Child Welfare Skills-Based Model

The child welfare skills-based coaching model should be used when the learning goal is the attainment of a specific pre-identified skill. In this situation the coach is typically an expert in the skill being learned. Druckman & Bjork (1991, p. 61) suggest that “[skills coaching] consists of observing students and offering hints, feedback, reminders, new tasks or redirecting a student’s attention to a salient feature — all with the goal of making the student’s performance approximate the expert’s performance as closely as possible.”

Examples of skills-based coaching goals

•  Basic interviewing skills
•  Forensic interviewing
•  Group supervision
•  Family meeting facilitation
•  Testifying in court hearings
•  Case plan development
•  Court report writing

The child welfare skills-based coaching model is a seven-step process based on a series of observations and demonstrations (adapted from Rush & Sheldon, 2007 and Gallacher, 1997; see Table 6.5). The learner is provided with time to observe an expert using the desired skills; then the learner has the opportunity to demonstrate his or her use of the skill. This model is cyclical in nature — a process of learning and engaging to help the learner integrate and implement a discrete skill. The coach using this model is “hands-on” and purposeful. 

There is no time limit imposed on these seven steps; indeed, sometimes these steps may occur almost simultaneously.