, students are given opportunities to
work with varied population groups such as children, women, adults, elderly, person
with disabilities, chronically ill, Industrial Workers, HR Personnel etc. Whenever

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Field Work Manual
opportunities take place the students are also engaged in the process of programme
planning and development.

4.1 Evaluation Criteria for Field Work Practicum

1. Review given by field work supervisor of the respective student

 Regularity
 In field
 In conferences 50%
 Ability Report writing
 Presentation of the report and field activities in the field work conference.
 Field Programmes (Community based programmes, Health Programme,
Projects, surveys etc.)

2. Field Work Viva

 Field Work Report Journal
o Number of Field Hours Minimum(240 Hours/Per semester)
 Assignment Journal
o Number should be equal to Reports 30%
 Performance in the Field Work Viva in terms of
o Theoretical Knowledge
o Professional Learning

2. Add on
 Photographs
 Special Project Reports 20%
 Collateral

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Field Work Manual
 5. SUGGESTED FIELD WORK ACTIVITIES FOR FIELD WORK SUPERVISOR

Early Placement 1. To conduct orientation programme concerning the following:

 Gain an appreciation of the mission and nature of work at agency,

 Meet the Head and staff of agency
 Administrative procedures and expectation of students in terms of
dressing, punctuality, working hours etc.

2. To discuss supervision-related issues, such as supervision structure,

schedule and style of supervision

3. To discuss learning-related issues, such as learning objectives and tasks

assigned, content of evaluation form

4. To submit the student’s learning experiences of two weeks to the Field

Work Supervisor
Mid Placement 1. To discuss progress of students in relation to the learning objectives
and tasks assigned, and explore the need to adjust learning plans, if any.

2. To have student submit the Mid-Placement Feedback Form

Late Placement 1. To prepare student for termination of field placement, which include
the following activities:

 Proper documentation and recording of work done, informing

clients of termination plan
 Reflection of Fieldwork experience in relation to fieldwork aims
and learning objectives

2. To conduct fieldwork evaluation session and provide feedback on the

strengths and weaknesses of student as a student social worker

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Field Work Manual
 6. FOCUSED AREAS TO BE COVERED IN THE PROFILE OF RESPECTIVE
AGENCIES

The report should contain the following contents. Write the report after careful
observation and collection of information from the agency.

 An introduction about the agency, name, location, address, year of

establishment, registration details, constitution of board/Trust, office bearers
etc.
 Vision and Mission of the organization, Organizational structure , resources, net
work details, Funds / budget details, projects undertaken
 General profile i.e. Details about the inmates of the organization
 Major activities of the organization, future plans
 Case Work Practice, Group Work Practice and community organization practice
in the organization for the benefit of the inmates and the locality with the prior
permission of the agency.
 Role of social worker in the organization
 Skills learnt by the Trainee during the field work training
 Copies of various forms, returns, hand bills, posters, photographs etc. of the
agency may be appended at the end of the report.

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 7. POINTS FOR MAKING FIELD WORK REPORTS

 AIM: (For doing particular activity for the day on field)

 OBJECTIVE: (Reasons for doing the activity)
 PROCESS: (A Complete description of the activity)
 OBSERVATION: (Observations tendered during the activity, negative and positive
both may be included)
 LEARNING : (learning consists of two types (1) personal learning, (2) Professional
learning)
 Personal learning : personal learning consists of those kind of learning which a
person or a field worker can use in his personal or social life
 Professional learning: Professional learning consist of usage of social work
methods and its implementation on the practical basis
 CRITICAL EVALUATION: (Any of the positive or negative elementary found during
the activity or in the field areas)
 PLAN FOR THE NEXT DAY/WEEK: It includes the planning for the next activity, in
short the next day or week aim.


