Let's Talk Social Work: Recent Episodes
BASW
Welcome to Let’s Talk Social Work, the podcast from the British Association of Social Workers. This is a space for conversation—discussion with social workers, the individuals they support, and colleagues working in related professions. We consider the key matters affecting social workers as we explore contemporary issues with a focus at both the local and global levels.
The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of the Association.
In this episode we explore reflective supervision—what it is, how it can benefit social workers by improving their wellbeing and job satisfaction, and ultimately, how it can improve practice.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Andy is joined by Bekah Pierre and Alice Spencer to discuss the wonderful anthology—Free Loaves on Fridays.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
School social work is long established in the USA but in its infancy in Northern Ireland. This episode examines the nature of school social work with a view to learning from the discipline in the United States and exploring how this understanding can be applied to the emerging practice in Northern Ireland.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Following our last episode exploring the BASW UK General Election Manifesto, we examine the issue of poverty and what needs to change to improve the circumstances of millions of people across the UK.
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.
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).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A general election is coming. When it will be, no one is quite sure, but what we do know is what needs to change to improve situations for social workers and the people who use social work services. This is the focus of this episode of Let’s Talk Social Work as Andy McClenaghan and guests discuss the asks outlined in the British Association of Social Workers 2024 General Election Manifesto.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
With independence comes opportunities as well as risks. Andy McClenaghan is joined by Independent social workers Michelle Strain, Jo Fox and Gareth McGibbon to explore the benefits as well as the costs of stepping out and practicing as an Independent social worker.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A first for Let’s Talk Social Work, Andy McClenaghan and guests discuss the benefits of coaching in social work. The conversation explores what coaching is and how engaging in coaching can be an opportunity to receive support and guidance, develop skills and navigate career paths, and how it is a helpful way to engage in self-reflection.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“If health has stopped improving it is a sign that society has stopped improving.”
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dignity, respect, empowerment: adult safeguarding explored with Dr Jeremy Dixon
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode explores social work and government policy in Wales. That’s not unusual for Let’s Talk Social Work, but what is a little different is that we will be considering these issues with the focus placed on an individual and the role they have played in shaping both.
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode of the podcast features discussion of issues that may cause distress, including sexual harm and abuse by siblings, and listener discretion is advised.
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The first episode of Let’s Talk Social Work of 2024 explores a fantastic, coproduced training project run by the Western Health and Social Care Trust which equips social workers to better support families affected by addiction.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, made to mark Human Rights Day, we’re examining a really fascinating subject—the Promote the Vote project. The project helps social workers support people with learning disabilities to make use of their right to vote.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode explores the findings of the Social Work with Older People research project led by the University of Birmingham and the University of Bristol. The project has sought to examine the role social workers play in supporting older people, carers, and families to transform situations. It looks at the barriers which can impede the delivery of high quality and effective services and outlines a series of recommendations concerning how social work can better meet the needs of older people.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode is a break from the norm. It doesn’t explore an area of practice, a social policy issue or a campaign. Rather, it is a discussion of a life in social work. The life in question is that of Patrick O’Dea who earlier this year published his memoir—I who had it figured out.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What does it look like when experts by experience are fully involved in shaping and informing social work education?
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Social work is a demanding role and even under the best of circumstances, as social workers support individuals to improve life opportunities, they will face difficulties and stresses associated with their work. Andy McClenaghan is joined by Dr Jennifer Simpson and Sam Pulman to explore the theme of resilience in social work.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 66 of Let’s Talk Social Work examines a subject which previously hasn’t been explored on the podcast. The discussion focuses on self-neglect—what it is, the ways in which it affects people and how social workers can respond.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode of Let’s Talk Social Work explores the incredibly important topic of the age assessment of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode Andy McClenaghan and guests explore the therapeutic role artistic and musical creativity can play in improving mental health.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Recorded just before the summer break, Andy McClenaghan and guests, Priya David and Duc Tran, discuss some of the many issues faced by overseas social workers who have come to the UK to practice.
