Helpful Social Work Podcast

The next episode in our journey through the life-course is retirement. We consider the evidence around how people experience retirement and the social factors that affect this. We look at how social workers can promote good retirement for all and reduce structural barriers to equality.

In this podcast we discuss the big issue of colonialism - what it is, how it has impacted on people and its continued effects in social work. We consider how social workers can use anti-oppressive practice to understand their individual and structural relationships, and to work with people for liberation.

The next episode in our journey through the life-course is middle age. We talk about important areas for social workers to consider including relationships, money and health. And we look at what underpins good practice in working with often complex situations and networks.

This podcast is about how we ensure that everyone has a home. We look at the causes and impacts of homelessness. We then explore how social workers can act personally, professionally and collectively to end homelessness.

We continue our journey through the life-course, looking at early adulthood. We consider how expectations and experiences around different elements of adulthood impact on people, including work, relationships and parenthood. And we consider the social work response in helping people navigate this time of life.

In this podcast we discuss migration and the social work response to it. We consider how migration is viewed, experienced and understood. We look at how social workers can uphold rights and promote inclusion.

In this podcast, we explore the social work role as young people transition to adulthood. We discuss what it means to become an adult, and how social workers can support young people to overcome obstacles.

In this podcast we consider the issue of racism from a social work point of view. We discuss the impact of racism, and how social workers can oppose it in practice. Social work ethics require us to respect the inherent worth and dignity of all people. We need to work collectively to challenge and overcome all forms of racism.

Our next podcast through the lifecourse looks at how we work with young people. We discuss what's happening for adolescents, the support they need and how social workers can best respond.

In this podcast we consider the implications of the climate emergency on social work practice. We look at what actions our social work ethics lead to, and how we can respond individually and collectively.

In this podcast, we continue the social work journey through the lifecourse and discuss social work with children. We consider how ideas of childhood and children's rights have developed. We look at how social workers can respond well to children's experiences and context.

In this podcast we discuss the causes and impacts of poverty. We consider social work's role in overcoming poverty, through direct work and social action. And we look at how we can rethink the way we talk about poverty and wealth.

In this podcast, we continue the social work journey through the lifespan. We consider how social workers can enable infants to thrive. We discuss child development, work with families, and how we support communities to challenge inequality.

In this podcast we start our exploration of some of the big issues using a social work lens. We consider what identity means and how we respond to it in social work, including our own identity as social workers.

Welcome to the first podcast for Series 4. In our ‘a’ podcasts this series we are looking at social work through the life-course, starting here with pre-birth. We acknowledge the difficulties of talking about this area of work, and look to how we can practise ethically and thoughtfully.

In this final podcast of series 3, we review the social work year. We discuss the events and implications, and look ahead to what the next year may hold.

Series 4 runs from 2019-2020. We will look at social work through the life-course, and take a social work view of big issues such as homelessness, climate change and identity.

This is our final podcast about the social work journey. We talk about endings and how we can bring an encounter to a harmonious close. What story about social work will we leave people with?

In this podcast we consider what systems theory is and how it has been used in social work. We look at how social workers can operate within systems.

In this podcast we discuss how social work helps when someone is experiencing a crisis. We look at crisis intervention theory and consider the practice implications of working alongside people during these moments of change.

In this podcast, we continue to look at other disciplines and consider what social workers can learn from historians. We discuss approaches, skills and tools that can help social work. We also introduce a new Listener's Request section where we discuss a question from you.

This podcast continues our discussion of the social work journey. We look at reviews, and consider how we can undertake them purposefully and skilfully.

Social work is a human rights profession. The Universal Declaration says that 'all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.' In this podcast we consider what it means to promote full and equal humanity in our work.

In this podcast we continue to look at the social work journey and discuss how safeguarding fits into social work practice. We focus on the philosophy behind safeguarding - what are we trying to achieve and why - and consider how we can do this well.

In this additional podcast, we highlight recent UK research about social workers' working conditions. The social work context needs to change - we discuss what social workers need in order to help others, and how we can act to improve things.