Unsatisfactory Fieldwork Performance

Supervised fieldwork is an integral component of the professional education of occupational therapy students. Learning in fieldwork education is viewed as a dynamic process in which learning from one placement is built upon in subsequent placements. Students progress through fieldwork placements in sequence and are expected to perform at progressively higher levels of competence and independence. Students will evolve from an entry-level student to an entry-level occupational therapist.

The department sets learning objectives for students to meet at each level of fieldwork education within the fieldwork course outline. The university Fieldwork Course Instructor is contacted immediately in the event of a possible failure of a student in a fieldwork placement and at least by midterm. This ensures that the student, fieldwork preceptor, on-site fieldwork coordinator (if present at the facility) and the university are fully aware of the performance of the student and that specific teaching/learning strategies are developed to help the student to improve their performance.

If there is documented evidence that learning strategies have been implemented and the student’s performance remains unsatisfactory (after a period deemed sufficient by the Fieldwork Course Instructor for evidence of improved performance) and/or the preceptor/fieldwork site report client safety, professional or ethical concerns, or there is significant disruption to team functioning the university may withdraw the student from the placement and the student may be considered to have failed the fieldwork course. Any student whose performance has been identified as unsatisfactory who is withdrawn at the mid-term of the placement or later will be considered to have failed the fieldwork course.

The department at all times retains the ultimate decision for the pass/failure of the student in fieldwork courses. Students must successfully complete each fieldwork course prior to proceeding to subsequent fieldwork courses.

For further consequences related to failure in any course, fieldwork or academic, refer to the departmental MScOT Graduate Student Handbook. 

Procedures for Unsatisfactory Fieldwork Performance 

When unsatisfactory performance by the student is noted by the preceptor prior to and/or at midterm, the following steps should be taken. 

• The preceptor or on-site fieldwork coordinator should contact the fieldwork course instructor and the Director of Clinical Education 

• The preceptor must provide the student with verbal and written documentation of performance and behaviours that indicate unsatisfactory performance and potential failure of the placement 

• The University Fieldwork Course Instructor will meet with the student, the preceptor and the on-site fieldwork coordinator to identify problems. Utilizing the Fieldwork Course outline learning objectives and the CBFE-OT form (with learning objectives included), objectives and specific strategies to meet the objectives are developed 

• The University Fieldwork Instructor will maintain contact as necessary with both the fieldwork preceptor and the student to monitor student performance throughout the remainder of the placement 

• The University Fieldwork Instructor will attend midterm/interim/final evaluations as necessary 

When unsatisfactory performance is noted after midterm, the same procedure is to be followed as in the preceding section. If the failure is identified by the preceptor at a time that is too late to implement remediation strategies, the preceptor must document: 

• the reasons that precluded the preceptor from noting the problems earlier, and/or 

• the emergence of new behaviours/problems that led to failure late in the placement. 

At any stage when a student is observed to be having serious problems in fieldwork practice, the fieldwork course instructor and the Director of Clinical Education must be contacted immediately.