Under the Mental Health Act for England and Wales, any one of us could be thrust into the role, carrying the weight of its legal responsibilities, pressures of supporting our family member, and navigating the ever-complex mental health system.

A recent research project funded by UK Research and Innovation conducted with AMHPs and Nearest Relatives has co-created a package of tools and guidance to address these very challenges. The resources have been borne out in-depth research revealing the trauma, distress and isolation that many Nearest Relatives experience.

Host Jonny Adamson is joined by Mental Health Advocate and Nearest Relative, Debbie Best, Dr Jeremy Dixon from Cardiff University and Professor Judy Laing from Bristol University Law School to discuss the findings and support being made available. They also explore how else the mental health system could be strengthened and whether the reforms being brought in through the new Mental Health Act will be enough.

This episode touches on some difficult themes related to mental ill health, so listener discretion is advised. Details of mental health support are available below for anyone affected by anything raised in the discussion. We’ve also included links to the research, resources and an upcoming event on this topic being hosted by BASW England.

Our thanks to James Ede at Be Heard Productions for producing the episode.

-         Nearest Relatives Resources: https://nearestrelativeresources.bristol.ac.uk/

-         Beyond the call of duty: A Qualitative study into the experiences of family members acting as a Nearest Relative in Mental Health Act assessments: https://academic.oup.com/bjsw/article/52/7/3783/6517149

-         BASW England Mental Health Group Webinar: https://basw.co.uk/events/nearest-relatives-resources-empowering-relatives-mental-health-system-basw-england-mental

-         Samaritans: 116 123 (Free, 24/7) or jo@samaritans.org 

-         Hub of Hope: https://hubofhope.co.uk/

-         Mind: 0300 102 1234 (9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday)

-         Calm: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight every day)

-         Text SHOUT to 85258 for confidential, 24/7 crisis support

-         National Suicide Prevention Helpline: 0800 587 0800 (6pm to midnight every day)

-         Papyrus (for under-35s) 0800 068 4141, email pat@papyrus-uk.org or text 07786 209 697

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With the current political mood so unpredictable, the make-up of Holyrood in Edinburgh and the Senedd in Cardiff could be very different after May. And given that social work in Scotland and Wales is the full responsibility of these legislatures, any change is likely to have a sizeable impact on decisions taken about the profession, the workforce, and the people that social workers support.

So, what does social work need to be telling the parties and individuals vying for power? The Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW) and BASW Cymru have both set out their manifestos which they want to see the next devolved governments take forward. This episode will consider what these asks are and which political levers they intend to pull to get them accepted.

Host Jonny Adamson is joined by three guests who have all played a major role in developing these manifestos and the campaigning strategies around them. Caroline McDonald, Social Work Team Leader in Children’s Services at Glasgow City Council and Co-Chair of SASW, Andrew Pennington, Senior Social Work Practitioner at Powys County Council and Chair of BASW Cymru, and George Hannah, Senior Public Affairs Officer for SASW.

They discuss how politics differs in Scotland and Wales to other parts of the UK, social work’s role in promoting the vote, and how the profession can use its voice more loudly to affect change in communities across the UK. They also hazard a guess as to who the political winners and losers could be come polling day.

Our thanks to James Ede at Be Heard Productions for producing the episode.

• BASW Cymru manifesto for 2026: Cymru Decides: https://basw.co.uk/policy-and-practice/resources/basw-cymru-manifesto-2026-cymru-decides
• A secure future for Scottish social work: https://basw.co.uk/policy-and-practice/resources/secure-future-scottish-social-work
• Scottish Parliament Election Hub 2026: https://basw.co.uk/about-basw/social-work-around-uk/sasw-basw-scotland/scottish-parliament-election-hub-2026

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Host Jonny Adamson is joined by BASW Interim Chief Executive, Professor Sam Baron, BASW England Acting Chair, Shantel Thomas, and Professional Officer at the Scottish Association of Social Work, Susan Dobson for a frank discussion on the challenges currently facing social work, their vision for the profession, and BASW’s role within it all given that the professional association is currently holding its own ‘Big Conversation’.

They cover a number of topical issues affecting social workers and wider society – including working conditions, social work’s identity, political activism, adult social care, and the growing hostility caused by the far right.

As well as focusing on the here and now, the guests also make their predictions for the year ahead as they reflect on the question - should we be feeling worried or hopeful?

Overall, this unique episode tees us up perfectly for many of the topics we’re likely to consider in greater depth on the podcast in 2026, while also hopefully sparking important conversations and debate across the social work profession today.

Thanks to James Ede at BeHeard Production for producing the episode: https://www.beheard.org.uk/

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Despite landmark legislation being introduced across the UK to protect children against domestic abuse, a recent report by the Children’s Commissioner for England and Wales - “Victims in their own right: Babies, children and young people’s experiences of domestic abuse” – has been highly critical of whether it is resulting in changes to practice.

This episode of Let’s Talk Social Work, produced to mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based-Violence campaign, explores why the system is still failing too many babies and infants across the UK. We’re joined by Lauren Seager-Smith, CEO of The For Baby’s Sake Trust, Becky Reynolds, a qualified social worker and Deputy Director of Operations at The For Baby’s Sake Trust, and Paddi Vint, a Quality and Development Manager at the NSPCC.

We discuss the causes and implications of domestic abuse on babies and infants, how social workers can safeguard victims, raise the alarm and prevent instances of domestic abuse from occurring, and whether the profession is as well-equipped as it should be to respond.

This episode covers a lot of very upsetting and distressing themes, so listener discretion is advised. If you want to access support, the following helplines are available:

·      National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247 (run by Refuge): https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/

·      Rights of Women advice lines, there are a range of services available: https://www.rightsofwomen.org.uk/

·      The Men’s Advice Line, for male domestic abuse survivors – 0808 801 0327 (run by Respect): https://mensadviceline.org.uk/

·      The Mix, free information and support for under 25s in the UK – 0808 808 4994: https://www.themix.org.uk/get-support

·      National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0800 999 5428 (run by Galop) : https://www.galop.org.uk/

Samaritans (24/7 service) – 116 123: https://www.samaritans.org

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When you factor in a lack of time, unmanageable workloads, difficulties obtaining funding, not to mention the practicalities of studying while at the same time navigating a complex career, you’d be forgiven for thinking that there’s too many barriers to choosing this path. So, what can be done about it?