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Field Work Manual
 8. CRITERIA FOR AGENCY SET UP

8.1 RURAL SETTING

Objectives

 To study the rural and semi rural life in all its ramifications including group dynamics
and power structure in rural community
 To develop an understanding of the process of programme formulation and
programme management of the rural local bodies, government and non
government agencies
 To develop positive attitude to work in a rural community setting and to acquire the
skills such as public relations, fact findings, leadership, networking, fund raising,
budgeting, report writing, lobbying and advocacy required for a development
worker
 To enable to work with disadvantaged groups in rural areas
 To enable to plan and implement methods, tools and techniques for intervention
based on the needs of the community

Tasks

 Understand the administrative set up of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)

 Panchayat Raj members, their socio-economic and caste status
 Coordination of block level administrative personnel with elected person at different
levels
 Decision making process: type of problems that come before Panchayat Union and
Village Panchayat, who initiates various development projects and process of
assessing them. How decisions are made- manipulations, lobbying, pressure tactics
used
 Current Major Programmes, budget allocations for the programmes, methods of
implementation, participation of people, impact of development and social justice
 Application of the principles of Rural Community Development
 Application of methods of professional social work in rural setting

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Field Work Manual
  Identify/ study/ explore the rural problems covering the following aspects:
a) The physical, ecological, socio-economic and political structure, living pattern, social
roles, community power structure, occupation, housing, available social services.

b) The general nature of the problem, the pre-existing condition, the existing
situation, and the major units of the client system concerned with the problem
concerned with health, education and welfare (Social Audit)
c) The problem as perceived by the i) rural community/ village / client system ii)
rural local body iii) field work agency and iv) professional social work trainee

Assignments

 Rural- Definition, Meaning, Characteristics

 Problems of Rural Area
 Panchayati Raj System
 Panchayati Raj Institutions
 Concept of Rural Development
 Government Programmes for Rural Development (Health, Education, )
 Gram Sabha- Roles & Functions
 Role & Responsibilities of Sarpanch
 Role & Responsibilities of Talati
 Participatory Rural Appraisal
 Self Help Group
 Microfinance
 Capacity Building
 Role of Gram Mitra & Gram Sevak
 Administrative Set up of Ministry of Rural Development
 Role of Social Worker for Rural Development
 Right to Information Act
 Women Empowerment
 Child Rights
 BPL/APL/Antodaya
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Field Work Manual
 8.2 NGO SETTING

Objectives

 To enable students to get acquainted with the NGO and develop experimental learning
 To offer students opportunities for analyzing field situation and developing professional
attitude and ability
 To enable students to get knowledge about NGO Management and Registration Process
 To equip students with the liasoning and networking of NGO
 To enable students to used skills, principles and methods of social work while dealing
with clients of NGO
 To understand the funding patterns and utilisation of NGO

Tasks
 To know and understand the practical process of establishment of an NGO.
 Constitution of NGOs, Formation of executive committees
 To know the objectives, ethical responsibility and values of an NGOs
 To know the areas of working for and NGOs
 Importance of Networking, Liaisoning and PPP for social development and
 To know and practice innovative fund raising techniques.
 Project management
 To know the different income tax exemption provisions for NGOs like 12(A), 80(G),
35(AC)
 To know the legal aid of NGOs like Societies registration Act, Bombay public trust act,
Income tax Act, CSR Act etc.
 To understand the Project Writing
 Funding patterns of different projects

Assignments
 Concept and Types of NGO
 NGO development in five years plan
 NGO registration ACT s
 Registration process of NGO
 Administration of NGO
 Essentials of NGO management
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Field Work Manual
  Project management
 Project evaluation ; stages in the process of programming, preparation and execution of
evaluation
 Budget management for NGO
 Working areas of NGO
 Laws related to working areas :
A. Income tax ACT
B. FCRA
C. Income tax exemption available to NGOs under
 Schemes related to working areas
 Fund raising
 Fund requirements & types of funds
 Project Proposal writing

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Field Work Manual
 8.3 HOSPITAL SETTING (MEDICAL & PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORK)

