Off-Site Field Instructor, Graduate School of Social Work

This is a general posting that will serve to create a pool of applicants for adjunct faculty openings throughout the 2024-2025 academic year. Should we have an opening and be interested in pursuing your application, we will contact you with specific information.

Position Summary

The Off-Site Field Instructor (OSFI) is the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Worker’s representative to the field placement agency, and whose primary purpose is to provide field instruction for assigned graduate social work student interns to facilitate their field learning.  An OSFI is assigned to a student/agency when the agency does not have the capacity to provide the CSWE required social work supervision for an internship.  The OSFI is required to meet with students for regularly scheduled supervision meetings, typically across 3 or 4 quarters.  The OSFI’s role is to provide oversight of student progress towards demonstration of competencies and to assist student with the integration of practice realities with theoretical concepts from a social work perspective. 

The OSFI does not have oversight over agency work, agency policies, or treatment of agency clients.  These functions are overseen by the agency Task Supervisor, who provides day to day direct oversight over the student.   

OSFI’s are paid per student per quarter.  Each OSFI is expected to devote 8 hours of time per student per quarter.  This roughly equals 5 hours of supervision biweekly, and 3 hours of support to include, but not limited to site visits, evaluation completion, consultation with agency/GSSW Field Liaison, required trainings/meetings, and extra support and paperwork as needed. 

Essential Functions

Responsibilities to the Student

• Orient the student to field supervision
• Provide regular individual and group supervision as assigned for the duration of the internship, with focus of infusing social work knowledge and values into the internship experience.
• Work with student to process field learning, and develop increased skill and capacity to demonstrate required social work competencies.
• Provide supervision to the student as they navigate the complexities of boundaries, ethics, use of self, professionalism, vicarious trauma, power/privilege, and integrating into an agency as a student learner.
• Assist the student in understanding the roles of the GSSW Field Liaison, Task Supervisor, and OSFI and encourage clear and transparent communication to avoid triangulation.
• Be available by phone of email for questions between meetings if needed.
• Consult with and direct the student in completing the written Individualized Field Education Plan (IFEP) and specify for the student expectations and methods of monitoring progress.
• Review the student’s responsibilities for their learning and self-evaluation.
• Monitor the student’s progress toward the achievement of objectives, and to provide direct and specific feedback prior to the quarterly evaluation.
• Collaborate with the agency Task Supervisor to ensure good coordination of expectations and oversight on all of the above.
• Coordinate completion of the quarterly evaluation with the Task Supervisors
• Review the quarterly evaluation with the student in coordination with the Task Supervisor. 
• Attend the quarterly site visit with the student, GSSW Field Liaison, and agency Task Supervisor.

Responsibilities to the Graduate School of Social Work

• Regularly check voicemail and email and respond accordingly.
• Implement field education policies and procedures.
• Communicate as needed with the OSFI Supervisor regarding any questions, concerns, or emerging issues.
• Notify the GSSW Field Liaison of any significant changes in the agency, field experience, or individual student performance.
• Submit required documents to Office of Field Education in specified time frames.
• Submit annual recommendations to the Office of Field Education regarding the suitability of the agency and the continued participation in the field education program.
• Submit a written report and attend Intermediary Discussion/Student Review/Termination Hearings if needed.
• Provide general feedback to the Field Liaison regarding the operation of the field internship, agency/field supervisor needs, student needs, and any agency policy or services changes that may effect the internship.
• Attend OSFI orientation and ongoing quarterly meetings.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of complex organizations
• Knowledge of clinical supervision best practices and techniques.
• Exceptional assessment and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently
• Excellent interpersonal and group facilitation skills.
• Familiarity using technology to conduct virtual supervision, site visits, and student meetings.

Required Qualifications

• MSW degree from a CSWE accredited program
• 2 years of post- MSW practice experience
• 1 year of supervisory experience (may include field supervision or field liaison experience)
• Qualified applicants must have United States work eligibility and reside and work within the United States

Preferred Qualifications

• 5 years of post- MSW practice experience
• Agency experience in a variety of practice settings, including direct and macro practice.
• Experience as an agency field supervisor for social work graduate students.

Work Schedule

While the University's administrative offices are open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, faculty schedules vary from term to term and are based on courses taught, service commitments, and research agendas. The University's academic calendars are posted on the registrar's website (the law school is on a semester system and has a different academic calendar).

Application Deadline

Applications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the 2024-2025 Academic year. This position will remain open until filled.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Course Rate

• $253 per student, per quarter for 1-5 years of employment
• $263 per student, per quarter for 6+ years of employment

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits

The University of Denver offers some benefits for non-benefited employees. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter
3. Diversity Statement

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university's complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non‑discrimination‑statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.