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.
Host, Andy McClenaghan, explains our plans to take a few weeks off, and that the podcast will return on 17 August to explore the experiences of overseas social workers working in the UK.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
For the past year and a half, the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care Services has examined the challenges facing the delivery of children’s services across Northern Ireland. On 21 June, Lead Reviewer, Professor Ray Jones published his findings and recommendations for change.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This very special episode was recorded live in front of an audience on Monday 12 June, ahead of the BASW UK conference at Conference Aston in Birmingham.
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.
In this episode we return to the issue of poverty in the UK.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Does media coverage reflect the public’s opinions of social work, or does it shape them? Has the tone of coverage changed over the years, and do pressures on journalists working in media outlets limit the extent to which coverage can address the complexities and nuances of social work related stories?
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In February, Let’s Talk Social Work examined the Government’s strategy for children’s social care in England, Stable Homes Built on Love, and we’re returning to an important issue discussed in that episode—kinship care.
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this very special episode, Andy McClenaghan interviews Nana Akwasi Yabbey-Hagan and Robert Dyer, the hosts of The Social Worker and the Mentor podcast.
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.
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, commonly shorted to M.E. and also referred to as chronic fatigue is an illness many people will be aware of. However, the illness is often misunderstood, which can lead to very damaging consequences for people with M.E.
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode, made to mark World Social Work Day 2023, explores the role of social work in deeply divided societies.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of the podcast we’ve the fantastic opportunity to be back focusing on social work in Wales—more specifically, anti-racist social work practice in Wales.
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On 2 February the Government launched its strategy for children's social care reform in England—Stable Homes, Built on Love.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Let’s Talk Social Work we explore the important, and unfortunately all too often overlooked issue of the needs of Black children in care.
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.
Andy McClenaghan is joined by social workers Deb Solomon and Florence Smith to talk about neurodiversity in social work and examine how employers and educators can improve support for neurodivergent social workers. Deb is Chair of the BASW Neurodivergent Social Workers Special Interest Group and Florence is a campaigner for neuro-inclusion, host of the blog the neurodivergent social worker and she is also a member of the BASW Special Interest Group.
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.
To start 2023, Andy McClenaghan is joined by Dr Rory Truell, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Social Workers to discuss how the Federation is assisting social workers in Ukraine and neighbouring countries to support people displaced as a result of the Russian Invasion.
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/
In the final episode of 2022, our focus is on human rights in the UK.
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.
Returning to an issue which was the focus of our first ever episode—the role of social workers in disaster situations—this conversation explores the themes outlined in the book Out of the Shadows: The Role of Social Workers in Disasters (Critical Publishing, 2022). Andy McClenaghan is joined by Dr Angie Bartoli, Principal Lecturer in Social Work at Nottingham Trent University, Maris Stratulis, National Director of BASW England and Margaret Aspinall, Chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Andy McClenaghan is joined by Caroline Bald and Helen Woods, Co-Chairs of the BASW England Criminal Justice Group, and BASW England Professional Officer, Wayne Reid. They explore how social workers working in the criminal and youth justice sectors make a positive difference in the lives of individuals who have come into contact with the justice system.
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.
In this episode, Vivian Geiran, Chair of the Irish Association of Social Workers talks with Andy McClenaghan about social work in Ireland. They discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the profession, the importance of cross border working and probation as a social work service.
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.
Since the 1990s, successive governments have unsuccessfully attempted to reform the approach to funding adult social care.
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.
This episode, made to mark World Mental Health Day, explores the delivery structures for mental health social work services in England. Andy McClenaghan is joined by Jason Brandon, Mental Health Social Work Lead at the Office of the Chief Social Worker and Sarah Morris, Principal Social Worker for Adults at North Northamptonshire Council.
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Andy McClenaghan is joined by social work students Abigail Doe and Stuart Harrington, and Operational Head of Social Work at the University of Chichester, Dr Denise Turner. They discuss the effects the Covid-19 pandemic has had on social work students who have trained during the past two and a half years.
