Developing an online, accessible
website resource for field educators
– Social Work Interactive
Supervision Support (SWISS)
Anna Spencer and
Dr Fotina Hardy
QUT School of Public Health and Social Work
Field Education Unit
This project was made possible through
funding from Health Workforce Australia an
Background to SWISS
•
Recognising the growing complexity and
dynamic nature of the placement
experience for students and supervisors.
•
Need to respond to field educators feelings
of isolation, embarrassment, lack of time,
lack of confidence, need for information
and frameworks for dealing with complex
issues as part of their role of field
Field supervision: a complex
responsibility
•
“underpinning the social work approach to
field education is that a constructive
supervisory relationship between the field
educator and student is essential for a
successful experience”
(Australian Learning and Teaching Council, 2012, p6).Five functions of student
supervision... In addition to normal
work responsibilities
•
Education (doing, thinking, reflecting)
•
Socialisation for professional identity
(being)
•
Support (thriving)
•
Negotiation (mediating/advocating
systems and relationships)
•
Administration/management (knowing the
workplace)
But…..reality check
•
Time poor supervisors
•
Organisational demands
•
Isolation
•
Confidence to supervise
•
Lack of “immediate” support
•
Increased complexity of contexts and
students
Our response??
•
Using interactive technology to create an
online platform to facilitate access to an
online resource and tools to support field
educators in addressing the complexities
involved in student supervision. Using a
mix of the vast practice wisdom from the
field and
research.
Project outcomes
•
Provide a sustainable, meaningful, responsive
and dynamic resource for field educators
•
Develop a framework of ethical supervision
decision making to assist supervisors in
dealing with the complexities experienced as
part of supervision.
•
Develop a resource training tool of advanced
supervision available to field educators
through an accessible on line / blended
learning resource.
Developing SWISS
1. Identification of the existing models of supervision available through a literature review. These are captured in the website
2. Consultation and collaboration with a group of critical friends to ensure the project was informed by field educators and drew on the collective wisdom in the field involving:
Focus groups with field educators and students to identify key issues,
needs and key strategies currently being used to draw on the existing collective wisdom available
Individual interviews with field educators and students
Identifying real life experiences and stories – what worked and didn’t
work for field educators and students alike, tools and tips used by
Field Educators that could be shared, common issues and complexities
Consultation process: field
educators
• Sixteen (16) detailed conversational interviews were conducted to inform the design and content.
• Five small targeted discussion groups – students from culturally diverse backgrounds
• Three (3) larger group discussions were held, with an average of six – eight (6-8) participants in each.
• The project was presented and discussed at the Supervisors
Introduction Workshops for Summer Semester 2012-13 and Semester 1 2013.
• A feedback forum held to show field educators and navigate through the test site. This provided an opportunity to gain feedback on the look, feel and usability of the site and any critique before final editing and submission.
Consultation process: Students
•
Student’s views were captured using a combination of group
meeting, individual interview and email correspondence; in-depth
conversations and informal comment.
•
In-depth discussions were held with graduating students to
identify their key insights into their experiences of being
supervised in placement. These sessions were all of class
discussions plus targeted group conversations with particular
students. There were three targeted group conversations with a
total participation of twenty students.
Thirteen (13) individual interviews were undertaken.
•
A number of students also elected to have a say via email and
phone interview. All involvement was voluntary. All content
remains confidential.
Key consultation themes
Themes Site design response
Easy access to information that is
inviting Site designed through a series of clicks from general topic introduction to sub topics, linking to information
Information targeted to first time
and experienced supervisors SWISS has begun its life with a focus on the new supervisor, capacity exists for addition of greater levels of
complexity and resources Practice language – minimal
academic language Content is written in simple and clear language wherever possible. Links are made to key resources and references. Embedded in real practice
situations The stories and insights gained through the consultations have been used to provide examples of ‘real practice’
Key Consultation themes
Themes Site design response
A dynamic site that can be added to and changed as other ideas and practices, research emerge.
The site has multiple opportunities for supervisors to provide feedback and make contributions. The site will be hosted by the QUT Field Education Unit and updated on a regular basis.
Internet Access – no pass words Although a QUT sponsored site, the site will be accessible through the internet, with no passwords required.
Insight into what the students are learning at University before,
during and after placement.
There are links to all the relevant social work and human services degrees and course materials.
One stop shop for placement
information. QUT social work and human service manuals and information are accessible on site and can be down loaded.