In this episode, Jonny Adamson is joined by three social workers who all have experience of being in higher education while continuing to practice full-time. Dr Lucy Treby, Karen Hillison and Dr Mike Starr each share insights into their own journeys, as well as advice and ‘top tips’ for social workers considering taking a similar route. They also discuss what needs to change, both in social work and higher education systems, to break down the barriers that currently exist for professionals and they examine the benefits to the profession of enabling more social workers to scale up their qualifications.

Lucy and Karen are also Trustees for the Social Workers Educational Trust (SWET) which is mentioned throughout the episode. The charity supports social workers to develop their knowledge and skills through higher education. More information about SWET can be found here.

Our thanks to James Ede at BeHeard for producing the episode.

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A recent study published in the British Journal of Social Work entitled ‘We’re not professionals when it comes to dogs:’ Social work encounters with dogs and their implications for education and practice sets out to address this omission. The research examines the risks and complexities that social workers might be faced with when encountering dogs, making a compelling case for greater attention on this subject area.

In this episode, Jonny Adamson is joined by the author of the research, Professor Denise Turner, social worker Sarah Long, who participated in the study and experienced aggressive dog behaviour while on a visit, and Certified Animal Behaviourist, Andrew Hale who specialises in complex animal behaviour cases.

They discuss how professionals can assess and minimise risk to themselves and others when encountering dogs, improvements and adjustments that employers could make to working practices, training and support needs for the profession, and the cultural, religious and health considerations which are being overlooked.

Our thanks to James Ede at BeHeard for producing the episode.

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In this episode, Andy is joined by Jonny to discuss the past four and a half years making Let’s Talk Social Work. They explore standout episodes, key learning points, topics that Andy didn’t get to cover, and what big issues might feature on the podcast over the coming years.

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Andy McClenaghan is joined by Professor Cecilia Bailliet, United Nations Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity, and friend of the podcast Janet Walker, Professor Emeritus of International Social Work at the University of Lincoln and Chair of the British Association of Social Workers International Committee. 

During their conversation they explore what international solidarity means and it’s place in the context of human rights. The discussion examines threats to international solidarity and opportunities for its promotion, and looks at the role of social work in advancing international solidarity as key component of efforts to uphold human rights and work towards social justice.

In the episode Celia refers to the International Solidarity Map for Peace and Human Rights. This article from the UN Chronicle explains more about why the map was created. 

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Emily is Policy Manager with the Alzheimer’s Society and Abi is a social worker who works as a Team Manager at North Yorkshire Council and is also a member of BASW England’s Adults Social Work Thematic Group. Angie is Operational Social Work Lead at Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust and Chair of the BASW England Social Workers in Health Group. 

During the conversation reference is made to the Alzheimer’s Society report Because we’re human too  and the blog Someone to Safeguard by social worker, Rob Mitchell.

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On 16 October 2024, the Labour MP Kim Leadbeater presented the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to Parliament. On 29 November MPs debated the legislation and the outcome was 330 MPs voted in favour of the Bill and 275 MPs opposed it, allowing the legislation to proceed to the next parliamentary stage.

The conversation doesn’t explore arguments for and against allowing terminally ill people to end their own lives. What it does is examine the implications for social work practice that would arise if the legislation, in its current form were to become law.  

The discussion also examines the state of palliative care services in the UK as this is an issue closely linked to the debate around assisted dying.

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Social workers who work with individuals affected by brain injury need to have a clear understanding of the condition in order to provide effective support. This includes recognising the medical, psychological, social, and legal implications of brain injury, as well as the ways in which it can impact daily life.

Joining Andy to discuss social work and brain injury are Dr Caroline Bald, Kate Mellor and Steph Grant.

Caroline is Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Essex and is Research Fellow on the Heads Together project. Heads Together is National Institute for Health and Care Research funded collaboration across universities in the UK, exploring brain injury social work education. 

Along with Caroline, Kate is also a social worker. Kate splits her time between practicing as an Independent Social Worker and Case Manager and working as a Hospital Liaison Facilitator with Headway Sussex, an organisation which offers reablement and support opportunities for people with an acquired brain injury, and their family carers. An expert by experience, Kate has an acquired brain injury. 

Steph is also an expert by experience and lives with an acquired brain injury. He is a member of the Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust lived experience research partnership and is Chair of the Head Injury and Homelessness Research Group.

For further information on brain injury and social work please register with biswg.co.uk for news on the launch of the first UK brain injury e-learning platform including teaching resources, lived experience stories and resources for working with families.

The Brainkind report, Too Many To Count, mentioned in the discussion is available here.

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It's also important to recognise that social workers and social work students arriving in the UK from overseas may face barriers and may benefit from support to adjust to some things which people who are born in the UK take for granted. 

With all this in mind, this episode explores the concept of cultural capability in social work, examining what the concept means and the extent to which cultural capability is attainable. 

Joining Andy to discuss cultural capability are social workers Michael Nwoye, Chloe Hubert and Uche Odunze.

Michael and Chloe work for the organisation, Children and Families Across Borders—CFAB for short. Michael is an Inter-Country Social Worker and Chloe works in CFAB’s Post Placement Support Project. Uche is a newly qualified social worker who during her time studying at the University of Chichester, co-wrote a guide for other international students on adjusting to life in the UK.

Children and Families Across Borders have developed a Cultural Family Life Library, a suite of guides for social workers introducing them to the history and culture of families from Romanian, Jamaican and Nigerian heritage. The Library can be accessed here and further guides will be published in the months to come.

