6 The Coaching Toolkit for Child Welfare Practice
Purpose of the Toolkit
The Coaching Toolkit provides solid, practical information on
coaching in the child welfare organization.
Professional development coaching leads to improvements in
practice, quality of work, and the agency’s success in working with
children and families by
improving systemic implementation of a practice;
creating positive changes in behavior; and
embedding professional development.
Coaching nurtures goal-focused, self-directed learners and draws on
their reservoir of previous experience with a view to solving real-life
dilemmas (Ives, 2008).
Key Terms
Formal coaching is a contracted process between learner and
coach with clear goals, scheduled meetings, and an end date.
Informal coaching occurs outside of a formal model — usually
spontaneously — with a staff member, co-worker, or direct
report.