Forensic Social Work 3

FORENSIC SOCIAL WORK 3: TRAUMA-INFORMED FORENSIC INTERVIEWING

About the Presenter

Shawna Paris, ONS, KC, PhDc, MSW, RSW-CS, BCCH brings a distinctive interdisciplinary combination of legal, clinical, assessment, academic, and forensic social work expertise to her teaching, research, consulting, and professional practice. A lawyer with approximately thirty years of experience, she has practised in criminal law, youth justice, family law, child protection, mental health law, human rights, and administrative law. She has appeared before tribunals and at all levels of court in Canada, including the Supreme Court of Canada in R. v. L.T.H. (2008), and before the Senate of Canada’s Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights.

Shawna is also an experienced clinical social worker, mental health clinician, assessor, and Clinical Specialist. Her practice includes mental health and trauma assessment, risk assessment, capacity assessment, treatment planning, and preparing clinical and forensic reports. Her work is grounded in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and anti-oppressive practice, with particular attention to the ways in which mental health, trauma, race, culture, social circumstances, and systemic inequities intersect with legal and justice processes.

For many years, Shawna has designed and taught courses and professional education in law, social work, and forensic practice. Her teaching integrates legal knowledge, clinical expertise, and applied forensic practice, emphasizing the competencies required to work effectively at the intersection of social work and the law.

Shawna has also published in forensic social work, contributing to developing Canadian scholarship and professional discourse in this area. Her doctoral research examines social workers' preparedness for forensic practice in Canada, with particular attention to education, training, competencies, and the knowledge and skills required for effective practice in legal and justice settings. This combination of legal, clinical, assessment, research, and educational experience informs Shawna’s approach to forensic social work and her commitment to advancing the field in Canada through scholarship, professional education, culturally responsive practice, and developing practice standards and competencies.

Course Overview

Join our dynamic and interactive three-week online course designed to equip professionals with essential skills in trauma-informed forensic interviewing. This course takes a broad approach to the term "forensic interviewing." It blends foundational knowledge with practical application, ensuring the learner can effectively and compassionately conduct interviews within the scope of many justice-related professional roles. This course is designed for people with different levels of social work skills and experience, as well as social services professionals and generalists involved in the justice system. It is also suitable for individuals who conduct interviews across all age groups to gather information about interactions with the justice system.

I can't say enough about Shawna. She gave feedback and answered all questions. She created a sense of community online." 

What is Trauma-Informed Forensic Interviewing?

Trauma-informed forensic interviewing is a method of conducting structured interviews that considers the interviewee's trauma history and its potential impact on their behaviour, memory, and communication specific to legal matters. The trauma-informed approach creates a safe and supportive environment, ensuring the interview process does not re-traumatize the individual. By recognising and responding to trauma symptoms, professionals can gather accurate and comprehensive information while maintaining the dignity and well-being of the interviewee. This method is particularly crucial when working with Indigenous people, racialized people, newcomers to the country, and other vulnerable populations, such as children, survivors of abuse, or those who have experienced significant psychological distress.

Gain the knowledge and confidence to conduct interviews that respect and support those affected by trauma.

This course is absolutely ideal. The instructor's expertise, delivery, and support throughout makes learning a rewarding experience."

Goals & Objectives

The primary aim is to equip professionals with the skill and knowledge to conduct trauma-informed forensic interviews effectively. Learners will gain a deep understanding of trauma and its impact, learn how to implement trauma-informed care principles, recognize signs of trauma, master interview techniques, handle challenging scenarios with empathy, apply advanced skills, promote self-care and resilience, work across the life span, consider ethical issues, and integrate cultural competency into their practice. These goals and objectives are carefully designed to ensure that professionals can conduct interviews with integrity, sensitivity, and professionalism, ultimately positively impacting the justice system.

