Let's Talk Social Work

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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 internation...

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...

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 St...

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 consi...

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 t...

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 p...

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. &nbs...

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...

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...

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 experie...

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...

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 f...

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 ha...

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 Elec...

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 c...

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 an...

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 th...

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 f...

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...