Testing Satisfaction with a Group-based Social Work Field Liaison Model: A Controlled Mixed Methods Study

ABSTRACT

Social work field education programs rely on the liaison process to oversee and support students during their placement and to assist them to integrate theory and practice. However, the role and importance of liaison has been threatened as social work programs seek alternative and cost-effective ways to undertake these functions. This paper presents findings from a pilot study investigating levels of satisfaction among students and field educators with an innovative group liaison model compared to a control group who experienced the standard liaison practice. Fifty-three students and 47 field educators completed the survey. Twenty-one of the students and 10 of the educators received the intervention (the group liaison); the remaining 32 students and 37 educators received the standard liaison process (the control group). Students in the intervention group reported significantly higher levels of satisfaction with all aspects of the liaison experience than students who received the standard liaison process. Field educators were more positive about liaison than students. This study reaffirms the contribution of face-to-face liaison contact to the student learning experience on placement and suggests that strengthening, rather than devaluing, the liaison role could be a useful strategy to encourage the field’s ongoing commitment to provision of quality placement-based learning opportunities.

IMPLICATIONS

• Highlights the importance of face-to-face liaison contact to the student learning experience on placement.

• Examines social work student and field educator perceptions of and satisfaction with the liaison process and content.

• Describes a group liaison model that potentially offers a cost effective way to undertake the role.

社会工作的田野教育项目有赖于联络员审查、支持学生实习、帮助他们理论联系实际这样的程序。不过，联络工作的作用和重要性也受到质疑，社工项目正在寻找更划得来的替代方式。本文通过初步研究，对比了一种新式联络员模式与标准联络员模式，探讨了田野实习学生及教师不同的满意程度。在联络员经历的各个方面，新模式组里的学生满意程度都明显地高于标准模式组的学生。教师对联络员的看法比学生要积极。这项研究肯定了联络员面对面接触对实习学生的助益。文章认为，加强而非减弱联络员的作用，方为田野基于学习机会提供有质量实习之道。

KEYWORDS:

• Liaison
• Student Placement
• Field Educator
• Student Supervisor

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.