Social Work students put lessons into practice through collaboration

King’s students from King’s School of Social Work joined over a thousand Health Sciences students to apply their social work skills on a case study involving a real-world scenario in a Northern Ontario Indigenous community, developed to highlight the importance of collaboration.

“(The event) was informative, interactive, and thought-provoking.  The case study was complex. Despite the logistics with COVID, the Zoom format worked well, allowing students across a range of programs and universities to work together in problem-solving in breakout rooms.  It was a great experience, to see various perspectives and ideas come together,” says Christine Loop, a Bachelor of Social Work student at King’s.

Loop was one of 94 King’s students who attended in the Annual Interprofessional Education Day, held virtually on Monday, March 8, 2021. They worked with students from across the Health Sciences field, including medicine, pharmacy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy from Western University, the University of Windsor and the University of Waterloo, taking part in the in the interprofessional case discussion.

The goal of the discussion was to allow students to gain an appreciation of the contributions of various health professionals, including social workers. At the same time, it was an opportunity to learn to collaborate with other members of the health care profession. King’s students, as part of their social work studies, were able to connect with students in similar programs at other universities.

“I found the experience was very beneficial. By reaching students across disciplines while they are in school, the event highlights the importance of collaborative and interdisciplinary teams in the field,” says Larissa Emmons, a Master of Social Work student at King’s.

“Reflection is a skill that King’s has provided me and my peers that will impact our careers in ways that I don’t think we truly appreciate. It is a tool that I will be forever grateful to King’s for as it will enable me to continue to grow and develop as a social work practitioner, which will invariably benefit my clients. We are taught through our education how to take theory and put it into practice,” says Emmons.

King’s students felt that attending the Interprofessional Education Day was an opportunity to put what they learned into practice in collaboration with others.

 “I felt confident in what I know, and emphasized person-in environment, anti-oppressive and person-centered approaches in our examination of the case study.  This is something unique and critical in the real world, and it is why social work is fundamental to interprofessional teams.  King’s has given me a solid foundation in both theory and practical application of social work knowledge and skills,” says Loop, Bachelor of Social Work student.

The Annual Interprofessional Education Day is organized by the Southwestern Academic Health Network (SWAHN). As a member of the event’s planning committee, Dr, Andrew Mantulak, Associate Professor of the King’s School of Social Work, arranged to have King’s students involved. Additionally, professional members of the School of Social’s Field Education and community partners acted as group facilitators, including:

• Dr. Andrew Mantulak – Associate Professor, School of Social Work,
• Tammy Fisher – Manager Social Work and Spiritual Care, London Health Sciences Centre
• MK Arundel – King’s School of Social Work, Coordinator of Field Education
• Lucas Anderson – Manager Supportive Response Programs, Canadian Mental Health Association 
• Lisa Higgins – Director Health Disciplines, London Health Sciences Centre
• Kylene Dube – Kings School of Social Work, MSW Practicum Coordinator