Field Practicum Report

Name of the applicant : Firosekhan Andeth Abdulkhadar

University : Sree Sankaracharaya University of Sanskrit, Kalady (India)
Course : MSW (Master of Social Work)
Course year : 2001-2003
University Reg. No. : 6005

Prepared for CASW application

29th of March 2021

Field Practicum – Semester I

(30 Days)

Introduction

During semester one, I was placed in the community individually and in partnership with an NGO
(non-governmental organization) for observation visits and community residential field
practicum. This semester aims to expose to the rural and urban communities in India. In this
process, I used to get an understanding of the community life, culture, practices, tradition,
needs, problems etc. It provides me an opportunity to learn to build rapport with people in the
community and to improve communication skills, analytical skills, observation.

During semester 1, there were two field practicums, which were 15 days each.

Department of Social Work objectives were,

 Familiarize with the geographical and socio-political structure of a community and its
environment
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  Identify problems in the community, its causes and resources available to deal with those
problems
 Apply and integrate social science theories in analyzing society and social problems
 Become familiar with the working of social work agencies in the society
 Acquire skills in organizing and leading a community camp of ten days duration
 Implement a community intervention programme/project based on community learning
 Develop skill in documentation and writing reports
 Make visual and oral presentations based on the community analysis and projects
undertaken

Field Practicum 1 – Semester 1

(15 Days, Full time, Residential)

Agency : World Vision India

Location : Thirunelli Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary ( India)

A 15 days residential camp were organized by my University Social Work Department in the
month of May 2001 with the support an NGO, WORLD VISION INDIA. The field work location
were in Thirunelli Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala (India). That area were concentrated in the
hamlets of Paniya and Kurumba tribal community.

From my University’s Social work department, three officials were present for the whole field
practicum and from the NGO side, there were two members for the entire program. A group of
twenty peers from Social work department were participated and stayed in Government Lower
Primary School, Aranappara. School were free to accommodate us during this field practicum
period, because of annual school break.

We had an opportunity to meet local tribal community. We were privileged to understand and
experience their culture, social needs and communal systems. The tribal community Paniya and
Kurumba were the deprived groups and usually kept away from the mainstreams.

We had organized multiple activities like house visits, general surveys to understand literacy
level and student drop outs among those tribal hamlets. We had arranged community cultural
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meets and many awareness programs related to the importance of literacy, basic health and
hygiene, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, AIDS, NGO’s support on poverty alleviation etc.

We were evaluated by our Social Work Department along with the organizing agency by
overlooking involvements, summary presentations and field work reports.

Field Practicum 2 – Semester 1

(15 Days, Full time)

Agency : Not present

Location : Shantytown Aluva ( India)

During the second week of June in 2001, I was placed to do field work practicum with a peer
student in the Shantytown (slum) located in Aluva (India). In this practicum, we were conducted
a general survey based on our Department requirements. This practicum throws an
understanding of the living condition, health and hygiene, roles of NGO’s in the community and
Government’s support. No department members were accompanied with us, but occasionally
we had department inspections during field practicums.

No NGO’s were participated for this practicum and we were used to make presentations and
reports based on our data collection. All collected data and reports were submitted to the
Department on every 5th days. After the end of practicum, a detailed report was submitted to
the department and a presentations were made with our peers.

Field Practicum – Semester II

(30 days, full time)

Department of Social Work objectives were,

 Equip with formal Social Work agency settings and its functioning
 Practice Social Case Work by abiding its principles and scientific procedures
 Practice Social Group Work by abiding its principles and scientific procedures
 Practice Community organization by abiding its principles and scientific procedures
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  Apply the skill in documentation and reporting of Social Work Interventions

Agency : AISWARYAGRAM (Save a Family Plan)

Location: Kerala (India)

Aiswaryagram was a non-governmental organization (NGO) and focused on uplifting the poor. I
was placed in this NGO for a 30-days (December, 2001) full-time period to learn and understand
the agency functions. Social Work department officials used to visit in mean time to see my
involvement. NGO also directed their Social Worker to guide myself throughout the practicum.

I had been given induction and they had placed myself as a temporary social worker in their Save
A Family Plan program. My roles were to support the Senior Social Workers to organize
community awareness presentations, selection of clients for their available financial schemes
from the pool of application received and to support group work activities for the self-help
groups created by the NGO. This NGO had many self-help projects and I used to visit some with
the NGO officials to see the progresses.

I had to submit weekly reports to the Social Work Department. I had submitted a monthly report
to the agency and Department after the 30-day practicum. A presentation were prepared in the
University Department before my peers and faculty after the practicum.