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.
This episode explores the benefits of a community-based, peer support approach to helping people recover from addiction. Joining Andy McClenaghan for the conversation are James Deakin and Sophie McCluskey from North Wales Recovery Communities and Social Worker, Wulf Livingstone.
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
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
It’s July 2022 and households are being hammered by the highest rate of inflation in 40 years—a rate the Bank of England is predicting will rise above 11 per cent in the autumn. This is placing immense pressure on millions of households across the country. It’s in this context that social worker and anti-poverty campaigner, Dominic Watters, joins Andy McClenaghan to discuss his living experience of poverty and his campaign to highlight and address the issue of food insecurity.
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
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Members of BASW’s Black & Ethnic Minority Professionals Symposium, Pauline Sergeant, Patriche Bentick and Pamela Shodeinde join Andy McClenaghan to discuss how social workers can embed anti-racism as a cornerstone of their work.
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
This episode, made for Pride month 2022, examines the issue of anti-trans discrimination and conversion therapy. Host, Andy McClenaghan, is joined by Chay Brown Director of the trans-rights organisation, TransActual, Rachel Hubbard Senior Lecturer in Social Work at University of the West of England and BASW member, and Jacob Sibley, Director of LGBT Youth in Care. They discuss the discrimination faced by trans people, examine rates of anti-trans hate crime in the UK and consider the Government’s decision to exclude trans people from its planned ban on the use of conversion therapy in England and Wales.
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
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In this episode, Andy McClenaghan is joined by Jamie Robinson, Principal Social Worker at Marie Curie’s Bradford Hospice and Mark Jackson, the charity’s Policy Manager for England to discuss the findings of Marie Curie’s report, Dying in Poverty. They consider the impacts of poverty at the end of life and explore the role of palliative care social work in supporting families where an individual has received a terminal diagnosis.
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
This special episode of Let’s Talk Social Work is split into two parts. In the first section Andy McClenaghan is joined by BASW’s Public and Political Affairs Lead, Kerri Prince to discuss the outcomes of the local elections held in England, Scotland and Wales. They consider the impact of the results in in terms of local authority service delivery and what they might mean for the next General Election.
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.
Co-production—we hear about it all the time.
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/
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
It's been a busy time at Westminster over the last 12 months, with several Bills that concern social work making progress through Parliament. Andy McClenaghan is joined by BASW Chair, Gerry Nosowska and Kerri Prince, BASW’s Public and Political Affairs Lead to discuss the expected impacts of the Police, Crime and Sentencing Bill, the Health and Care Bill, and the Nationality and Borders Bill. Their conversation also examines how BASW has sought to influence the content of the various pieces of draft legislation.
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
Revisiting an incredibly important issue, this episode explores the restraint and seclusion of children and young people in educational settings.
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
Listen as Andy McClenaghan discusses family group conferences with Sarah Brown, Head of Social Work at the University of Kent, Dr Kate Parkinson, Subject Leader in Health and Social Care at the University of Huddersfield and Lucy Gibson, an expert by experience of family group conferencing. They explore what family group conferences are and how they can lead to improved outcomes for children and families receiving support from social work services.
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
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In this special extended episode, made for World Social Work Day 2022, Lemn Sissay, poet, playwright, broadcaster and Chancellor of the University of Manchester, speaks with Andy McClenaghan about his experience of growing up in care. Reflecting on the ways the care system failed him as a child, Lemn discusses the vital importance of the social work role and considers how social workers can better support looked after children and care leavers.
For information on Lemn's memoir, 'My Name is Why', visit https://canongate.co.uk/books/2450-my-name-is-why/
THIS EPISODE FEATURES DISCUSSION OF ISSUES WHICH MAY CAUSE DISTRESS, INCLUDING SUICIDE AND SELF-HARM, AND LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
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
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
For our first episode of 2022, Bekah Pierre, a care experienced adult and BASW England Professional Officer, speaks to Andy McClenaghan about her article, 'Revisiting Diary Entries from Care: An Exposition of the Challenges of Unregulated Placement Settings', published in the journal Practice.
