Bachelor of Social Work Field Education Manual :

Appendix A: Grievance and Termination Procedures

Field Placements

If a student is dissatisfied with his or her field experience placement, the student should inform the field instructor and/or the field liaison. The field liaison will review the concerns presented and, if there is appropriate justification, a new agency will be sought. This decision would involve and result from a mutual assessment by the agency, the student, the field liaison, the field office, and the Field Director. The Field Director will make the final decision regarding any changes in field placements which may occur during the same term.

Field Instructor Evaluations

If a student is satisfied with the grade assigned by the field liaison but disputes an evaluation by the field instructor, the student should submit a written appeal to the field instructor detailing why the student believes the evaluation should be changed. The student should submit the appeal to the field instructor and copy the field liaison. If the student is not satisfied with the results of the written appeal to the field instructor, the student may request a meeting with the field director. The Field Director will meet with the student and field instructor to address the issue.

University Appeals

Students who appeal a course grade are governed by Walden University policies. Please refer to the Walden University Student Handbook for policies and procedures for appeals.

Please refer to the Walden University Student Handbook for policies and procedures pertaining to all other appeals.

As professional social workers, graduates will be utilizing their skills to help others make changes in their lives. They will sometimes be called upon to make serious decisions, which can be helpful or harmful to others. A social worker who does not respect the values and ethics of the profession, who is incapable of mastering the work of the profession, or who does not take change-making seriously can harm clients. Good social workers must be able to understand and discipline their own emotional needs to avoid projecting these needs on others and using clients for personal gratification. They must have not only abstract knowledge about the profession, but also the ability to translate knowledge into practical application.

Student’s sustainability will be continually and thoroughly assessed throughout their time in the social work field experience.  The normal expectation when a student is admitted to the social work field experience is that the student has the potential for success. Disagreements may occur and mistakes may be made, but these are usually part of the learning process. The faculty field liaison, field instructors, and students, working together, will generally be able to overcome “rough spots” in an atmosphere of mutual respect and concern.

It is not common for a student to be asked to leave a field experience agency, but it can occur. When there are serious concerns about a student’s suitability for the profession, the field instructor may assess that the student should not continue in the field experience. This may result from a single grave incident or from a pattern of behaviors. Both academic and field experience settings are considered when determining if a student should not continue.

The director of field experience may require a student to leave the field experience agency if:

• The student’s performance in the field placement demonstrates, after adequate corrective efforts, little likelihood of successful completion. This may be a matter of knowledge, skills, and/or values.
• The student’s attitudes or values are incompatible with the practice of professional social work (e.g., strong disregard for change, diversity, honesty, and/or competency).
• The student persists in conduct in the field that endangers clients, the agency, the university, other students, or the student himself or herself (“unsafe practice”).
• The student commits a serious violation of the NASW Code of Ethics, whether or not an NASW member.
• The student is consistently unable to form productive working relationships with clients, field instructors, or other students.
• The student’s personal problems (e.g., relationship, substance abuse, mental illness) are so serious or recent as to preclude effective work in the field setting.
• The student engages in serious academic or other dishonesty or in a breach of confidentiality.

The first step when any problem becomes apparent is a discussion among those most directly affected. When a problem is so persistent or serious that a student’s continuance in the placement is in question, the student will be informed in writing by the director of field experience of the area(s) of concern and corrective action necessary for continuance in the placement. The specific timeframe allowed for the corrective action will be determined by the field director in consultation with the field liaison, the field supervisor.

If the student does not follow through on the corrective action plan, the field director will notify the program director of social work programs so that further action can be taken. The Walden University Student Handbook will be followed with the possibility of the student being terminated from field experience.

A student who has been terminated from the social work field experience placement may be assigned a new field experience agency if the problems that led to that decision are resolved. The burden is on the student to demonstrate that this is the case. A new field experience agency requires the student to reapply to field, using the field experience application process and work with the field office to secure a new and appropriate placement.

If a student is dismissed from an agency and a comportment plan does not require them to sit out, they have two weeks to locate a replacement agency, their grade is entered as incomplete, and they have 60 days for their grade to be changed from incomplete to complete. If their grade is not changed, students will fail the course and need to retake the course and internship hours.

Students are allowed to transfer agencies only under extenuating circumstances.  Students must discuss the concerns with their field liaison prior to transferring agencies. If a field liaison recommends a transfer, the student must contact the field office to arrange the necessary requirements to follow through on this process.  The final decision will be made by the director of field experience. If a transfer is approved, a student will have 2 weeks to secure a secondary placement.