Let's Talk Social Work

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...

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 dis...

“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 pove...

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...

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 Drakefo...

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 se...

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 ad...

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...

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 outl...

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,...

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 M...

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 Co...

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 se...

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, Directo...

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 excitin...

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...

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 experience...

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 f...

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 devast...

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 Britis...

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...

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 me...

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...