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
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In this episode, made for Human Rights Day 2021, Lady Brenda Hale, former President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, joins Andy McClenaghan to discuss some of the most significant aspects of a career steeped in human rights and family law.
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.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
As we head into the winter, millions of families across the UK are facing a cost of living crisis. Huge increases in electricity and gas prices, and spikes in the cost of vehicle fuel come in the wake of the Government’s recent decision to remove the £20 uplift to Universal Credit which was helping to keep many families afloat.
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
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In this episode, Mit Joyner, President of the National Association of Social Workers (USA) and Shantel Thomas, BASW Anti-Racism Lead join host, Andy McClenaghan to discuss anti-racist allyship. They consider how individuals who are not negatively impacted by racism can support those who are affected in their efforts to dismantle the structures, cultures and attitudes that lead to discrimination and prejudice. In doing so they explore the concepts of white privilege and white supremacy, what performative allyship looks like, and what genuine allyship looks like and what it costs.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Alex Cunningham MP, Shadow Justice Minister for Courts and Sentencing and former Chair of the Westminster All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Work and BASW UK Public and Political Affairs Lead, Kerri Prince join Andy McClenaghan to discuss what the UK Government’s Autumn Budget and Spending Review mean for social work, social workers and people who use social work services. They consider the Government’s decisions on Universal Credit and the living wage, grant funding for local authorities, funding for youth services, early intervention to tackle youth offending and social housing provision.
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
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In our 25th episode we explore a hugely important issue which was touched on all the way back in episode one, when we examined the role of social workers in disasters. To discuss the social work response to the climate crisis and environmental injustice, Andy McClenaghan is joined by Gerry Nosowska, Chair of BASW UK, Professor Lena Dominelli from the University of Stirling and Professor John Barry from Queen’s University Belfast.
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.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In this episode, Andy McClenaghan is joined by guests Sam Lethbridge, Incidents Manager at the Community Security Trust and Paul Shuttleworth, Professional Officer with BASW England to discuss antisemitism—what it means, what its impacts are and how social workers can stand against and address antisemitism across our society.
David Baddiel’s book, ‘Jews Don’t Count’, is mentioned several times during the conversation. To find out more about the book visit https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/52710961-jews-don-t-count
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.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In the second of two episodes exploring issues related to the independent review of children’s social care in England, Andy McClenaghan is joined by social workers Patriche Bentick, Senior Practitioner at Camden Council and James Kargbo, Fostering Team Manager, also from Camden Council. They examine issues facing Black and minoritized children in the care system, the extent to which matters of equality, diversity and inclusion have been considered in the Care Review so far and the need to decolonise social work education.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Andy McClenaghan is joined by Baroness Joan Walmsley, Co-Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, Kate Fallon, General Secretary of the Association of Educational Psychologists and John McGowan, General Secretary of the Social Workers Union to discuss what the law says about the corporal punishment of children, the impacts it has, and efforts being pursued to ban smacking in England.They explore recent changes to the legal landscape in Scotland and Wales, the situation globally and how a smacking ban would affect social workers. For information on positive alternatives to smacking provided by the Welsh Government, please visit https://gov.wales/parenting-give-it-time/understanding-and-responding-behaviour
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Andy McClenaghan is joined by guests, Dr Sarah Fox and Professor Sarah Galvani from Manchester Metropolitan University, and Dr Wulf Livingston from Wrexham Glyndwr University, to explore the complex relationship between problematic substance use and domestic abuse. The episode begins by examining the various forms domestic abuse can take and what we mean when we talk about problematic substance use. The discussion then moves on to explore the extent to which problematic substance use is a factor in causing domestic abuse and the ways in which it can be a response to domestic abuse experienced. The conversation also considers whether social work education adequately trains practitioners in relation to problematic substance use and domestic abuse and how social workers can better support victims / survivors and children affected.To access the resources produced by BASW’s Alcohol and Other Drugs Special Interest Group which are referenced in the episode, please visit https://bit.ly/2W1d1Ra
