What motivates social workers to become field instructors: Perspectives from Canada

Abstract

The field education component of social work education is critical to the overall development of social work students’ readiness for practice. Field instructors assume great responsibility for the emotional, theoretical, administrative, and clinical development of students who enter field education at either the undergraduate or graduate levels of their social work education. This role is generally subsumed on a voluntary basis concurrent with their occupational responsibilities. The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that motivate social workers to take on the field instructor role. Canadian Field Instructors completed an online survey which included a qualitative question to elicit their perspectives on their motivation for becoming a field instructor. Responses (N=58) were grouped into four themes: mentor social work students, give back to the profession, memories of field instruction, and personal and organizational accountability. Implications for field education and social work education are offered.