CFAB is also offering online training on Culturally Inclusive Practice: Essential Skills for Social Workers on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Click here to find out more about the half day event.

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The discussion focuses on how AI is already helping, how it may help further, and what issues must be considered in terms of the ethics and risks associated with the use of Artificial Intelligence.

Joining Andy are social workers Tommy Henderson-Reay, Digital Engagement Programme Manager at NHS England’s Digitising Social Care Programme, Julia Ross, Chair of BASW UK and author of the novel, The Laughing Robot, and Dr Paul Best, Director of the Centre for Technological Innovation in Mental Health and Education at Queen’s University Belfast.

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Hilary is Professor Emeritus of Social Work at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work, the Indigenous Commissioner for the International Federation of Social Workers, and the Board Chair of the United States Council on Social Work Education. She is has written on a variety of issues impacting Indigenous Peoples, including social policy, health and well-being, intergenerational trauma, education and environmental justice. Hilary is Lakota and has lived much of her adult life in Haudenosaunee territory in Western New York. 

Janet is Professor Emeritus of International Social Work at the University of Lincoln and Chair of the British Association of Social Workers International Committee. 

During the conversation several documents are referred to. They are:

The International Federation of Social Work statement on International Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024

The Council on Social Work Education Statement of Accountability and Reconciliation for Harms Done to Indigenous and Tribal Peoples

The Council on Social Work Education Teaching Guide: Repairing Harms Done to Indigenous and Tribal Peoples

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Andy is joined by Vice Chair of BASW England and Co-Chair of its Adult Thematic Group, Jackie Mahoney, BASW UK Council member and Expert by Experience, Mark Lynes, and BASW England’s Policy & Campaigns Officer, Josh Dixon.

The episode begins with reflections on the changed political landscape and touches on BASW’s campaign to remove the Universal Credit two-child limit. The conversation then switches to focus on priority issues in adult social care in England and the importance of coproduction and meaningful involvement of experts by experience in the design of adult social care services. Mark’s contribution to the discussion on coproduction was itself coproduced and he wishes to thank his colleague, Omar Mohammed for his support.

The conversation concludes with a discussion about the need for investment in increasing the amount of good-quality social housing in the UK and BASW’s call for on-going investment in specialist and supported housing.

The BASW 2024 general election manifesto referenced in the discussion is available here.

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Andy is joined by founders of Operation Encompass, David Carney-Haworth OBE and Elisabeth Carney-Haworth OBE, and social worker James Draper. James is Designated Officer for Child Protection at the Northern Ireland Education Authority. Together they explore the benefits of the project along with the merits and challenges of multi-agency working.

Operation Encompass launched in February 2011 and it is conservatively estimated that over 1.5million children have been supported as a result.

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The Social Workers Union, in partnership with Buckinghamshire New University has recently published a best practice guide on reflective supervision which you can access here. 

John McGowan, General Secretary of the Social Workers Union, Professor Jermaine Ravalier from Buckinghamshire New University, and Social Worker Chrissie Beatty who works for BCP Council join Andy McClenaghan for an in-depth discussion about reflective supervision.

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Free Loaves on Fridays is a collection of stories and essays, poems, reflections and open letters, detailing the lives of care experienced people. It is a special work—bursting with humanity. As diverse as the experiences of its contributors, the anthology viscerally details pain and trauma, while celebrating the life changing impacts of love and acceptance in foster and adoptive families, and the transformative potential of child-centred, relationship-based, trauma-informed social work.

Both Bekah and Alice have experience of living in care and contributed chapters to the book. Bekah also edited the anthology.

It is available now, published by Unbound. You can buy a copy here. 

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Andy is joined by Robert Lucio, Associate Professor and Online Program Director at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Social Work, Chair of the NASW School Social Work Section Committee and a Board Member of the School Social Work Association of America, Orlaith McGibbon, Independent social worker and Chair of the British Association of Social Workers Northern Ireland, and school social worker Charlene Hill based at St Ronan's College in Lurgan.

During discussion about approaches to assessing the impact of school social work, reference is made to the Social Workers in Schools (SWIS) Trial conducted in England between September 2020 and July 2022. The project report and evaluation can be accessed here.

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Comprising two sections, first Andy is joined by friend of the podcast, social worker and anti-poverty campaigner, Dominic Watters, and Director of Policy, Research and Impact at the Trussell Trust, Helen Barnard. They discuss the scale of foodbank use across the UK and consider the specific challenges facing unpaid carers and care experienced people. 

In the second section, Andy speaks with BASW UK Chair, Julia Ross about why she has placed campaigning to challenge the impacts of poverty and the factors which cause poverty at the heart of her priorities as she leads the Association.

During the discussion Dominic refers to the Food Foundation report, Food insecurity among single parent families. You can access it here

BASW’s General Election Manifesto outlines the Association’s anti-poverty, housing and mental health asks mentioned by Julia.

You can access the Trussell’s Trust’s various briefing papers here (the papers are at the bottom of the page).

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Joining Andy are Kerri Prince, BASW’s Public and Political Affairs Lead, and Martin Sexton, outgoing Chair of BASW’s Policy Ethics and Human Rights Committee.

The conversation centres around the five manifesto asks BASW is prioritising. They are:

• Scrap the two-child limit and benefit cap
• Repeal the 2023 Illegal Migration Act
• Increase the non-taxable mileage rate allowance to 60p a mile
• The need for a new mental health Act
• The reform of social work student bursaries

There are forty asks in total in the manifesto. You can read them all here.

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They discuss the variety of roles Independent social workers undertake, how to maintain a healthy work life balance when you are your own boss, the challenges of marketing yourself, how to ensure sufficient peer support, and keeping up to date with developments in practice and regulatory requirements.

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As well as looking at what coaching is, the discussion examines what it isn’t, exploring how it differs from counselling or psychotherapy. The episode also explores who can benefit from coaching and how to get involved.