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
One month after publication of the first report of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care — The Case for Change — Andy McClenaghan is joined by Carolyne Willow, Director of Article 39, Esme Daley, a social work manager with Achieving for Children and BASW London Branch Chair, and Bekah Pierre, Professional Officer with BASW England to discuss the scope and potential impacts of the Review.What could the review mean for children and young people in care? What could it mean for social work? Listen and find out.To provide feedback on this, or any of our other episodes, please email ltsw@basw.co.uk
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Andy McClenaghan is joined by Martin Sexton, Chair of the British Association of Social Workers Policy Ethics and Human Rights Committee and Carolyn Ewart National Director of BASW Northern Ireland to discuss Duty of Candour. They consider the proposal to introduce, in Northern Ireland, a Statutory Duty of Candour, at the organisational and individual levels—including criminal sanctions for breach of the Duty. The conversation highlights major implications for social workers in Northern Ireland which could set a precedent for other UK regions.To read and respond to the consultation proposals, visit https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/consultations/duty-of-candour.For BASW NI’s response to the consultation, visit bit.ly/2SNl6qO.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Host, Andy McClenaghan, is joined by Barbara Keeley MP, Co-Chair of the Westminster All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Work, Alexis Quinn from the Restraint Reduction Network, and Liz Howard, Professional Officer with BASW England. They discuss why people with a learning disability and autistic people continue to be inappropriately placed in treatment and assessment centres in secure settings, the impact this is having on the people involved and what needs to change.For information on the BASW England 'Homes Not Hospitals' campaign, please visit www.basw.co.uk/homes-not-hospitalsA transcription of the Westminster Hall debate mentioned in the discussion is available at https://bit.ly/3wgHXsE
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This episode, made for Pride Month 2021, explores challenges facing British Asian LGBTQIA+ and the ways in which social workers can better support this community. Andy McClenaghan is joined by Siddhi Joshi, founder and chairperson of British Asian LGBTI online support group, Khakan Qureshi, Founder of Finding A Voice and co-administrator of British Asians LGBTI and Narinder Sidhu, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead Officer with BASW.For more information on the issues discussed in the episode, Siddhi and Khakan recommend reading “Unorthodox: LGBT+ Identity and Faith” – https://fiveleaves.co.uk/product/unorthodox-lgbt-identity-and-faith/Follow British Asian LGBTI on Twitter @BritishAsianLGB and Facebook @BritishAsianLGBTI.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Andy McClenaghan is joined by Chris Lytle MLA, Chair of the Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Education, Nick Hobbs from the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland and social worker Sarah Goff from the Ann Craft Trust to examine the issue of restraint and seclusion of children and young people with additional needs in educational settings. The conversation explores how plans to introduce new guidance in Northern Ireland aimed at preventing the use of restrictive practices can be informed by experiences elsewhere in the UK.For further information on the issue of restraint and seclusion, including the impacts on children and their families, please visit the Challenging Behaviour Foundation website – www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/news/challenging-behaviour-foundation-statement-on-restraint-and-seclusion-in-schools/ For information on the Equality and Human Rights Commission inquiry into how schools are monitoring the use of restraint, please visit https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/inquiries-and-investigations/inquiry-how-schools-are-monitoring-use-restraint
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Andy McClenaghan is joined by Mit Joyner, President of the National Association of Social Workers in the USA, and Shantel Thomas, BASW Anti-Racism Lead to discuss the issue of structural and institutional racism in the UK and the USA. The conversation explores the impacts of structural and institutional racism and considers the issue in the context of the murder of George Floyd, the Covid-19 pandemic, the Sewell Report, the Windrush Scandal and the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The episode concludes by examining how social workers can be agents of change by promoting anti-racist values and practice.