[humanser] Questions regarding Masters Level Social Work Practicum

[JD Townsend]

Hello:

While shadowing can be interesting and provide exposure to the work, it has 
been my practice to move students from shadowing to doing, slowly or 
quickly, depending on their competencies.  The idea of using a driver or 
reader to provide clinical information would not be in your or the client's 
best interest.  Often the non-clinical folks out there tend to have their 
biases.  A driver should stay in the car, not interact in any way with the 
client.  This is to demonstrate to the client your independence and 
competence as well as to separate your professional role from your 
employees.  Sometimes when I am having a student intern shadowing me the 
other staff and patients tend to look at them as my assistants;  a 
misconception that needs to be corrected.

So, some questions:
1    Is this your first or second year placement?
2    How are your independence skills?  The use of helpers is a good thing 
when we are clear about our strengths and abilities, otherwise your 
employees will become co-dependent, an unhealthy relationship.

Your school of social work needs to see you as able to travel independently, 
able to take notes independently, able to contribute fully in your class 
work;  fully independent.  When they understand that you are a person with a 
difference rather than a handicapped student they should bend over backward 
to promote your internship.

I trust that you are already on top of these things, advocating for yourself 
with the school is your mission.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Carly Mihalakis via Humanser
Sent: Sunday, May 01, 2016 1:05 PM
To: Human Services Division Mailing List ; humanser at nfbnet.org
Cc: Carly Mihalakis
Subject: Re: [humanser] Questions regarding Masters Level Social Work 
Practicum

Good morning, Yiska,

Is there something particularly, in the name of being a thorough
social worker, wrong with somebody's being there to inform you of
potential bruises on the bodies of your elder or child clients? And
yes, this reader would be bound to the same legalese as you are.
I mean, I don't think they religated you to shaddowing a sighted
social worker? I would imagine your agency guy was wondering the same
thing as I about seeing physical layers of your casework?
Car client's?
It remain doubtful that sound like the came up
  At 03:39 PM 3/17/2016, Lora :\) via humanser wrote:
>Hello List,
>
>I am new to the list. My name is Yiska. I am trying to get a practicum
>placement for fall and am running into some challenges related to
>blindness. I figured this would be a good place to ask my questions. I
>am getting my master's in social work. The practicum liaison and the
>agencies have some concerns about being able to fulfill the duties of
>the job. They are concerned that I will be unable to complete an
>assessment without vision. They are also concerned that if I use a
>driver in order to go to client's houses, courts etc that there will
>be confidentiality issues. I have informed the liaison that the driver
>would be bound by the same confidentiality rules that I would be. I
>have told them that there are other ways to get information besides
>vision such as vocal tone and questions. The placements that I am
>looking into are such things as dealing with severe mental health
>issues and child abuse cases. One agency will only accept me if I just
>shadow a social worker but this is not how other students have their
>placements. If you have any ideas or suggestions on how you would
>handle such a situation it would be greatly appreciated if you would
>share those thoughts. Thank you for your time.
>
>Yiska
>
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JD Townsend LCSW
Helping the light dependent to see.
Daytona Beach, Earth, Sol System