Joining Andy are professional coaches Tinu Ashaye, Keith Dyer and Kate Cuthbertson. Tinu, Keith and Kate are all social workers who between them have a wealth of practice experience. Kate also oversees BASW’s Social Work Professional Support Service, which is discussed in detail during the episode.

For more information on BASW’s Social Work Professional Support Service, please visit the BASW website.

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These are the words of Professor Sir Michael Marmot in the report Health Equity in England: The Marmot Review 10 Years on.

In this special episode of Let’s Talk Social Work, made to celebrate World Social Work Day 2024, Andy McClenaghan and guests, Sir Michael Marmot and Dr Ruth Allen, explore how poverty, inequality and social disadvantage impact health outcomes, life expectancy and quality of life. 

Sir Michael is a world-renowned expert on public health, Director of the Institute for Health Equity and author of The Health Gap: the challenge of an unequal world, and Status Syndrome: how your place on the social gradient directly affects your health.  

Ruth is the Chief Executive of the British Association of Social Workers. Ruth has had a long career in the field of mental health social work and prior to joining BASW was Director of Social Work at South West London & St Georges' Mental Health NHS Trust.

Although poverty is an issue that has been discussed a number of times on the podcast, as so many of the problems which social workers support people to address are rooted in or exacerbated by poverty, we haven’t previously looked at the social determinants of health and the extent to which inequality affects health outcomes. There are no guests better placed to discuss the social determinants of health and their relevance to social work policy and practice.

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Episode 75 of Let’s Talk Social Work explores adult safeguarding—the policies, procedures, and practices aimed at protecting adults who may be at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. 

This is work guided by principles of dignity, respect, and empowerment and social workers play a crucial role in identifying, assessing, and responding to concerns about the safety and well-being of adults who may be experiencing harm, or who are at risk of harm.  

For the conversation, Andy McClenaghan is joined by Dr Jeremy Dixon, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Social & Policy Sciences at the University of Bath. 

They discuss the findings of Jeremy’s research which examined understandings of—and approaches to—adult safeguarding, as detailed in his recent book, Adult Safeguarding Observed. The book is available now, published by Policy Press.

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Since 2018 the Welsh Government has been led by Mark Drakeford. A former social worker and social policy academic, Mr Drakeford held the posts of Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Minister for Health and Social Services before becoming First Minister. In December he announced he will stand down as leader of the Welsh Labour party and First Minister in March 2024.

Andy is joined by social workers Abyd Quin Aziz, Reader in Social Work at Cardiff University and BASW Cymru committee member, and Plaid Cymru member of Gwyned Council, Councillor Delyth Lloyd Griffiths. They explore how Mark Drakeford’s time in office has influenced the Welsh Government’s approach to social work, and the extent to which wider Government policy has been informed by social work values.

Image attribution—User: (WT-shared) Cardiff at  wts wikivoyage, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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In this episode, Andy is joined by social worker Anna Glinski, Deputy Director for Knowledge & Practice Development at the Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse. They discuss the challenging issue of sibling sexual behaviour and explore how social workers should respond to instances of inappropriate, problematic and abusive sexual behaviour between siblings.

Among the issues discussed, they consider the prevalence of sibling sexual abuse and the extent to which the issue is understood within the profession. They examine what causes children to become engaged in inappropriate, harmful or abusive sexual behaviour with their siblings, and how social workers can take a whole-family approach to supporting the children involved.

In 2023 the Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse published guidance on responding to sibling sexual behaviour. The document can be accessed at https://www.csacentre.org.uk/app/uploads/2023/09/Sibling-sexual-behaviour-English.pdf

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The discussion examines the effects addiction has on families and overviews the first-hand impacts that social work involvement can have when a parent is struggling with addiction. The episode also addresses why a service user-led approach is critical to increasing understanding and delivering real improvements in outcomes for children and families.

Andy is joined by Sarahlee, a parent and expert by experience who was instrumental in creating the Meet me Where I’m at project, and Western Health and Social Care Trust social workers, Claire White and Serla Meenan.

At the start of the episode Andy mentions the Have Your Say workforce survey for social workers and social care workers in Wales. You can find out more about the survey and take part here.

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Despite the UK being a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities—Article 29 of which ensures the right for disabled people to vote—barriers remain which can prevent people from exercising this right.

Joining Andy to discuss how Promote the Vote is helping people with a learning disability overcome these barriers are Hafsa Akhtar an expert by experience, Elaine James, Head of Service for Learning Disabilities and Preparation for Adulthood at Bradford Metropolitan District Council and Amani Ali, National Management Trainee also based at Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

BASW’s UK-wide social work survey

Each year, BASW surveys social workers and social work students to identify the profession’s priorities for the year ahead. 

This year’s survey is exploring views on current working conditions, on issues of environmental, professional and social sustainability, and social workers’ views on supporting people to participate in voting in the next General Election.

The survey is open until Monday 8 January 2024 and results will be anonymised prior to analysis.

It takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and is available here.

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Joining host Andy McClenaghan are Dr Paul Willis, who at the time of recording worked for the University of Bristol and is now Professor of Adult Social Care at Cardiff University, Nargis Kapasi, a member of the project’s Expert Advisory Group, former social worker and someone who has lived experience as a carer, and Gerry Nosowska, Director at Effective Practice, Co-host of the Helpful Social Work podcast and former Chair of BASW UK.

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The book charts Patrick’s upbringing in 1950s Dublin, his years as a social work student at Trinity College, his beginnings in youth and community work and a career in probation. It comes full circle to overview Patrick’s position as a social work educator in his alma mater and on to his work advising a Hedge Fund—a role the young 1970s utopian may have had questions about. 

You can purchase a copy of I who had it figured out here.

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What does the role entail? 

How can universities avoid tokenism and ensure meaningful engagement? 

What are the benefits for social work students, people who use services and the experts by experience themselves?