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In the aftermath of the counting of votes cast in elections for the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd, English local Council and elected Mayors, Andy McClenaghan is joined by Allison Hulmes, National Director of BASW Cymru, Alison Bavidege, National Director of the Scottish Association of Social Workers and Kerri Prince, BASW’s Public and Political Affairs Lead to make sense of the outcomes. They discuss the issues raised by BASW with candidates prior to voting, and what the results will mean for social workers, the people who use social work services and society more widely.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In this episode Andy McClenaghan is joined by Lucy Dacey, National Programme Manager for The Children's Society's Disrupting Exploitation Programme and Bekah Pierre, Professional Officer with BASW England. They discuss the much publicised but often misunderstood issue of County Lines—what it is, what it means for those involved, and what can be done to prevent the criminal exploitation, abuse and trafficking of children and young people by drugs gangs.Reports discussed during the episode include:- Counting Lives (July 2019), The Children Society: https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/professionals/resources/counting-lives- No place at Home (Sept 2019), All Party Parliamentary Group for Runaway and Missing Children and Adults https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-10/no-place-at-home.pdf
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dr Dan Allen from Manchester Metropolitan University and the award-winning storyteller, author and playwright, Richard O’Neill join Andy McClenaghan to discuss the discrimination experienced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities across the UK. They explore the changes that are needed to ensure social workers support these communities and address the prejudice and intolerance they face. For information on the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Social Work Association, please follow their twitter feed – @GRTSWAssoc
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In this special extended edition of Let’s Talk Social Work—made in celebration of World Social Work Day 2021—Andy McClenaghan and guests explore the concept of Ubuntu and what it means for social work. In the first section, Joachim Mumba from the International Federation of Social Workers Africa explains what the philosophy of Ubuntu is, how it can be difficult to define and what it means for social work practice. Later, Gerry Nosowska and David Jones from the British Association of Social Workers and Géza Gostonyi from the Hungarian Association of Social Workers discuss the social work response to the rise of populism and nationalism in Europe. They explore how the values or Ubuntu represent a direct challenge to the principles of populism.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Andy McClenaghan and guests Karl Handscomb, Senior Economist with the Resolution Foundation, Louise Woodruff, Policy and Partnerships Manager at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and Kerri Prince, BASW’s Public and Political Affairs Lead discuss what the Chancellor’s announcement on 3 March means for people who use social work and social care services, and people who receive support from the social security system, as well as the wider implications for society.Organisational responses to the Budget:- BASW: https://www.basw.co.uk/media/news/2021/mar/basw-responds-budget-2021- JRF: https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/jrf-spring-budget-2021-analysis- Resolution Foundation: https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/app/uploads/2021/03/Spending-fast-taxing-slow.pdf
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The social security system is failing to prevent millions of families from experiencing poverty. Andy McClenaghan is joined by Sophie Howes, Head of Policy at the Child Poverty Action Group and Kerri Prince, BASW Public and Political Affairs Lead, to discuss Universal Credit, the two-child limit, the £20 uplift and what all this means for children and families across the UK.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
On 20 January 2021, Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States of America. Andy McClenaghan is joined by joined by Professor Margaret Weir, Wilson Professor of International and Public Affairs and Political Science at Brown University, and Mel Wilson, Senior Policy Consultant for Social Justice and Human Rights with the National Association of Social Workers to explore what the Biden administration will mean for social work in the USA.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Supporting carers is a key role for social workers, but could services be improved? To explore the topic, Andy McClenaghan is joined by Allison Hulmes, National Director of BASW Cymru, Claire Morgan, Director or Carers Wales and Chris O’Malley who has been a carer for his wife, Annie, for the past 7 years. They discuss the provisions of the Welsh Social Services and Well-being Act and the Carer Aware project which aims to place greater focus on the importance of co-producing services for unpaid carers.