Reflection On Shadowing Skills

Summary This week I went out onto the field with my task manager. Even though I feel comfortable talking with clients by myself, I still like to get more experience shadowing other caseworkers. Earlier in the week I observed caseworker Teresa Freebourn, and her many different client cases. When shadowing her, I understood Teresa Freebourn’s methods when engaging with clients. I notice she has awesome interviewing skills when engaging with children and youth. Terri’s rhetoric changes depending on the age of the young client. I was exposed to a different set of interviewing skills this week as well. A caseworker by the name of Erica Dixon asked me if I wanted to go out onto the field with her. I of course wanted more field training, and told caseworker Dixon I would go with her on a case. When she explained to me the severity of her case, I understood why Erica may needed more assistance from someone at our agency. I observed a different set of interviewing skills when I went out with Erica than what I was used to with my task manager Terri.
Theme of the Week
Every day I am practicing competency, when I started working for OCY back in July up until now. I must complete 975 hours of field training to be hired as a child welfare caseworker. When I walk into the agency, I make sure my goal is to learn at least something new about the agency I did not already know. My competency and readiness was challenged last week when my colleges and I, spoke with underclassmen about our internship experience in Erie County Office of Children and Youth. When talking with several students about my agency, I explained OCY in detail. I built my competency to a degree, where I clearly stated what OCY’s mission and vision for children and