Challenges Faced by Canadian Social Work Field Instructors in Baccalaureate Field Supervision

ABSTRACT

This article examines the challenges faced by social work field instructors in two Canadian provinces. The results are based on the responses from 239 field instructors to a questionnaire survey. Findings highlight student difficulties, administrative issues with the social work schools, and practicum setting challenges. These demands hinder the optimal implementation of social work field education, reveal the concerning gatekeeping role of schools of social work, and discourage some social workers from taking on (or continuing) as field instructors. Implications for social work student placements, supervision of students, academic programs, and directions for future research are presented.

KEYWORDS:

• social work field education
• social work field supervision challenges

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The research team would like to thank all research participants and research assistants on these two surveys, specifically project coordinators Ze Hong Zhang and Xiao Mei. Special thanks go to the two provincial social work professional regulatory bodies for their assistance.