Staff Associate, Practicum Education Specialist

Staff Associate, Practicum Education Specialist

Bridgewater State University is an inclusive community dedicated to the lifelong success of all students, focused on the continuous improvement of its people, and responsible for leading innovation that benefits Southeastern Massachusetts, the commonwealth, and the world. Bridgewater's accessible environment of teaching and learning stimulates critical thinking, pursuit of new knowledge, and deeper understanding, the cultivation of meaningful and diverse interpersonal relationships, and fostering an appreciation for global engagement, all aimed at transforming lives and improving the human condition.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is reflected in our institutional values, which ensure that all students are supported and succeed. Bridgewater State University's School of Social Work offers the largest bachelor's in social work program in Massachusetts along with a popular master's in social work program—both of which are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. With a curriculum grounded in service learning, BSU's social work programs offer intensive fieldwork and mentoring by our accomplished faculty.

BSUSSW seeks a practicum education specialist to join the School of Social Work and a practicum education staff team committed to equity-minded practice, strengthening a justice-informed social work community, and helping to advance the school's strategic plan. Position responsibilities include placing students in practicum sites with specific responsibilities for MSW students in BSUSSW's hybrid Saturday MSW program pathway. Annually, the department places approximately 280 undergraduate and graduate social work students.

The practicum education specialist will be an important addition to a dedicated team of practicum education staff with responsibility for working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and practicum supervisors. Specific responsibilities will include working with a diverse group of undergraduate and graduate students in quality internships, helping to expand our network of agency partners. Potential opportunity to teach a section of the SIPI (Seminar in Practicum Education) seminar.

Comfort with technology is important. The Staff Associate, Practicum Education Specialist shall work under the direct supervision of the Director of Practicum Education. Monday – Friday, 8:30 am– 5:00pm (Ability to work some Saturdays and evenings, as needed. This position is eligible for hybrid / remote work in accordance with BSU remote work policy.)

Essential duties include: recruiting, developing, and approving diverse practicum sites; providing practicum education support; collaborating and consulting with the Director of Practicum Education, Associate Director of Practicum Education, the School of Social Work Chair, the MSW & BSW Program Coordinators, Curriculum Committee, and social work faculty; assuming duties as assigned, including evening and weekend responsibilities to support expanding programs and the quality of educational settings;

working with the associate dean, the faculty, and the Justice, Belonging, Accessibility, and Equity Committee to ensure equity and inclusion in practicum policies and practices; providing ongoing monitoring and troubleshooting of internships; consulting with faculty, supervisors, practicum education liaisons and students on practicum placement concerns and performance issues; promoting and maintaining strong working relationships with the partnering agency staff and the professional social work community;

working with and mentoring students helping them to clarify their professional goals and learning objectives; implementing regular programs of orientation and training to practicum education instructors and supervisors for purpose of enhancing the quality of student supervision and learning experiences; supporting the review of strategies and policies to ensure equitable practicum work practices and integration of classroom content relevant for diverse populations into curricula;

developing comfort with the practicum education program's data management system, reporting…