To address these questions and many more, host, Andy McClenaghan is joined by Rebecca Regler who earlier this year wrote in the British Journal of Social Work about her journey from being a social worker, to a service user, to an expert by experience, and Cherie Carlton, Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead from the MA social work practice, Think Ahead, at Middlesex University.

You can read Rebecca’s article, My Journey from being a Social Worker, to a service user, to an expert by experience here.

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Jennifer is Senior Lecturer in Social Work and Course Leader for MA Advanced Social Work at Nottingham Trent University and Sam previously worked as a frontline social worker with children and families, and as a social work manager before embarking on her doctoral studies. Both are closely involved with the work of the Social Workers’ Educational Trust.

First the conversation considers how social workers can withstand and recover from the pressures and stresses they face. Then the discussion moves on to examine whether a focus on resilience gives an easy out for organisations which overburden and stretch their social workers beyond what is manageable and ask if resilience as an individual quality is really what we should be focused on.

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We look at how the social work approach to supporting people who self-neglect has changed over the years, the duties placed on Local Authorities in relation to self-neglect by the Care Act and how these requirements must be balanced with each individual’s human rights.

Joining Andy McClenaghan to explore the topic are Lizzie Furber, Principal Social Worker with responsibility for Social Justice, Diversity & Strategy at DCC Interactive Ltd and Independent Social Worker, Lisa Barrett. Lisa runs the consultancy Clutter Free Living and is a Trainer with, and former Board member of, the Association of Professional Declutterers & Organisers.

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Immigration policy is in the news almost daily at present and ensuring that the needs of children seeking asylum in the UK are met underscores the vital importance of the age assessment process. 

Andy McClenaghan is joined by Jo Schofield, Director of Immigration Social Work Services and BASW’s Public and Political Affairs Lead, Kerri Prince to discuss the role social workers play in age assessments and the implications of the recently passed Illegal Migration Act.

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Andy is joined by experts by experience Ash and Molly and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service Social Worker, Sarah Ombler, who along with her colleague, Shauneen O’Connor, oversaw the incredibly exciting initiative, IMPACT CAMHS. They discuss the benefits which have come from the project, a service-user involvement group which supported a group of young people who use CAMHS services, to write and record music as part of a collective called Counterpart.

The conversation examines the importance of meaningful coproduction by empowering service users to shape the projects and services they engage with. They discuss the benefits experienced by the young people in terms of increased confidence, improved social skills, reduced loneliness, and the realisation of creative potential. The episode also explores what social workers can learn from the creative, group-based approach to therapeutic service delivery.

You can listen to the EP, Colour Theory, by Counterpart on Spotify and videos for the songs Hope and Break the Silence are available on Youtube:

The project evaluation conducted by Queen’s University Belfast mentioned in the episode is available here.

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Priya and Duc are Co-Chairs of the BASW Diaspora Special Interest Group and offer insights into the challenges diaspora social workers can face when working in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the steps employers can take to address the problems identified.

In June 2023, the BASW Diaspora Special Interest Group published a framework providing guidance on best practice in the recruitment and induction processes for social workers who have qualified outside the UK. The International Recruitment and Induction Standards for International Social Workers coming to the UK can be accessed here.

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Host, Andy McClenaghan is joined by Professor Jones, Josephine Dowell, a student social worker and care experienced young person who has been closely involved in the Review process via the organisation Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC), and Carolyn Ewart, National Director of the British Association of Social Workers Northern Ireland. They discuss the challenges facing users of children and family services and the social workers who provide them. They also examine Professor Jones’s recommendations for reforming how services are organised, governed and delivered across the region.

The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care Services report can be accessed here.

During the discussion, Carolyn makes reference to the document Voices of Social Work Through the Troubles, it can be accessed here.

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The theme of the discussion is exploring the role of podcasts as a learning resource. What do social workers gain from engaging in podcasts, what would they like done better, who is yet to be reached and what have the participants learned from making, studying and taking part in podcasts.

Joining Andy McClenaghan to discuss all this and more are Patriche Bentick—Senior Practitioner in Camden Council and friend of and regular contributor to Let’s Talk Social Work, Joe Hanley—lecturer with the Open University and Dr Sylvia Smith—host of the wonderful Social Workers Matter podcast.

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The country remains gripped by the cost-of-living crisis, and while we are all being affected, for some, rising prices represent an inconvenience. But, for those who prior to the crisis were experiencing poverty, and for many millions of households which were already struggling to make ends meet, the impacts have been devastating. 

Andy McClenaghan is joined by social worker and founder of Food is Care, Dominic Watters, Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick, Lecturer in Law at Ulster University and anti-poverty campaigner, and Jonny Adamson, Communications and External Relations Officer at the British Association of Social Workers. They explore the impacts of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and the BASW UK campaign, Social Work Stands Against Poverty.

You can listen to this, and all other episodes of Let’s Talk Social Work, at Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/3g7YcE0 Spotify https://spoti.fi/2QjefE6 and everywhere else you get your podcasts, just search ‘Let’s Talk Social Work’.

To book Dominic's ground-breaking Food Insecurity Training email - singledadsw@gmail.com

For information on BASW’s Social Work Stands Against Poverty campaign, click here.

To read the Christian’s Against Poverty client report Taking on UK poverty, click here.

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Joining host Andy McClenaghan to answer these questions are Julia Ross, Chair of the British Association of Social Workers, Anoosh Chakelian, Britain Editor of the New Statesman, host of the New Statesman Podcast and co-host of the Westminster Reimagined podcast and Shahid Naqvi, Editor of Professional Social Work Magazine. Andy is later joined by John McGowan, General Secretary of the Social Workers Union to discuss the work the union has undertaken with media regulators regarding coverage of social work related issues.

To register to attend the live recording of Let’s Talk Social Work in Birmingham on the evening of Monday 12 June, please visit https://www.basw.co.uk/events/talking-heads-social-work-and-podcasts

To find out more about Julia’s book, Call the Social, mentioned in the discussion, click here.

To read the IMPRESS media reporting guidelines for cases involving social workers, click here and for further information on the work of the Social Workers Union in this area, click here.

