Coaching Toolkit for Child Welfare

30 The Coaching Toolkit for Child Welfare Practice

The chart below shows the learning trajectories of both John and
Elizabeth, new child welfare social workers in Pretend County, USA.

Elizabeth – receives no
coaching

John – receives formal coaching

Registers for a two-day
training without reviewing
any pre-training materials.

Receives book on Forensic Interviewing prior to

training with a request that he simply browse it

prior to the training.

Attends two-day workshop
on Forensic Interviewing.

Attends two-day workshop on Forensic

Interviewing.

Two weeks post-training—meets with
supervisor who reviews Forensic Interviewing
information.

Three weeks post-training—practices Forensic
Interviewing in a mock interview with
supervisor.

Four weeks post-training—supervisor goes with
him on a forensic interview in the field and
offers follow-up suggestions and feedback after
the interview.

Clearly, John will have a much higher likelihood of becoming
proficient in forensic interviewing. As noted, there is little empirical
reason to believe that a one-shot training will be sufficient to achieve
lasting changes in practice behaviors, especially those that are
durable.