Do Do Social Work: Recent Episodes
Paul Shuttleworth & Sarah Flagg
A podcast by social workers for social workers and anyone with an interest in social work issues in the UK. Sarah Flagg and Paul Shuttleworth have a chat about their social work lives, and break down complex policy, theory and practice into a discussion that is relatable and (sometimes) humorous. The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
An emergency podcast to break down the challenges of kinship care, and encourage you...yes you...to provide your ideas to help shape new legislation.
Sarah and Paul discuss the new and exciting ideas laid out for kinship care in the Law Commission consultation report. Are proposals for Kinship Care Orders, and Kinship Guardians going to reshape future history!?! Or will they make little difference to the lives of children and their families?
The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
You can get in touch with us by emailing: dodosocialwork@gmail.com
Links:
Shuttleworth, P. (2025) Listening to Children about Kinship Care, Child Welfare and Permanence: A Child-Centred Approach to Navigating Relational Spaces. London: Policy Press. Shuttleworth, P., (2023). 'Kinship care for England and Wales in the 2020s: assumptions, challenges and opportunities' in R. Sen and C. Kerr (eds) The Future of Children’s Care: Critical Perspectives on Children’s Services Reform, p.122. Law Commission consultation on kinship care (full consultation paper)
Law Commission consultation on kinship care (summary) Law Commission consultation on kinship care (easy read)
In this episode Paul and Sarah team up with Veterinary Social Work expert Rebecca Stephens to chat about the link between human and veterinary services.
We deep dive into why companion animals matter in our lives, and how social workers can actually bring an animal inclusive perspective into their everyday practice.
A link to Rebecca's CPD module
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
A new version with better quality vocals...In this episode Paul and Sarah are joined by 'Placement Queen' Sarah Wilkins to discuss the ins and outs, the ups and downs, of course placements. What is it? What does each person involved need to do? And how to survive. It also includes enlightening tips that Sarah learnt from the most inspirational people that she ever met on placement (i.e. Sarah W and Paul).
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
References:
Gregory, M., Cook, L., Butt, T. & Shakespeare, J. (2025) Practice education in social work: a scoping review of existing research. Social Work Education.Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02615479.2024.2448478 Social Work England (2024) Practice education in England: A national scoping review.Available at: https://www.socialworkengland.org.uk/about/publications/practice-education-in-england/ McClinton, S. & Cocker, C. (2026) The importance of placements in social work education. Department of Health and Social Care, Social Work with Adults Blog (20 March 2026).Available at: https://socialworkwithadults.blog.gov.uk/2026/03/20/the-importance-of-placements-in-social-work-education/
To celebrate Neurodiversity Awareness Week, Sarah and Paul unpack what ADHD really is—and Paul nervously, (over)shares that he joins the 1 in 7 people with his ADHD diagnosis. They cover the three ADHD presentations, whether VAST is a better description, a plain English look at dopamine, time blindness and hyperfocus, and they myth-bust the classics: “everyone’s got ADHD now,” “everyone forgets things,” and “it’s just social media.”
You’ll get practical tips for supporting experts by experience, colleagues, friends and family living with ADHD, plus a short, honest section on safety and life expectancy. It’s psychoeducation with questionable humour. Come for the learning, stay for the highly caffeinated squirrels that keep trying to take over the show.
References
Barkley, R.A. & Fischer, M. 2018, ‘Hyperactive Child Syndrome and Estimated Life Expectancy at Young Adult FollowUp: The Role of ADHD Persistence and Other Potential Predictors’, Journal of Attention Disorders, 23(9), pp. 907–923.
Community Care 2026, ‘ADHD in social work: the hidden strengths and costs’, Community Care, 10 March.
Frye, D. 2020, ‘Children with ADHD Avoid Failure and Punishment More Than Others, Study Says’, ADDitude Magazine, 6 November.
MacDonald, H.J., Kleppe, R., Szigetvari, P.D. & Haavik, J. 2024, ‘The dopamine hypothesis for ADHD: An evaluation of evidence accumulated from human studies and animal models’, Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, article 1492126.
NHS England Digital 2025, Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, England, 2023/4 — Chapter 9: Attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), 27 November.
Partridge, A. 2025, Now It All Makes Sense: How an ADHD Diagnosis Brought Clarity to My Life, London: Sheldon Press.
RowneySmith, A., Sutton, B., Quadt, L. & Eccles, J.A. 2026, ‘The lived experience of rejection sensitivity in ADHD – A qualitative exploration’, PLOS ONE, 21(1), e0314669
Sarah and Paul discuss the current concerns about the effectiveness of the Domestic, Abuse, Stalking, Harassment and Honour-Based Violence (DASH) assessment. Is it still fit for purpose, and what can this mean for other social work approaches and tools? The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for. Show notes: BBC news article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr4e7yrxkgvo
Be prepared to smash it at interviews. Sarah and Paul discuss the do dos and no nos of interviews. It's a serious matter, but we enjoyed talking about it with a few giggles on the way. Although tailored for social work, these tips can be applied to all types of interview experiences, including being accepted onto a course or module. Some more tips are available on the Social Work Portal: https://www.socialworkportal.com/social-work-interview-questions-answers/ Explanations about the Johari Window and unlocking the unknown unknown: Bergquist, W., 2009. The Johari Window: Exploring the unconscious processes of interpersonal relationships and the coaching engagement. International Journal of Coaching in Organizations, 7(3), p.73.
