THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COLLATERAL INVESTIGATION

FOR SOCIAL WORK PROFESSIONALS:

This webinar explores the critical role of collateral investigation in social work, particularly within statutory and forensic evaluations involving child abuse and custody dispute matters. Collateral information refers to data obtained from sources other than the primary individuals involved—parents, guardians, or children. This includes interviews with witnesses, review of physical evidence, and examination of relevant documentation or correspondence.

The webinar highlights how this information serves two primary purposes: exploration and validation. By broadening the investigative lens beyond the immediate parties, social workers and forensic professionals can ensure a more comprehensive understanding of the case. The webinar will focus on methods for gathering, analyzing, and ethically using collateral information, emphasizing its importance in building objective and reliable assessments or investigations.

This information is invaluable for professionals aiming to enhance their investigative processes and deliver accurate, unbiased evaluations in complex social work cases.

The webinar will focus on:

• Gaining a clear understanding of what constitutes a forensic investigation, including its scope and key components.

• The relevance of Collateral Investigations: Understand the importance of collateral investigations in forensic contexts and how to effectively conduct and integrate them into the investigation process.

• Recognizing the Role of the Social worker/ Investigator.

• Mastering Collateral Interview Techniques: Learn how to plan, conduct, and document collateral interviews, ensuring reliability and objectivity in data collection.

• Addressing Ethical Considerations.

• Integrating Collateral Information: Understand how to analyze and incorporate information gathered from collateral investigations into the final stages of the investigative process.

• Differentiating between Exploration and Validation: Explore how collateral information can be used both for gaining new insights and for validating claims during an investigation.

• Enhancing skills in integrating findings from collateral investigations to build comprehensive, accurate, and unbiased assessments.

The participants will be provided with a theoretical overview as well as study materials in the form of presentation slides, additional relevant literature and articles. Furthermore, the participants will be provided with the opportunity to practice practical skills through group discussions and practical role play exercises.

Presenter: Dr Lizette Labuschagne, Social Worker in Forensic Practice

Academic qualifications:

• BA Psychology (UJ) - 2005

• HONS Social Work (UJ) - 2005

• MASTERS Clinical Social Work (UJ) - 2009

• MASTERS in Social Work Forensic Practice (Cum laude) (NWU) – 2013

• PhD Social work (NWU) - 2023

Previous work experience:

• Medical social work internship at Flora Clinic (2005)

• Junior social worker at Park Care Centre (July 2005 – November 2008)

• Part time trauma counsellor at Flora Clinic (2005 – 2010)

• School social worker at Lantern Remedial school (2010 - 2013)

• Social worker/counsellor at Rustenburg oncology (July 2009 – September 2014)

Current practice:

- 14 years in private practice, experience in and services include:

- Forensic evaluations & investigations Re: Child physical / sexual abuse

- Forensic evaluations & investigations Re: Primary residency & Divorce Matters

- Forensic report writing

- Expert testimony

- External expert reviews

- Socio-emotional evaluations of children

- Supervision of visitations

- Individual, family and marital counselling

- Therapeutic reunification

- Training and consultation.