5 Ways to Find a Social Work Practicum Placement

Are you a social worker searching for a social work practicum placement, but unsure where to look?

Securing a social work practicum is a requirement in your educational journey, but it can be challenging finding the right (or sometimes any) practicum placement.

This article explores 5 ways to find a social work practicum placement so that you can complete this milestone in your social work career.

1. Obtain a Social Work Practicum Placement Offered by Your Educational Institution

The first step to find a practicum placement is to determine if your particular educational institution has social work practicum placements available for students. Some educational institutions network with social work agencies in their jurisdiction to have opportunities readily available for their students. If this is an option at your educational institution, familiarize yourself with the opportunities available, and if possible, choose a social work practicum placement from your institutions pre-approved list.

However, before diving into the list, gain a clearer understanding of your educational institutions requirements for practicum placements. Your institution may work diligently to find placements that fulfill all program requirements. However, differing practicum placements may have a different idea on what your role within their agency might be. As a result, understanding the practicum placement’s vision for your placement can help you determine if it’s the best fit.

Similarly, it’s important to consider your career goals as a social worker. Although, practicum placements may be readily available to you by your educational institution, those opportunities may not necessarily align with your career goals for the future. When such opportunities do not align, you may decide to take an alternate route for finding a practicum placement.

2. Reach Out to Your Professional Network

Unfortunately, some educational institutions do not provide practicum placement opportunities to students, and the expectation is that students find one their own. In this case, reaching out to your existing professional network can be an effective way to secure a practicum placement. In fact, this is how I found one of my social work practicum placements! Your professional network may include of classmates, professors, mentors, current and previous employers or volunteer agencies to name a few.

Reaching out to your existing network can be a fantastic way to learn about different agencies who may be searching for a social work practicum students. It also opens the door for word-of-mouth referrals from your network to other professionals they know, who may not have even considered taking on a social work practicum student, but willing to make an exception for you.

If you’re currently employed or volunteer at a social work-related agency, talk to your supervisor or colleagues about your interest in pursuing a social work practicum placement as they may have connections or be aware of opportunities that aren’t widely advertised. Building relationships within your workplace can also lead to practicum opportunities, and increase your chances of finding a practicum placement.

3. Search on Therapist or Social Work-Specific Social Media Groups

Social media has become an excellent tool for students and social workers alike to connect online. For instance, Facebook groups that are dedicated to social workers and therapists often feature practicum postings and are a great place to make a post demonstrating your interest in a practicum placement.

When making a practicum placement request on social media, clearly express the type of practicum placement that you’re looking for, your learning goals, and including the geographical area you’re searching for a placement, so that gain relevant comments in the thread of your post.

When you join social media groups and actively engage with the community you can make lifelong connections with future colleagues in the field. For instance, the Boosting Business Therapists Private Practice community is a great place to start as it has social workers and therapists across Canada and the United States.

4. Reach Out to Agencies in Your Area

Next, you can reach out to social work-related agencies in your area that peaks your interest. Many social work agencies do not actively advertise practicum placement openings but may take on a student if propositioned.

When reaching out to these agencies, craft a professional email or phone script that introduces yourself. In your email or script, explain your academic background and express your interest in a practicum placement with the agency. Also, ensure to highlight any relevant skills or experiences you bring to the placement that would be an asset to the agency.

If you don’t initially receive a response, don’t hesitate to follow up after a week or two as this demonstrates your genuine interest in a placement at the agency. Keep in mind that agencies may have varying levels of staffing and capacity, so patience is essential during this process. However, if you don’t hear back after following-up, it may be best to move on to the next agency. Finally, be understanding if an agency is not currently accepting practicum students—this is quite common and doesn’t mean you should stop your search.

5. Find an External Social Work Practicum Placement Supervisor

Finally, one often overlooked option available for students is the possibility of securing an external supervisor for their practicum, especially if they already work or volunteer in an agency that may not have a social work supervisor. Many educational institutions allow students to work in their current place of employment or through volunteer initiatives, provided they have an external social work supervisor overseeing their practicum hours.

External supervisors are registered social workers (RSWs) who operate independently from your agency. They may work in different agency or even in their own private practice. External supervisors provide oversight in your practicum placement, ensuring that you meet the necessary educational and ethical standards while you continue to work or volunteer at your currently agency.

While some external supervisors may offer their services at no cost, typically there is a fee per supervision hour. Before pursuing this option, be sure to discuss the possibility with your employer, as you may require permission to discuss internal client cases with an external supervision. In addition, you’ll want to ensure this is an option available to you by your educational institution. If you’re searching for an external supervisor, a great place to search for one is on the Canadian Clinical Supervision Therapist Directory. The Canadian Clinical Supervision Therapist Directory is a directory designed for therapists, including social workers, to find their next clinical supervisor – or in the case, external supervisor.

Conclusion

Finding the right social work practicum placement is an important step in your social work journey. When you take advantage of available placements offered by your educational institution, reaching out to your existing professional network, utilizing social media, proactively contacting local agencies, or finding an external practicum supervisor you can enhance your chances of securing a social work practicum placement and completing your social work degree.