Field Practicum – Semester III

(30 days, full time)

Department of Social Work objectives were,

 Familiarize with the roles and functions of a Social Worker in concentration specific
agency
 Identify the importance of theoretical learning in field work, according to their
concentrations
 Gain in-depth knowledge relevant to their concentrations
 Design a project proposal based on the requirements of specific concentrations
 Familiarize with methods of Social Work in concentrations
 Apply the skill in documentation and reporting

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Agency : Unity Group IRCA (integrated rehabilitation centre for addicts)
Location: Perumbavoor, (India)

Unity Group IRCA was a combination of professional medical staffs and counsellors since 1991.
Unity Group takes a holistic approach to alcohol rehabilitation and drug rehabilitation including
various therapy sessions, yoga, mental health and nutritional information as part of the process.

I had been there as a De addiction Social Worker Trainee for a period of 30 full days during May
2002. This NGO were handling Drug and Alcohol addicts and with admission facility. I was
working under a Senior De addiction Social Worker and Medical Practitioners. University
Department officials used to visit in between the practicum period.

I had been given roles such as counselling inmates and their family, support the Senior Social
Worker’s daily office work, prepare case sheet for the new patients and present the case details
to the team. I had been trained to acquire and appreciate the NGO’s evaluation procedures,
which was required for Government approvals.

I had to submit weekly reports to the Social Work Department. After 30-days practicum, I had
submitted a monthly report to the agency and Department. A presentation were made in the
University Department before my peers and faculty after the practicum.

Field Practicum – Semester IV

(30 days, full time)

 Demonstrate proficiency in roles and functions of a Social Worker in concentration

specific agency
 Apply theoretical learning in field work, according to their concentrations
 Equip depth knowledge relevant to their concentrations
 Design a project proposal based on the requirements of specific concentrations
 Apply the skill in documentation and reporting

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Agency : Bethsada Mental Healthcare Centre (BMHC)
Location : Vengola (India)
Bethsada Mental Healthcare Centre (BMHC) started in 1992 and hold an admittance capacity of
100 hospital beds. This psychiatric hospital provide mental health treatment and rehabilitation
to the unwanted, the needy, the suffering and the neglected.

I had been placed for 30 days (full time) to work with this hospital as Medical and Psychiatric
Social worker trainee under a senior Psychiatric Social Worker during December 2002. This
hospital were well established for mental health support. University officials used to visit
occasionally to evaluate my involvement and roles.

I had been given privileges to organize and plan group work activities for the inmates along with
the psychiatric team. Also given chances to participate, write and discuss the project proposals
for the organization for their forth coming initiatives. I used to help the Case work Social Worker
to enter case history into digital documentation system.

I had to submit weekly reports to the Social Work Department. After the 30-day practicum, I
had submitted a monthly report to the agency and Department. A presentation were made in
the University Department before my peers and tutors after the practicum.

Block Field Practicum - Semester IV

(30 days, full time and residential)

Block field work practicum were the final stage of training under MSW Course in my University
during January 2003. It was a 30 days full time residential placement as a Junior Social Worker.
This placement were evaluated by the University Social Work Department and the field
practicum agency. There were Viva Vose, Presentation and detailed Report writing for this
placement.

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Agency : Sanjivani Psychosocial Rehabilitation Centre
Location: Nedumkunnam, ( India )

Sanjivani Psychosocial Rehabilitation Centre was found in 1993. Sanjivani is a community based
rehabilitation centre for the mentally ill and has the capacity to admit 180 residents. Sanjivani
provides phychiatric training program for mental health professionals including Social Workers.

My assigned supervisor were Senior Social Worker in that hospital. I was included in the
psychiatric team in the hospital. I had an induction in the first and assigned the following duties.

 Support the psychiatric team in the hospital

 Case study reporting for the incoming patients
 Explain the case history to the Psychiatric Practitioner
 Explain the characteristics of identified psychiatric symptom based on disease
identification to the Psychiatric Practitioner
 Counselling sessions to the admitted patients
 Support by involving various therapies (occupational, recreational psychotherapies)
 Organize Group work activities for the inmates.
 Recording and updating documents.

Block field practice in Sanjivani were made myself strong and confident in the Social Work
profession. I was experienced much from the Psychiatric team and realized the role of team work
in the health care sector.

Conclusion
Apart from the mentioned field practicums, there were numerous skill development trainings,
field trips, Seminars, Workshops, one day NGO visits and symposiums were organized by the
Social Work Department. Which includes a 5 day residential Project Management camping, 10
days NGO visits in Delhi (India’s capital, which is 1700 miles away from University)

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Prepared for CASW Application
29th March, 2021
Firose khan Andeth Abdulkhadar