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Andy McClenaghan is joined by kinship carer, Natalie Boyes, Sam Turner, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the charity Kinship, and Dr Paul Shuttleworth, Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Education and Social Work at Sussex University. 

Their conversation explores what kinship care is, the challenges kinship carers face, what social workers need to know about it, and what needs to change to ensure children in kinship care, and their carers receive the support they need.

During the conversation Sam references the document Practising in kinship care: The perspectives of specialist social workers. 

Paul’s podcast, Do Do Social Work, co-hosted with Sarah Flagg, can be accessed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and everywhere else you get your podcasts.

Some of Paul’s research can be accessed below: 

Shuttleworth, P.D. (2023) 'What matters for child participation - The role of valuation-based dialogical participation for children living in kinship care in England' Child and Youth Service Review (149) Available at :https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106959

Shuttleworth, P.D. (2022) ‘Recognition of Family Life by Children Living in Kinship Care Arrangements in England’, The British Journal of Social Work, p. bcac114. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcac114 

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They discuss the importance of promoting Black excellence in social work and wider society, the importance of building rapport with young people, and speaking up for social work. The conversation also explores why there are so few men in social work, and what the education sector can learn from social work and vice versa.

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Andy McClenaghan is joined by Sonya Chowdhury, Chief Executive of Action for M.E. and Tony Crouch, Social work advisor to the 25% ME Group and The Young ME Sufferers Trust. They consider the impacts M.E. has on the lives of those affected and what social workers need to know to support and advocate for service users with the illness.

Several resources are referred to during the episode, they can be accessed via the following links:

Action for M.E.: M.E./CFS in children and young people 

Action for M.E.: Newly diagnosed with M.E./CFS

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and management

BASW: Fabricated and Induced Illness Practice Guide

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Social work is practiced under situations of armed conflict and in deeply divided post conflict societies in many regions and countries across the world. Taking the examples of Bosnia Herzegovina and Northern Ireland, Andy McClenaghan and guests examine how social workers have adapted to deliver services amidst situations of political violence, and discuss the role of social work in post-conflict societies.

With Andy to discuss these issues, are Dr Reima Ana Maglajlic, Reader in Social Work at the University of Sussex, Jim Campbell, Emeritus Full Professor of Social Work at University College Dublin and Janet Walker, Professor of International Social Work at the University of Lincoln and Chair of the British Association of Social Workers International Committee.

As ever, the views expressed are those of the participants and not necessarily the views of BASW.

To buy a copy of International Perspectives on Social Work and Political Conflict, please visit https://www.routledge.com/International-Perspectives-on-Social-Work-and-Political-Conflict/Duffy-Campbell-Tosone/p/book/9781032087283

Milkman, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Ulysses, and the works of William Faulkner, are available from all good libraries and bookshops.

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Andy is joined by Abyd Quinn Aziz, Social Work Programme Director at Cardiff University, Jade Forbes, Senior Social Worker and Approved Mental Health Professional based in South East Wales, and Gaynor Legall, former social worker, Chairperson of the community organisation the Heritage & Cultural Exchange and member of the governance group of the Welsh Government’s Anti-racist Wales Action Plan. 

The conversation starts with the big picture—exploring the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan and whether political leaders have gone far enough in their efforts to achieve an anti-racist society.

The group then moves on to discuss experiences of racism in the context of practice, how incidents were addressed by employers, and what needs to change to ensure anti-racist practice is embedded in social work in Wales.

If you’d like to find out more about the BASW Cymru Anti-racism group, please email BASW Cymru Professional Officer Narinder Sidhu – narinder.sidhu@basw.co.uk

To read the Welsh Government’s Anti-racist Wales Action Plan click here

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In this episode we we look at what the Strategy means for children and young people in care, those who care for them and for social workers working in children’s services.

To discuss the strategy, host, Andy McClenaghan is joined by social workers Bekah Pierre and Joe Hanley—Bekah is a care experienced adult and BASW England Professional Officer, and Joe is a lecturer with the Open University and a member of the BASW Policy, Ethics and Human Rights Committee—and Sam Turner, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the charity Kinship.

To read the Government’s strategy, click here.

To visit BASW’s review of children’s social care web hub, which includes BASW’s response to the publication of the strategy click here.

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The episode begins by exploring a ground-breaking initiative run by Camden Council, to ensure all foster carers are able to meet the haircare and skincare needs of Black children and young people in their care. The discussion later widens out to look at other issues concerning cultural awareness. 

Host, Andy McClenaghan is joined by friends of the podcast James Kargbo 

Equalities Lead at Camden Council, and Patriche Bentick, member of the BASW Black & Ethnic Minority Professionals Symposium and Senior Social Work Practitioner, also at Camden Council and foster carer, Sarah Livingstone.

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For more information on the BASW Neurodivergent Social Workers Special Interest Group follow them on Twitter @ND_SWgroup.

To access Florence’s blog, please click here.

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They examine what life is currently like in Ukraine and how social workers within the country, and internationally, have responded to the Russian invasion. They explore the role of social workers in the creation of a Social Investment Partnership launched in the Kamenets Podisk district of Ukraine and discuss the importance of this initiative in providing people with access to food and essential products in a manner which respects their dignity and prevents a reliance on aid.

For more information of the work of IFSW in Ukraine, visit https://www.ifsw.org/social-work-in-ukraine/

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To celebrate Human Rights Day, Andy McClenaghan and guests explore the protections afforded to us all via the Human Rights Act, and the plans of the Westminster Government to alter these protections through the introduction of a UK Bill of Rights. The conversation explores implications of the planned legislation for rights in a range of contexts, including the provision of social work services. 

Andy is joined by Jun Pang, Policy and Campaigns Officer at Liberty, and social workers, Martin Sexton, Chair of the BASW Policy Ethics and Human Rights Committee and Annie Smith, formerly of the British Institute for Human Rights and now Community Led Support Delivery Lead at the National Development Team for Inclusion. 

