Refine Your SSW Practice Skills with The SSW Time Study Tool 2.0

os-specialed
Sep 2, 2016
3 min read

We are now accepting registrations for our School Social Work Time Study Tool Training and our Community of Practice. These provide a unique opportunity for professional reflection and growth. Please join us.

Developed by School Social Workers for School Social Workers

The SSW Time Study Tool is a simple, straightforward way to collect data about how you spend your time. One week a month, you track your activities in 15 minute increments on an easy to use spreadsheet (takes typically less than five minutes a day). The spreadsheet then creates pre-made graphs and charts of your data.

Why would you need such data?

People who have used the tool have:

Reflected on their data and changed their practice to become more effective with finding solutions for their students.
Conferenced with administrators about their positions. (In two cases, the tool data along with other data led to a decrease in workload.)
Engaged in productive conversations with colleagues about inefficient processes (like paperwork) and problem-solve ways to overcome the barriers.
At the end of a chaotic day, been able to see what they did and have proof if someone should ask.

Some of our findings from our pilot year:

Direct Service Time had a tendency to be about two hours a day on average.
For every one hour of direct service that a SSW provided, there were two hours of other caseload support activities and one hour of non-caseload related activity.
No two monthly service profiles were the same. In some cases, documentation time exceeded direct service.
No two SSW positions were the same. The workload in one building looked very different from another depending on many factors.
When documentation & assessment were higher, direct service was on average lower.

Benefits From On-Line Community of Practice Participation:

Our first year pilot group appreciated the monthly on-line get-togethers. Especially the:

Exchanging of ideas and resources with SSW colleagues in a safe environment with a national researcher.
Understanding that they were not alone dealing with some practical and ethical issues.
Becoming more confident when discussing data.
Greater Exposure to simple and evidenced based practiced on time management, documentation, autism, supporting new teachers & data collection.

Three Options for Getting Started with the Tool:

Just request & use it. Contact Steve Whitmore for the 2.0 version (coming soon) at steve.whitmore@oakland.k12.mi.us .
Participate in a SSW Time Study Training. These half day trainings in August will help you understand how the tool works and why certain choices were made in the design. (Please See Below).
Participate in the SSW Time Study Community of Practice. Meet on-line for ten weeks with national researcher, Michael Kelly & Oakland Schools’ Consultant, Steve Whitmore to reflect on your tool use, explore evidenced based practices and time savers, and learn how to share/discuss your data with colleagues and others. (Please see below).

Please Join Us. Registration Information Below

SSW Time Study Tool Training

11/30/2016 (4:30-7:30 pm), or

12/6/2016 (4:30-7:30 pm)

The SSW Time Study Tool is designed to assist School Social Workers in capturing their work activity to improve practice and have constructive conversations about interventions and systems. Taking a weeklong snapshot of activity (once a month), school social workers will have data to use for reflection and collaborative problem-solving with colleagues. This half day tool training will provide a brief presentation about data and having productive conversations. Most of the time will be spent in learning how to use the tool and log your time. Please bring an outline of one of your typical days to use for practice. You may use your own laptop or one will be provided.

A small stipend will also be paid to Active Oakland County School Social Workers who are are attending sessions that are not part of your in-district contractual obligations.

To register, click on the date desired above in blue.

SSW Time Study Community of Practice- Cohort 2

9/28; 10/12; 11/16; 12/14; 1/18; 2/15; 3/15; 4/19; 5/17; 6/14 (3:30-4:45 pm)

On-line or In-person at OS

Reflecting on data obtained from the SSW Time Study Tool, join us in person or via Adobe Connect for this 10 session supportive, Community of Practice to improve your practice, learn how to analyze & think deeply about your work, and have collaborative conversations with colleagues & administrators. Facilitated by Michael S. Kelly (Loyola University) and Steve Whitmore (Oakland School) using a flexible model of presentation and conversation, topics will include practice issues such as duty assignments, latest research, evidenced based practices, and team coordination of services. Members may volunteer to help co-facilitate some sessions. Prerequisites include SSW Time Study Tool Training or permission from instructors. Preference given to Oakland County School Social Workers.

A small stipend will also be paid to Active Oakland County School Social Workers who are are attending sessions that are not part of your in-district contractual obligations.

Space is limited. Click here to register.