Objectives

 To enable students to get acquainted with the hospital and develop experimental
learning
 To equip the students with the necessary assessment skills to understand the psycho-
social problems of the patient and family with respect to the consequences of the
disease and disability
 To enable the students to practice the methods of Social Work, particularly, Social Case
work and Social Group Work
 To enable the students to function as a member of the Multidisciplinary team with
respect to the Medical, Physical and Psycho-social Treatments
 To enable the students to develop a Rehabilitation Plan with respect to long-term illness
& Disability
 To enable the students to understand the national health programmes and its
implementation at community level

Tasks

 Involve in the preparation of psycho-social assessment of the patient in relation

to the consequence of disease and disability.
 Develop and implement intervention strategies with family and community as
social support systems
 Apply Social Case Work (includes identification, assessment, intervention,
rehabilitation and follow-up)
 Identify & undertake Group therapeutic sessions
 Organise a need based/ setting based Community Health Programme
 Function as a member of the Multidisciplinary team
 Network with other organizations and advocate when necessary
 Analyzing the person in the mental health environment
 Practice Psychiatric Case History Taking and psycho social assessment

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Field Work Manual
  Assess the health/ welfare needs of various groups and the agency’s response to meet
these needs
 Study the disease profile and critically analyse the impact of the disease/ problem/
disability on the individual, family and society
 Applications of the methods of social work in the agency and integrate theory and
practice in intervention
 Awareness Programme with group and community
 Organize Health Camp
 Project Report

Assignments

 Concept of Health
 Concept of Disease
 Hospital: Meaning & Types
 Functions of Hospital
 Hospital Administration
 Hospital Management
 Public Health Administration
 Counseling
 Communicable Diseases
 Non-communicable Disease
 National Health Programmes
 Mental Health & Mental Illness
 Case Study and Case History
 Psycho-social Diagnosis
 Community Based Rehabilitation
 Mental Health Act
 Acts related Health
 Person with Disability Act
 Role of Medical Social Worker
 Role of Psychiatric Social Worker

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Field Work Manual
 8.4 INDUSTRIAL SETTING

Objectives

 To practically understand the concept of Industrial Relations and to acquire the

related competencies
 To familiarize with the Labour Legislations
 To learn to apply the various methods of Social Work in various Industrial
Settings
 To observe the application of various Labour Welfare measures
 To observe the practice of current trends in HR
 To provide opportunity for the integration of class room learning and field
practice
 To acquire human resource management skills
 To observe the CSR activities
 To develop skills to organize people to meet their needs and solve their
problems
 To make innovative contributions to the organization functioning
 To represent HR profession in inter disciplinary terms
 To carry out application oriented mini – research projects
 To utilize field instructions for enhancing and integrating professional growth in
Human Resource

Tasks

(A) Organizational Profile

History of the Agency, Organization Chart, The Products/ Services, Branches/ Units,
Workforce, Line and staff management, Structure and functions of the Human Resource
Department

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Field Work Manual
(B) Areas of Personnel Functions

 Manpower Planning (Need Analysis)

 Recruitment (Advertisement/ Consultancies /Campus /Other Bureaus/ Sources)
 Types of Employees (Contract/ Temporary/ Permanent/ Part-Time)
 Selection (Interview/ Written Test /Group Discussion / Physical examination
 Induction and Placement, Promotion and Transfer
 Training and Development (Need Analysis/ Types/Outsourcing)
 Disengagement - Retention, Resignation/ Termination and Retirement (Exit
Interviews )
 Time Office(Daily Attendance/ Swiping Cards/ Attendance Register)
 Hours of Work (Time In/Break/ Movement Register/Period of Rest/ Time Out)
 Leave and Holidays (Casual Leave/ Medical Leave/ National and Festival Holidays
etc.)
 Wage and Salary Administration (Daily/ Monthly/ Hourly/ Time- Rate/ Piece-
Rate)
 Social Security Benefits (Social Insurance/ Social Assistance)
 Employee Service Register, Communication
 Employee Appraisal (Ranking/ Free Essay/ 360 degree Appraisal), Balance Score
Card, Succession Planning