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During the discussion, Margaret poignantly reflects on the tragic death of her son James, who aged 18, was one of the 97 people who were unlawfully killed in the FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on 15 April 1989. She recounts her own experiences of receiving social work support following the disaster and offers her views on how social workers can best support families affected by grief and trauma. 

Angie and Maris, who along with Rebekah Pierre edited Out of the Shadows, provide insights into the role of social workers in disaster scenarios and comment on the learning for the profession which is outlined in the book.

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The conversation considers the nature of criminal justice social work, the groups that criminal justice social workers support, and whether, all social workers are in fact criminal justice social workers.

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The conversation explores the impacts of the acute housing crisis gripping Ireland, during which the publication, the View digital, is mentioned. You can read the relevant issue here.

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In this episode, Andy McClenaghan is joined by guests Resh Patel, an expert by experience of adult social care, Jackie Mahoney, co-chair of the BASW England Adult Thematic Group and Katy Jackson, Co-Chair of BASW England Committee, to discuss the Government’s plans for reform of Adult Social Care in England. They explore how planned changes will be funded, how users of social care services will be affected, and what the likely impacts will be for social workers.

To participate in the BASW England survey mentioned in the episode, please click here.

The House of Commons Library research report, Proposed reforms to adult social care, can be accessed here.

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Their conversation examines the pros and cons of integration of mental health social work services into the NHS, and considers why, some local authorities are moving away from the integrated model, taking back operational responsibility for their social workers. The discussion explores impacts at an organisational level, individual practice level and in terms of the quality of the service provided.

The Government White Paper mentioned during the discussion is Health and social care integration: joining up care for people, places and populations

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The conversation examines students’ experiences of learning during lockdown, whether the pandemic has had any lasting impacts on universities and, as we return to what we hoped would be normality, the challenges students are now facing as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.

Denise's book, which is referenced in the episode, Digital Connection in Health and Social Work, is available to buy here.

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The conversation explores the environment needed for recovery to thrive, the model at the core of the North Wales Recovery Communities approach and the role of outdoor challenges as a key aspect of group recovery activities.

To find out more about North Wales Recovery Communities, visit https://northwalesrc.org

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They discuss the alienating impacts of poverty, Dominic’s route into social work, and the importance of ensuring social workers are trained to recognise the many negative impacts of poverty on life opportunities for children and families. The conversation also examines the extent to which politicians are aware of the effects of poverty and the need for the social work profession to challenge the factors which lead to hardship.

Dominic’s book, Social Distance in Social Work: COVID Capsule One, can be purchased at https://amzn.eu/d/2RR7lEN

Institute of Fiscal Studies figures on the relative poverty rate for children of lone parents is available at https://ifs.org.uk/publications/16115

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s report Not heating, eating or meeting bills: managing a cost of living crisis on a low income is available at https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/not-heating-eating-or-meeting-bills-managing-cost-living-crisis-low-income

The Food Foundation statistics on food insecurity referenced in the episode can be downloaded from https://foodfoundation.org.uk/press-release/new-data-shows-food-insecurity-major-challenge-levelling-agenda

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Paying particular focus to children’s services and mental health social work, this episode explores the issues social workers need to take into consideration to ensure they are challenging inequality and promoting anti-racist practice when working with Black children and young people and supporting Black vulnerable adults. 

The episode also explores unconscious and overt bias faced by Black practitioners and examines over-representation at fitness to practice hearings as an example of how structural racism discriminates against Black social workers.

During the conversation Pam refers to the book—The W Word: Witchcraft labelling and child safeguarding in social work practice. It can be accessed via this link https://www.criticalpublishing.com/the-w-word

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Various documents are referred to during the episode. They can be accessed via the following links:

TransActual—Trans lives survey 2021: Enduring the UK’s hostile environment https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e8a0a6bb02c73725b24dc9d/t/6152eac81e0b0109491dc518/1632824024793/Trans+Lives+Survey+2021.pdf

Galop—Transphobic Hate Crime Report 2020 https://galop.org.uk/resource/transphobic-hate-crime-report-2020/   

The Cass Review—Independent review of gender identity services for children and young people: Interim report https://cass.independent-review.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Cass-Review-Interim-Report-Final-Web-Accessible.pdf

Stonewall—Shut out: the experiences of LGBT young people not in education, training or work https://www.stonewall.org.uk/resources/shut-out-experiences-lgbt-young-people-not-education-training-or-work

Government Equalities Office—National LGBT Survey: Research report https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-lgbt-survey-summary-report

House of Commons Library—Hate Crime Statistics https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8537/CBP-8537.pdf

To read the BASW Position Statement on Social Work with Transgender People please visit https://www.basw.co.uk/system/files/resources/basw_statement_on_social_work_with_trans_people_and_trans_rights_approved_by_council_july_7_2021_final.pdf

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The report, Dying in poverty: Exploring poverty at the end of life in the UK, can be downloaded via the following link https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/globalassets/media/documents/policy/dying-in-poverty/h420-dying-in-poverty-5th-pp.pdf

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In the second part, Andy takes an in-depth look at what the future holds for social work in Northern Ireland following the Northern Ireland Assembly election. He is joined by Ulster University academic and anti-poverty campaigner—Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick, former social worker and former Minister for Justice—David Ford, and National Director of BASW NI—Carolyn Ewart.

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It’s common for decision-makers to talk about involving the people who use services in their planning and design, but all too often reality falls far short of aspiration.

This episode takes an in-depth look at a unique project which aimed to place service users firmly at the heart of the decision-making process. The context concerns the use of digital communication technology to support social work engagement with Disabled service users.

On 18 March 2022, Becki Meakin, Involvement Manager at Shaping Our Lives and Dr Luke Geoghegan, Head of Policy at the British Association of Social Workers joined Andy McClenaghan to discuss the ‘digitech’ project.