Sarah and Paul discuss what’s happening with AI, ChatGPT, and using big data to inform risk. Will AI be a help or a hindrance? They also discuss how to be part of the change and ensure that professional and lived experiences are not lost. Oh, and Paul does his famous Sir Keir Starmer impression.
Ferguson, H. (2018) ‘Making home visits: Creativity and the embodied practices of home visiting in social work and child protection’, Qualitative Social Work, 17(1), pp. 65–80.
IMPORTANT - Have your say about AI with Research in Practice
In this episode, Sarah and Paul provide tips on one of the most necessary but often confusing parts of social work practice – critical reflection and critical thinking. What is it? Why do we need to do it? Is Bowlby all he’s cracked up to be? How do you fend off comments that you are too descriptive in your writing and not critical enough? Maclean, S. (2016) A new model for social work reaction: whatever the weather Professional Social Work, March, pp28-9Moon, J.A. (2006) Learning Journals: A Handbook for Reflective Practice and Professional Development. 2nd edition. Florence: Routledge.Munro, E. (2011) The Munro review of child protection: final report, a child-centred system. Vol. 8062. London: The Stationery Office.Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D., Jasper, M. (2001) Critical reflection in nursing and the helping professions: a user’s guide. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
In this episode Paul and Sarah have a chat about Experts by Experience, co-production and participation and are joined by Debs Pawley, Coordinator of the Experts by Experience Network at the University of Sussex.
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Show Notes:
Fox, J. (2020). Perspectives of experts-by-experience: an exploration of lived experience involvement in social work education. Social Work Education, 41(4), 587–604. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2020.1861244
Roger Hart's Ladder of Children’s Participation Model:
Hart, R. A. (1992). Children’s participation: From tokenism to citizenship. Florence, Italy: United Nations Children’s Fund International Child Development Centre.
Laura Lundy Model:
Lundy, L. (2007). ‘Voice’ is not enough: conceptualising Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. British Educational Research Association, 33(6), 927–942.
Children Act 1989: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/contents
In this episode Sarah and Paul discuss Relationship Based Practice with children. After a few months away they felt a bit rusty so roped in experienced Social Work Manager and all round good egg Laura Lacey to help.
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Show Notes:
Gillian Ruch, Danielle Turney, Adrian Ward, 2010, Relationship-based Social Work: Getting to the Heart of Practice, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2010
Harry Ferguson et al, 2019, Relationship-based practice and the creation of therapeutic change in long-term work: social work as a holding relationship, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02615479.2020.1837105
In this episode Sarah and Paul discuss good communication skills, the challenges and what it means in practice. Paul tries out Egan’s Skilled Helper Model on an unsuspecting Sarah.
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Show Notes:
Egan, G, 2012, The Skilled Helper, 10th Ed, Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning https://nibmehub.com/opac-service/pdf/read/The%20Skilled%20Helper%20A%20Problem-Management%20and%20Opportunity%20-%20Gerard%20Egan.pdf
Lishman, J. (2020) ‘Communication in Social Work’, pp. 1–240.
Richards, S., Ruch, G. and Trevithick, P. (2005) ‘Communication Skills Training for Practice: the Ethical Dilemma for Social Work Education’, Social Work Education, 24(4), pp. 409–422. Available at:https://doi.org/10.1080/02615470500096928.
In this episode Sarah and Paul discuss LGBTQIA+ issues. They talk about marginalisation, discrimination, intersectionality and how to work in an inclusive way. Paul also discusses his queerdom and his time bunking off from Gay School.
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Shownotes:
Kinsey (2004). Film directed by Bill Conlon and starring Liam Neeson, Laura Linney and John Lithgow.
Community Care: Career tips on what social workers should consider when working with LGBTQIA+ people. https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2022/02/01/what-social-workers-should-consider-when-working-with-lgtbq-people/
LYPSA: Improving LGTBTQ+ Young People's Experiences of Social Care resources available at https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/departments/social-work-social-care/research/gender-and-sexualities/young-people-in-social-care.aspx?msclkid=aa23b773cfa111ec8fec04708ffbb457 LGBTQIA+ services:Switchboard provides a one-stop listening service for LGBT+ people on the phone, by email and through Instant Messaging. www.switchboard.lgbt
Across Rainbows aim to redefine queer identity, by celebrating and embracing the diverse stories and experiences of individuals. www.acrossrainbows.com
MindOut is a mental health service run by and for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) people. www.mindout.org.uk
Sarah and Paul discuss the difficult topic of retention and recruitment, what it feels like not to have recognition for the work social workers do do and how this leads to moral distress. They also talk through Murphy's (2023) and Ravalier et al.'s (2023) new research on working conditions, and Paul suggests that often it's easier to say you're gay than say you're a social worker.
