90 The Coaching Toolkit for Child Welfare Practice
coaches should provide empathy for the learner and acknowledge
his or her feelings. Depending on the situation, coaches may be able
to help the learner move up the scale. For example, if the learner is at
a 0 in confidence in performing the new skill but is at an 8 in desire
to take a risk and try the presentation, then you can work with the
learner to increase confidence. Much of this depends on the learner’s
state of mind. If the learner is at 0 and is clearly feeling desperation
in the situation, it will be up to the coach to refer the learner to other
resources or to take a step back in the coaching process to work
through challenges and barriers.
Example
The following scaling questions were developed when coaching
social workers through the implementation of safety organized
practice (Table 4.7).
Table 4.7. Sample Scaling Questions for coaching safety-organized practice
Purpose Question Follow-up
To assess the
social worker’s
view about
current safety or
worry meter
about risk
(likelihood of
future harm)
If this case were closed
today, how would you
rank the current safety?0 = the child would very
likely get hurt again.
10 = the child would be
very safe with the parents,
and it’s highly unlikely
the child would be hurt
again.What specific caregiver
actions have you observed
that allowed you to rate
safety as high as you did?What would it take to move
your rating up by one?How would the parents rate
this?