BASW’s practice guide on ‘Social Work, Disabled Service Users and Digital Communication Technology’ is available here https://www.basw.co.uk/system/files/resources/181235_social_work_disabled_service_users_and_digital_communication_technology.pdf

The guides providing ‘Advice for Disabled people on the use of digital communication technologies with social workers’ are available from the Shaping Our Lives website – https://shapingourlives.org.uk/report/digital-communication-technology-in-social-work/

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Watch Gerry’s oral evidence session with the Health and Care Bill Committee https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/7e2c62e8-ca56-4849-97c1-c127e5eb7ba3

Watch Luke Geoghegan’s evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights concerning the Nationality and Borders Bill https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/22d9acd5-b724-409e-b3ce-2b4c1455099a

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In June 2021 the podcast episode ‘Ending restraint & seclusion’ examined work to deliver updated guidance on the use of restrictive practices of children with additional needs in schools in Northern Ireland. Since then, much has happened and the recent publication of the Northern Ireland Department of Education’s Review of the Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Educational Settings marks a significant step towards the delivery of the guidance. 

Andy McClenaghan is joined by Koulla Yiasouma, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Deidre Shakespeare, a campaigner, family advocate and expert by experience, and Carolyn Ewart, Director of BASW NI to discuss the progress made to deliver statutory guidance on the use of restraint and seclusion.

To read the Commissioner for Children and Young People’s research referenced in the episode, please visit https://www.niccy.org/restraintandseclusionreports

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For more information on Kate’s book, Family Group Conferences in Social Work: Involving Families in Social Care Decision Making, which is referenced in the discussion, visit https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/family-group-conferences-in-social-work

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For information on Lemn's memoir, 'My Name is Why', visit https://canongate.co.uk/books/2450-my-name-is-why/

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Andy McClenaghan is joined by Hattie and Hope from #StopSIM Coalition, Mary Buckman, Co-Chair of the BASW England Mental Health Group and Dr Alex Thomson, Vice Chair, of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Faculty of Liaison Psychiatry to discuss the Serenity Integrated Mentoring’ (SIM) model. 

SIM has been described by its proponents as an innovative mental health workforce transformation model that brings together the police and community mental health services, to better support 'high intensity users' of Section 136 of the Mental Health Act and public services. However, the roll-out of the model has caused deep concerns within the social work profession and beyond. Warnings have been raised that the model is based on coercion and denial of potentially life-saving support, and is causing some service-users to live in fear of arrest or prosecution when they are in mental health crisis.

For information on #StopSIM Coalition, visit https://stopsim.co.uk

To access the BASW England Mental Health Special Interest Group statement of SIM, visit https://bit.ly/3pw8MZe

To access the Royal College of Psychiatrists statement discussed during the episode, visit https://bit.ly/3Hz8HtV

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Bekah reflects on her experience of living in an unregulated placement from the age of 16 and examines the many ways in which these settings fail to meet the needs of young people.

The article is free to access until the end of February 2022 via the following link https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09503153.2021.1979503?download=true and the Children’s Commissioner for England report ‘Unregulated’, which is referenced in the episode, is available here https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/cco-unregulated-children-in-care-living-in-semi-independent-accommodation.pdf

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They reflect on Lady Hale’s role, as Law Commissioner, in shaping the Children Act 1989 and examine thorny issues of competing human rights, diving into the example of mandatory Covid-19 vaccination of adult services social workers. 

The conversation also considers the impacts of the two-tier legal framework concerning civil and political rights and social and economic rights, and Lady Hale shares her views on how to maintain civility amidst impassioned debate on divisive issues.  

More information on Lady Hale’s autobiography, ‘Spider Woman: A Life’ is available here https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59235446-spider-woman and the 2019 Scarman Lecture referenced in the episode is available here https://www.supremecourt.uk/docs/speech-191113.pdf.

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Andy McClenaghan is joined by Amanda Bailey, Director of the North East Child Poverty Commission, Vikki Waterman, a mum of two and anti-poverty campaigner, and BASW UK Vice Chair, Lewis Roberts. They explore the many ways poverty affects people, the impacts it has on children’s development and life opportunities, and how social workers can better support families experiencing financial hardship.

BASW’s Anti-poverty Practice Guide for Social Work is available here –https://www.basw.co.uk/what-we-do/policy-and-research/anti-poverty-practice-guide-social-work

You can read the final report of the Child Welfare Inequalities Project here –

https://research.hud.ac.uk/media/assets/document/research/cacyfr/CWIP-Overview-Final-V4.pdf

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Kerri’s blog, which is referenced during the episode is available here – https://www.basw.co.uk/media/news/2021/oct/budget-2021-what-do-social-workers-need-know

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Although the links may not be immediately apparent, the climate crisis is having, and will continue to exert a huge impact on the lives of many of the people social workers support. It’s these links, along with how social workers can respond, that inform the conversation, which was held a fortnight before the United Nations COP 26 Climate Change Conference.

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Both Paul and Sam draw on their personal experiences as British Jewish people as they share their views on how antisemitism affects them and their communities.

Community Security Trust (CST) is a charity that protects British Jews from antisemitism and related threats. If you are the victim of an antisemitic incident or you have information regarding an antisemitic incident that happened to somebody else, please contact CST https://cst.org.uk/report-incident. 

David Baddiel’s book, ‘Jews Don’t Count’, is mentioned several times during the conversation as something Paul and Sam found reflected their own experiences of antisemitism. To find out more about the book visit https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/52710961-jews-don-t-count

During the conversation, reference is made to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Organisations, including Amnesty International have claimed Israeli authorities are committing the crime of apartheid against Palestinians. To read Amnesty International’s report outlining this perspective, visit https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/02/israels-apartheid-against-palestinians-a-cruel-system-of-domination-and-a-crime-against-humanity/

To read BASW UK's statement against antisemitism and anti-Jewish discrimination and hatred, visit https://www.basw.co.uk/basw-uk-statement-against-antisemitism-and-anti-jewish-discrimination-and-hatred

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