Journal-Reflections on Upcoming Field Placement Web Page.2.edited
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Journal-Reflections on Upcoming Field Placement Web Page
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Journal-Reflections on Upcoming Field Placement Web Page
The case study "I Knew This Internship Thing Would Blow Up!" highlights the
complexities and challenges that can arise in social work internships. The case study tracks
Jennifer Meadows' journey as she grapples with the predicaments arising from her collaboration
with a difficult trainee, Scott Campbell. Through this study, it can grasp the significance of
proficient communication, resolute differentiation of limits, and ethical judgment in social work.
Reviewing the Case Study
Learning from the case study, “I Knew This Internship Thing Would Blow Up!” one of
the main takeaways is the importance of communication and boundaries in the workplace
(Harley & Wolfer, n.d.). The case revolves around a conflict between an intern, Scott, and a case
manager, Rene, who is working with refugee populations in an organization called the
Immigration and Refugee Ministries Association (IRMA). The intern, Scott, was denigrated for
taking advantage of his colleague, Rene, for his gain and appropriating her expertise without
proper acknowledgment.
As a result, the work environment became tense and unpleasant, eventually leading to
Rene's resignation and the supervisor, Jennifer, grappling with the predicament. This analysis of
the case provides several salient insights for consideration. Another key learning from the case
study is the importance of ethical decision-making in social work practice (Walsh, n.d.). The
decision to take on Scott as an intern without conducting a proper background check resulted in
negative consequences for Jennifer and the agency. This particular circumstance prompts
profound inquiries regarding the moral obligation of social service providers towards their
recipients and their duty to uphold ethical protocols and principles. As a result, it caused
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perplexity and exasperation for the overseer, who was struggling to navigate through a shift in
leadership and failed to tackle the issue adequately.
It is vital for trainees to fully grasp and uphold the guidelines and frameworks of their
institutions to avert comparable predicaments. Effective communication plays a significant role
in managing conflicts and issues in the workplace. Clear and direct communication between all
parties involved, including the intern, supervisor, and coworkers, could have prevented this
situation from escalating. Instead of directly tackling the issue and engaging in dialogue with his
compatriot, Scott clandestinely conversed with the supervisor and accosted Rene without her
cognizance, impairing discord and mistrust. Hence, social work interns must communicate
openly and with full disclosure to their associates and superiors and broach any disputes or
predicaments with civility and professionalism.
The case also highlights the importance of self-awareness and understanding one's
limitations as a social worker. Jennifer's desire to avoid bothering her supervisor with issues
related to the MSW internship shows her competency and a sense of responsibility (Doskocil &
Voshel, 2014). In this case, due to Scott's lack of supervision, he encountered disorientation and a
need for more guidance, resulting in him feeling inundated and unassisted in his duties.
Oversight offers guidance and assistance, guaranteeing ethical and proficient conduct.
Inadequate supervision poses a hazard to the trainee, colleagues, and service recipients, thus
necessitating social work interns to convey their needs for suitable oversight and solicit guidance
from their superiors when necessary.
Balancing Responsibility and Independence
In order to guarantee efficient oversight and match accountability with autonomy, social
work trainees must grasp their obligations and duties within the practical setting. Trainees must
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communicate their anticipations and limits with their overseers effectively to be open to
acknowledging and following instructions and directions. In Scott's case, his lack of
correspondence with his supervisor and refusal to heed guidance led to a rupture in their working
rapport, exacerbating predicaments in the placement. Interns must balance being accountable and
self-sufficient and solicit assistance from their overseers when necessary. Another way to balance
responsibility and independence is to have clear and achievable goals and objectives for the
placement. Possessing a comprehensive comprehension of the intent and standards of the
placement can empower interns to assume obligations and duties with poise and self-sufficiency.
It is imperative for interns to effectively communicate their aspirations and expectations with
their superiors to ensure congruence and foster a sense of obligation and authorship within the
placement.
Shifting from seeing supervision as a form of control to viewing it as a form of support
and guidance can also help balance responsibility and independence. Often, interns may resist
supervision, seeing it as challenging their autonomy and competence. However, charges may
oppose supervision, perceiving it as an impediment to self-governance and proficiency.
Efficacious supervision presents lucrative opportunities for learning and cultivates principles of
righteousness and adeptness. It befits charges to grasp the purpose and significance of
supervision in their intellectual and personal growth and to elicit assistance from their
supervisors in synchronizing responsibility and independence with efficiency.
Exemplifying Christian Values in Field Placement
A key component of social work practice is the integration of virtues, ethics, and
Christian behaviors in work with clients and colleagues. In field placement, interns may come
across clients from diverse backgrounds with different beliefs and values, making understanding
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and respecting their perspectives while integrating Christian values essential. In this case, Scott
established a lack of respect for the cultural values and beliefs of his colleague, Rene, who used
her for his gain, which goes against the Christian value of treating others with deference and
kindness. As trainee social workers, we must anticipate our intrinsic values and convictions
introspectively and diligently endeavor to embody these principles while reverencing and
appreciating the divergent outlooks of those around us. Another way to exemplify Christian
behaviors in field placement is to promote social justice and empower clients to achieve their full
potential. Social work interns can use their knowledge and skills to advocate for marginalized
and oppressed individuals and communities while empowering them to become active
participants in their own lives. This can be achieved through attentively attending to clients'
grievances, comprehending their qualities and necessities, and cohesively collaborating with
them to identify aspirations and techniques for transformation.
The case study "I Knew This Internship Thing Would Blow Up!" highlights the
importance of adhering to policies and procedures, effective communication, proper supervision,
and balancing responsibility and independence in social work internships. As aspiring social
work practitioners, it is imperative to critically assess this case and extrapolate pivotal insights to
guarantee a fruitful and profound field immersion. The manifestation of Christian principles in
practical encounters must be upheld by advocating for cultural modesty societal equity, and
facilitating self-realization to maintain the ethical and moral codes of the vocation.
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References
Doskocil, D., & Voshel, B. (2014,). Social Work Field Education Guide | MSWGuide.org.
MSWGuide.org
https://www.mswguide.org/schools/the-ultimate-field-
educationguide/#Preparing_for_Placements_Finding_Your_True_Calling_and_Surviving
_as_a_Student_in_the_Field
Harley G., & Wolfer. T.A., (n.d.).I Knew This Internship Thing Would Blow Up!
Walsh, J. (n.d.). A Theories for Direct Social Work Practice.
http://ndl.ethernet.edu.et/bitstream/123456789/4906/1/46.pdf.pdf
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