230 The Coaching Toolkit for Child Welfare Practice
individuals are concerned about conflict of interests, objectivity,
or confidentiality; and
fresh ideas or options are desired.
Internal coaches are preferable when:
knowing the company culture, history, and politics is critical;
easy availability is desired; and
the expense of an external coach is prohibitive (internal coaches
may be less expensive).
Supervisor as Coach
For the purpose of comparison in coaching, supervision will be
defined as “oversight of a person or group of individuals engaged in
an activity or task and the responsibility of ensuring that the task(s)
are carried out accurately and appropriately.” This includes
performance appraisals, quality control and evaluations, and
coaching for improved performance. In child welfare, the role of the
supervisor expands to include a multitude of tasks to be completed
at demanding standards in a fast-paced work climate.