Care Visions Talks

What is a child really trying to say through difficult behaviour? In this episode of Family Talk, Lucy Johnston speaks with Sarah Naish about therapeutic parenting, childhood trauma, boundaries, emotional regulation and why behaviour is often a sign of an unmet need. Sarah explains why standard parenting approaches do not always work for children who have experienced trauma, and why children may s...

For more than four decades, Steve Chalke has been working to improve the lives of vulnerable children, young people and families across the UK. As founder of Oasis, Steve has helped establish schools, housing projects, youth services and community initiatives in some of Britain's most disadvantaged neighbourhoods. His work has consistently focused on one central belief: people flourish when t...

How love literally shapes a child's brain. What if the most powerful influence on a child's future isn't education, money, technology or even genetics, but the quality of the relationships they experience? In this episode of Care Visions Family Talk, host Lucy Johnston is joined by evolutionary anthropologist, author and relationship expert Dr Anna Machin to explore the science of l...

What happens when a parent trying to protect their children enters a family court system that doesn’t always recognise abuse? In this episode of Care Visions Professional Talk, Humphrey Hawksley speaks with Julia Margo, co-founder of Fair Hearing, about domestic abuse, coercive control, safeguarding and the realities of navigating the family justice system. Julia shares her personal experience of...

Are standards in Scottish education falling — and what’s really behind it? In this episode of Family Talk, Lucy Johnston speaks with Keir Bloomer, former Director of Education and one of the architects of Curriculum for Excellence. Drawing on decades of experience, Dr. Bloomer argues that standards in Scotland have declined, pointing to international data, curriculum design, and a shift away from...

What happens when more children need care — but there are fewer homes to support them? In this episode of Care Visions Professional Talk , Professor Claudia Bernard (Goldsmiths, University of London) joins Humphrey Hawksley to explore the growing pressure on the UK care system. Drawing on decades of experience in social work and research, Professor Bernard explains why the system is under strain —...

CHILDHOOD IN CRISIS Why are so many children struggling today – and why does no one seem to have a clear answer? In this Care Visions Family Talk: Spotlight episode, host Lucy Johnston speaks to world-renowned trauma expert and bestselling author Dr Gabor Maté about the rising levels of anxiety, depression, ADHD, eating disorders and emotional distress in children. As diagnoses increase and waitin...

Children are growing up on screens earlier than ever — but what is it doing to their development, wellbeing and safety? In this episode of Care Visions Family Talk, host Lucy Johnston speaks with Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive of Children First, about the real impact of smartphones and social media on children’s lives. From rising anxiety and sleep issues to exposure to harmful content and online g...

What does it take to rebuild your life after a difficult childhood? In this episode of Care Visions Talks – Professional Talk, Humphrey Hawksley speaks with Tina Copp, who shares her experience of growing up in the care system and how those early challenges shaped her path into education and mental health training. Now a Mental Health First Aid Instructor, Tina reflects on trauma, resilience, and...

In this episode of Family Talk, Lucy Johnston speaks with Bruce Adamson, human rights lawyer and former Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland. Bruce shares insights from his international work advising governments and organisations on children’s rights. Together they explore the pressures facing children today — including poverty, mental health challenges, online safety and the rap...

In this episode of Care Visions Talks: Professional Talk, host Humphrey Hawksley is joined by Dr Andrew G. Thomas, PhD for a thoughtful conversation exploring male identity in a rapidly changing social world. Together, they examine how masculinity is evolving, the pressures facing boys and men today, and what this means for families, care systems, education and professional practice. In this conve...

In this episode of Care Visions Talks: Family Talk , host Lucy Johnston is joined by Children’s Minister Josh MacAlister OBE MP for a timely and in-depth conversation on fostering reform in the UK. Drawing on his leadership of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, the Minister outlines a vision to transform a system he believes has become too focused on process rather than people. From...

In this episode of Care Visions Talks: Professional Talk, host Humphrey Hawksley is joined by Professor Claire Cameron, the UK’s first Professor of Social Pedagogy, for a reflective and practice-focused conversation about care, relationships and professional culture. Drawing on a career spanning residential care, frontline social work, research and policy, Claire explores how care systems function...