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In the first episode of 2021 Andy McClenaghan is joined by Sarah McMillan, Professional Officer with the Scottish Association of Social Workers, Rachael Barnes who is a Social Worker with Safer Families Edinburgh and Dr Marsha Scott, Chief Executive of Scottish Women's Aid. They explore the issue of domestic abuse and the social work response to support victims and survivors of abuse, as well as the role social workers play in working with perpetrators of domestic abuse. To download the Scottish Association of Social Workers’ Domestic Abuse and Child Welfare practice guide visit https://www.basw.co.uk/system/files/resources/Domestic%20Abuse%20and%20Child%20Welfare_0.pdfFor information on the Safe & Together™ Model discussed during the episode visit https://safeandtogetherinstitute.com/what-we-offer/e-courses/ and to register for SASW’s training on the Safe & Together™ Model visit https://www.basw.co.uk/events/safe-together%E2%84%A2-model-core-training-sasw#:~:text=About%20Safe%20%26%20Together%E2%84%A2%20Model,Session%201%20AssessmentTo contact the Scottish Women’s Aid helpline call 0800 027 1234 and to access the Scottish Women’s Aid web chat service for children and young people visit www.cypwebchat.scotFor information on how to contact Women’s Aid Englandvisit https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/ If you need to access support over the phone, you can call:National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247 – www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ (run by Refuge)The Men’s Advice Line, for male domestic abuse survivors – 0808 801 0327 (run by Respect)The Mix, free information and support for under 25s in the UK – 0808 808 4994National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0800 999 5428 (run by Galop)Samaritans (24/7 service) – 116 123Rights of Women advice lines, there are a range of services availableFor information on how to contact Welsh Women’s Aid visit https://www.welshwomensaid.org.uk/contact/ If you need help and support for yourself or for someone you know, please call or email the Live Fear Free Helpline on 0808 80 10 800 or email: info@livefearfreehelpline.walesFor information on how to contact Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland visit https://www.womensaidni.org If you are looking for help and support, please contact the 24 Hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Helpline on 0808 802 1414
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In the second of our two episodes produced to celebrate Human Rights Day, Lord Alf Dubs joins Andy McClenaghan to discuss his work campaigning for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, and in particular, the rights of unaccompanied asylum-seeking Children. Among the issues discussed is how to productively engage with individuals who are hostile to the needs of refugees and asylum seekers, in order to encourage outlooks characterised by compassion rather than fear.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In the first of two episodes created to celebrate Human Rights Day, Martin Sexton, Chair of BASW’s Policy, Ethics and Human Rights Committee, joins Andy McClenaghan to discuss the importance of human rights to social work. They consider the nature of human rights, the international human rights framework, domestic human rights law and the application of human rights to everyday social work practice.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In this special episode, Andy McClenaghan is joined by BASW's Public and Political Affairs Lead, Kerri Prince and and Rosanne Palmer, BASW’s Policy and Research Lead Officer to discuss the implications of the Government's Spending Review for social workers & the families & individuals who use social work services.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In February 2019 BASW published its Voices of Social Work Through The Troubles study. The ground-breaking research, conducted by a team of academics led by Queen's University Belfast's Dr Joe Duffy, profiled for the first time, the experiences of social workers who practiced during the years of political conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles. Social workers Phil Hughes and Gerry Madden participated in the research and they, along with BASW Northern Ireland National Director, Carolyn Ewart, join Andy McClenaghan to discuss their experiences of working during the abnormal and deeply challenging circumstances of The Troubles. They explore the research findings and examine how social workers today can learn from the experiences of colleagues in decades past.Read the research report at https://www.basw.co.uk/system/files/resources/Voices%20of%20Social%20Work%20Through%20The%20Troubles%20%281%29.pdfAccess the Ulster University /Commission for Victims and Survivors research report discussed in the episode—Towards A Better Future: The Trans-generational Impact of the Troubles on Mental Health at https://www.cvsni.org/media/1171/towards-a-better-future-march-2015.pdfA video profile of the research report is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX64DJOvUD0
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In the first episode of this new series, Andy McClenaghan is joined by Professor Lena Dominelli from University of Stirling and BASW England National Director, Maris Stratulis, to examine the role of social workers in disasters. They explore the challenges faced by social workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, the vital role played by social workers in supporting victim-survivors, and the importance of ensuring social workers receive appropriate training to enable them to respond effectively in disaster scenarios.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.