What Is My Placement Reflection

For this reflective journal I have chosen to reflect on the changes that have occurred throughout my placement, and how this has impacted my learning. I have been very blessed this semester to have a very stimulating and informational placement, however changes that occurred at my placement organization has undeniably impacted my learning. Approximately 6 months into my placement, my supervisor, Hadiya, chose to leave my placement organization, Harmony House, to move onto other job opportunities. Hadiya’s absence has impacted my ability to learn in my placement, however the impact has been largely positive. Due to Hadiya leaving Harmony House, I was able to gain another supervisor, Caitlin, and she acts as the housing advocate at Harmony House. …show more content…
As I have learned throughout my time as a social work student at Carleton University, I have become familiar with the generalist perspective of social work practice. My understanding of the general perspective stipulates, that it is better for a social worker to have a strong understanding of multiple theories and ways of practice, rather than being proficient in solely one theory or practice. This is directly related to the changes that have occurred at my placement, I have luckily been able to learn from two supervisors. Therefore, I was able to develop 2 distinct practices, which were influenced by my first supervisor Hadiya, and my second supervisor Caitlin. Both of the practices that I have learned were developed by watching how both of my supervisors respond to different experiences, as well as their interaction patterns with the residents of Harmony House. I believe that my social work skills have grown due to being able to learn from both Hadiya and Caitlin, as both of my supervisors have taught me how to be a caring, comprehensive and successful social worker. Overall, I was able to develop and utilize many perspectives that I have learned from my supervisors which has led to better social work intervention skills, and has led to a comprehensive practical understanding of the generalist perspective of social work (Inderbitzen, …show more content…
As previously explained, I am now able to discover and learn about different social work practices from both the women’s advocate and the housing advocate at Harmony House. To outline a few skills, I learned, while under the women’s advocate’s supervision, I was able to learn about the application process that occurs in shelters. Furthermore, I was able to sit in on consultations that my supervisor provided to residents, as well as site visits to organizations such as Ontario Works and a visit to a provincial court case. The women’s advocate, Hadiya, also encouraged me to attend social justice events around Ottawa. Under the women’s advocate I was able to develop my understanding of different social service organizations around the city, as well as how to implement social justice into my social work practice, in order to comprehensively assist clients in my present and future social work practice. In addition, under the housing advocate I am currently learning many new skills that in conjunction with the women’s advocate skills, has positively impacted my social work practice. While under the housing advocate, Caitlin’s, supervision I have been able to become aware of how the current state of the public housing system in Ottawa impacts the most vulnerable groups in our society, namely survivors of domestic abuse. Furthermore, I believe that