(C) Industrial Relations Functions

 IR at Shop Floor & Plant Level (Works Committee/ Joint Production Committee/ Joint
Management Councils
 Grievance Handling - Grievance Settlement Procedure
 Works Standing Orders (Employee Discipline/ Domestic Enquiry/Absenteeism/
Alcoholism/ Punishment)
 Employers’ Association, Trade Unions, Collective Bargaining - The Agreements, Strikes,
Lock- Outs and Retrenchment

(D) Labour Welfare Measures

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Field Work Manual
  Intra Mural and Extra Mural - Statutory and Non Statutory Measures (Housing/ Crèche/
Canteen/ Credit and Consumer Co-operatives)
 Safety and Accident Prevention, Industrial Health and Hygiene (Occupational
Diseases/Hazards), Industrial Mental Health (Screening and Detection/ Stress/ Fatigue/
Burn Out), Employee Counselling
 Workers’ Education, Recreation, Other Welfare Measures

(E) Labour Legislations

Legislations applicable to the Organization

(F)Others

TQM, ISO, Use of OD Techniques, CSR Activities

Assignments

 Human Resource Management- Meaning & Functions

 Human Resource Development
 Human Resource Planning
 Industrial Relations
 Labour Welfare
 Job Description, Job Specification and Job Evaluation
 Performance Appraisal
 Salary & Wage Administration
 Recruitment, Selection, Induction & Orientation
 Promotion & Transfer
 Training & Development
 Exit Interview
 Labour Legislations- Factories Act, Industrial Dispute Act, ESI Act, Employees Provident
Fund Act, Apprentice Act, Workmen Compensation Act, Gratuity Act, Bonus Act, Trade
Union Act etc.
 Corporate Social Responsibility
 Concept of MNC

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  Total Quality Management
 Difference between Administration, Personnel & HR
 Difference between Factory, Industry & Company
 Kaizen
 5’s
 Six Sigma
 Leadership Styles
 Qualities of HR
 Organizational Behaviour
 Collective Bargaining
 Grievances Redressal System
 Training & Development
 Job Design

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Field Work Manual
 Field Work Conference Record- BSW / MSW / MHRM
Name of Student :
Name of Agency :
Class:
Roll No.:

Sr. No Date Topic Discussed Signature of Signature of

the Student the
Supervisor
Supervisor
Signature
HOURS

Agency
WORK
FIELD

LOG

of

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Field Work Manual
 FIELD BSW/ MSW/MHRM field placement 23rd June 2015 to 31st October 2015
WORK Name of Student : ____________________________________________ Roll No : __________________________
FACESHE Name of Agency : _______________________________ _________________ Contact No : __________________________
ET Name of Agency Supervisor: ________________________________________ Contact No : ___________________________ Name of
Field Work Supervisor_______________________________________ Contact No : _________________________
BSW/
MSW/MHR
M field
placement
23rd June

Signature WEEK MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDA Total No.

Field Work Manual

of Y of Hours
Agency
Supervisor

Understanding

24
 2015 to 31st October 2015
Name of Student : ____________________________________________ Roll No : __________________________
Name of Agency : _______________________________ _________________ Contact No : ___________________________
Name of Agency Supervisor: ________________________________________ Contact No : ___________________________
Name of Field Work Supervisor_______________________________________ Contact No : _________________________



References

Mumbai
CONTENT MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDA Total No.

Field Work Manual

Y of Hours

the field , knowledge building ,rapport establishment with agency and clients, initiation of case studies, initiation of project work, community
contacts, FGD ,report writing and specify (any other)

25
Field Work Practicum Manual of Master of Social Work, University of Madras
Field Practicum Manual for M. A. Social Work (2013), School of Social Work, TISS,
  Field Work Manual, School of Distance education Bharathiar University, May 2012
 Guha, Ratna (2011). Field Instruction in Social Work, First Edition, Centrum Press, New
Delhi
 Subhedar, I.S. (2001). Field Work Training in Social Work, Rawat Publications, Jaipur

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Field Work Manual