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Resources:
Murphy, C., 2023. How learning from the lived experiences of child protection social workers, can help us understand the factors underpinning workforce instability within the English child protection system. Journal of Social Work Practice 0, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2023.2185213
Ravalier, J.M., Allen, R., McGowan, J., 2023. Social Worker Working Conditions and Psychological Health: A Longitudinal Study. The British Journal of Social Work bcad144. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcad144
https://www.basw.co.uk/professional-support-service
https://batonofhopeuk.org/
If you want to get in touch you can email us at: dodosocialwork@gmail.com
Find us on Twitter: @DoDoSocialWork
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This time Sarah and Paul discuss a book chapter written by Paul! The chapter focusses on the shaky assumptions that are often made with Kinship Care placements.
The chapter is part of an upcoming book out in July called:
The Future of Children's Care: Critical Perspectives on Children's Services Reform
Editors:
Robin Sen and Christian Kerr
Other contributors include:
Avery Bowser, Taliah Drayak, Brid Featherstone, Anna Gupta, Isobel Drew, Joe Hanley, Rebekah Pierre, John Radoux, June Thoburn and Carolyne Willow
Publisher:
Bristol University Press
Content warning: This podcast contains references to domestic abuse from the outset which some may find distressing.
Sarah and Paul discuss domestic abuse, including victim-survivor experience, trauma responses and social work practice. Domestic abuse is a sensitive, complex and sadly all too common aspect of social work practice. As with all episodes our intention is to create informative discussions as well as informal conversations.
For further information the Domestic Abuse Commissioner website is a great starting point:
https://domesticabusecommissioner.uk/
Further References:
Domestic Abuse Act (2021) Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2021/17/part/1/enacted
Ferguson, H., (2016) How Children Become Invisible in Child Protection Work: Findings from Research into Day-to-Day Social Work Practice available at: https://academic.oup.com/bjsw/article/47/4/1007/2622323
Johnson, M.P., (2008) A Typology of Domestic Violence available at: https://books.google.com/books/about/A_Typology_of_Domestic_Violence.html?id=alLur9raDCwC#v=onepage&q=johnson%202008%20typology%20reference&f=false
Katz, E., (2022) Coercive Control in Children's and Mothers' Lives. Oxford University Press
Liz Kelly publications available at: https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/profiles/staff/liz-kelly/
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
For Social Work Month/Week/Day - Sarah and Paul discuss social action, social justice and critical social work. What do they mean? Should we be doing them? If so, how? Do we even have enough time?
So many questions – and all managed despite Sarah’s high calcium levels. Don’t ask!
The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
References:
Campaigns (2018) www.basw.co.uk. Available at: https://www.basw.co.uk/what-we-do/campaigns (Accessed: 15 March 2023).Featherstone, B. and Gupta, A. (eds) (2018) Protecting Children: A Social Model. 1st edition. Bristol: Policy Press.Garrett, P.M. (2021) Dissenting Social Work: Critical Theory, Resistance and Pandemic. London: Routledge. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003024019.Garrett, P.M. (2021) ‘“A World to Win”: In Defence of (Dissenting) Social Work—A Response to Chris Maylea’, The British Journal of Social Work, 51(4), pp. 1131–1149. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab009
Sarah and Paul chat about the stresses and strains for social workers and families at Christmas time. This episode gets a bit silly and there is a bit too much singing - we are truly sorry.
More than ever the views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Sarah and Paul and debt expert Ripon Ray discuss the cost of living crisis, money matters, anti-poverty practice and what it means for us and the people we work with.
The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Ripon's Debt Talk podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7hoqQcAQxcZjNnifU92eEc
Ripon's website: http://www.yourdoctordebt.org/
In advance of the new academic year, Sarah and Paul discuss their own UK social work student experiences, and provide recommendations and tips for students to survive and get ahead in their studies and placements.
Recommendations include:
Child Abuse and Neglect, Attachment, Development and Intervention. David Howe, Palgrave Macmillan 2005
Attachment Handbook for Foster Care and Adoption. Schofield G and Beek M, British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) 2006
Social Work Skills and Knowledge. Pamela Trevithick, Open University Press 2012
Siobhan Maclean’s webinars. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-VvBcDnqAcUTAUXherZgybLfb0QB567l
The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Sarah and Paul finish their epic discussion of "The Independent Review of Children's Social Care". In this episode Paul mentions the work of Children England, and Martin Barrow.
The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Sarah and Paul continue their discussion of "The Independent Review of Children's Social Care".
The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
UK based social workers Sarah and Paul introduce themselves and the idea behind their new podcast. They have irreverent reflections and giggles on how their week has been, and then dive in to the murky background of "The Independent Review of Children's Social Care".
The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.