A trauma-informed cultural competency component is incorporated into each module so participants will develop a deeper understanding of how culture intersects with trauma and forensic interviewing, particularly concerning Indigenous peoples and those of other cultures, ethnicities and ancestry. This holistic approach to training will foster greater sensitivity, respect, and effectiveness in conducting trauma-informed interviews across diverse cultural contexts. 

I found the entire course incredibly beneficial. The video presentations were particularly captivating, and I thoroughly enjoyed delving into new terminology."

Course Structure

Module 1: Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care

• Explore trauma-informed care principles with a focus on cultural sensitivity, recognizing the diverse cultural backgrounds of interviewees, including Indigenous people, those from racialized communities, and age, ability and gender groups.
• Discuss how trauma manifests within different contexts, considering the unique experiences and challenges faced by individuals from racialized communities.
• Engage in cultural competency exercises to develop skills in recognizing and respecting cultural differences during interviews, especially when working with individuals from racialized backgrounds.
• Understand trauma and its impact on behaviour and cognition.
• Learn the principles of trauma-informed practices, approaches and care.
• Recognize signs and symptoms of trauma through interactive exercises and case studies.

Module 2: Techniques for Trauma-Informed Interviewing

• Learn techniques for creating culturally safe interview environments that honour the values and traditions of interviewees, particularly those from Indigenous, racialized, ability and gender-based communities.
• Explore appropriate communication strategies and language use during interviews, focusing on effectively engaging with individuals from marginalized backgrounds. 
• Practice trauma-informed interviewing techniques through case scenarios that specifically address interviewing individuals from Indigenous, racialized and gender-identified communities, considering their cultural needs and perspectives.
• Master techniques for creating a safe interview environment.
• Develop cultural competency for trauma-informed practice in forensic interviewing.
• Develop practical communication skills and handle challenging scenarios using case studies.

Module 3: Application, Ethics and Skills

• Examine ethical considerations specific to interviewing individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, including those from racialized communities, and develop strategies to ensure culturally competent and ethical practices.
• Integrate trauma-informed principles into advanced questioning techniques and strategies for managing sensitive disclosures, recognising the importance of cultural understanding in fostering trust and rapport.
• Explore community engagement and collaboration approaches, emphasizing the importance of partnering with organizations serving racialized communities to ensure culturally responsive forensic interviewing practices. 
• Focus on self-care and resilience as a professional dealing with trauma.
• Explore follow-up and treatment services for individuals.
• Conduct a self-recorded 10- to 15-minute trauma-informed interview simulation.
• Develop a personal action plan for continuous improvement.

Key Features

This course offers a range of key features designed to enhance your learning experience and ensure your mastery of trauma-informed forensic interviewing techniques. You will engage with high-quality video lectures, participate in case studies, and take several quizzes to test your knowledge. You will refine your skills through thought-provoking critical thinking exercises and engage with peers in discussion forums to exchange experiences and broaden perspectives. You will also have an option to leverage your learning with regular communications with the instructor for extra guidance.

This course also emphasizes ethical considerations integral to trauma-informed forensic interviewing. Learners will gain insight into ethical guidelines and principles governing professional conduct within the justice system. You will explore ethical dilemmas commonly encountered during interviews and learn strategies to navigate them with integrity and professionalism. Through the case studies and online discussions, learners will develop a nuanced understanding of moral responsibilities in interviewing vulnerable populations. By incorporating ethical considerations into your practice, you'll ensure that your interviews uphold the highest standards of fairness, confidentiality, and respect for individuals.

I gained valuable insights into the critical importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for individuals, especially those who have experienced trauma."

Format

This course includes three weekly modules. Each module requires approximately 4 hours of online work.

Speed of learning and ease with technology will affect the time it takes to complete the course exercises. Basic technical and computer skills are required to watch online videos, post questions and comments, and navigate the website.

Participants are required to complete a minimum of 80% of the course content to receive a completion letter. Participants who complete the course will also receive a Certificate of Completion from the National Institute of Forensic Social Work. 

There are no scheduled lecture times. The course site is available 24/7.

12 continuing education credit hours.