Critical analysis of a social work practicum experience at the Regina Immigrant Women Centre

Abstract

This practicum report is a description and critical analysis of my practicum experience the Regina Immigrant Women Centre (RIWC) during my placement with the organization. The RIWC offers support and settlement services to women who are recent immigrants to Regina. I was able to examine the work of the Centre staff in accordance with the social work theories: strength-based approach, solution focused theory and feminist theory. My report includes a reflection on the integration of social work ethics, values, and ideology. It also includes the discussion about the way in which the RIWC staff members assess and work with their clients while fulfilling the Centre’s goals of empowering and educating women. Since this is a small organization that deals with women from diverse cultural backgrounds, it provides a unique opportunity to analyze the way that cultural competency is helpful in achieving the organizational goals. I also reflect on my own training and interest in the field of domestic violence abuse counseling. The report ends with some recommendations: having a full time social worker to provide domestic violence counseling, facilitating a process to allow staff members at the RIWC to access ongoing professional development opportunities including culturally competent practice, and exploring relocation to a larger physical space to better accommodate the volume of clients. Other recommendations include engaging in research to understand the attrition rate for participants in the job search training program and to improve volunteer recruitment and commitment.