In this episode of Care Visions Family Talk , host Lucy Johnston is joined by Mary Sharpe , Chief Executive of The Reward Foundation, for an open and informative conversation about the impact of online pornography on young people’s brains, wellbeing, relationships, and development. Together they explore why children are being exposed at increasingly young ages, how the adolescent brain responds to...

In this episode of Family Talk, Linda de Caestecker speaks with Gael Cochrane, Learning, Development and Innovation Lead at Community Justice Scotland, about how pornography and the online manosphere are shaping young people’s attitudes, relationships and wellbeing. They explore early exposure to online pornography, the influence of misogynistic online communities and figures such as Andrew Tate,...

Family Talk is part of Care Visions Talks, a UK podcast exploring the real issues affecting children, young people and families. In this episode, host Lucy Johnston speaks with Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive of Children 1st, about the urgent challenges shaping modern childhood in Scotland. They explore how poverty, smartphones and social media, post-lockdown behaviours, family stress and community...

Host: Humphrey Hawksley Guests: Associate Professor Yvalia Febrer , Associate Professor of Social Work, Kingston University London Danny Henderson , Service Manager, Care Visions Episode Summary: How do we move beyond systems and structures to create spaces of belonging for young people in residential care? In this thoughtful discussion, Associate Professor Yvalia Febrer and Danny Henderson join H...

Why are so many boys feeling angry, numb, lonely or adrift — and who’s rushing in to offer them answers? In this conversation, Lucy Johnston speaks with Mark Brooks OBE, chair of the Mankind Initiative and a leading voice on men’s wellbeing and healthy masculinity. Together they explore why some boys and young men are getting pulled towards misogynistic online influencers, and what parents, carers...

Modern childhood is facing an unprecedented crisis — rising screen time, falling literacy, and overstimulated young minds. In this Family Talk Live event, Sue Palmer , author of Toxic Childhood and Upstart , joined Dr Linda de Caestecker to unpack what’s really going on for children today — and how we can bring back calm, play, and connection. Sue shared insights from decades of research into earl...

In this episode of the Care Visions Professional Talk series, Humphrey Hawksley is joined by Dr Steven Carnaby , a Chartered Consultant Clinical Psychologist with more than 30 years’ experience supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, and special needs. Steven discusses why it is vital to put the human at the heart of care, ensuring that individuals themselves — alongside their famili...

Every year, thousands of children across the UK are groomed into county lines gangs, while growing numbers of school exclusions leave vulnerable teenagers without the structure and support they need. In this episode of Care Visions Family Talk , host Lucy Johnston speaks with Baroness Anne Longfield , Chair of the Commission on Young Lives and former Children’s Commissioner for England. Together,...

Knife crime and youth violence: moving beyond headlines Knife crime and youth violence are not just about crime statistics — they’re rooted in poverty, trauma, exclusion and lack of opportunity. So how do we respond in ways that make a real difference? In this Care Visions Family Talk, Dr Linda de Caestecker is joined by Karyn McCluskey , Chief Executive of Community Justice Scotland, TEDx speaker...

Therapeutic Care Beyond the Therapy Room: Everyday Moments That Heal In this Family Talk conversation, Dr Linda de Caestecker speaks with Ruth Emond , senior lecturer at the University of Stirling, social worker and play therapist. Ruth shares how everyday experiences — from routines and friendships to food and shared meals — can play a vital role in the recovery and development of children looked...

Care Visions Family Talk | Raising Steady Kids in an Unsteady World How do we raise steady kids in an unsteady world? In this Family Talk conversation, Dr Linda de Caestecker is joined by George Hosking OBE , founder of the WAVE Trust and leading expert on childhood trauma, alongside Danny Henderson , Service Manager at Care Visions Residential. Together, they explore how the last few years have s...

In this powerful and open conversation hosted by Care Visions Family Talk, Dr Linda de Caestecker spoke with Lyndsay McDade , Fearless Lead at Crimestoppers Scotland, about the growing threat of sextortion — a form of online blackmail increasingly targeting young people. Together, they tackled the fear, shame, and silence surrounding this issue, with the goal of equipping parents and carers to bet...