Social Workers Matter

 In this episode, I sit down with Veronica Xavier-Leigh — author of The Mountain Beneath the Carpet: Healing the Little Child Hidden Within Us — for one of the most profound conversations we've had on the podcast. Together we explore: Emotional Suppression and Childhood Trauma Childhood Trauma and Adult Behaviour Listening to the Inner Child Pattern of Controlling Relationships Personal Heali...

I've been away from this space longer than planned.  Life and loss asked something of me that I needed to honour first. I'm back. And the episode I'm returning with feels right. This is a solo episode. Personal. Reflective. And I hope, useful. I talk about a period in my career when I became the kind of manager I wouldn't have wanted for myself, not because I didn't care,...

Lifting as you climb: a conversation with Odeth Richardson Head of Service for Occupational Therapy, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust & Chair, Royal College of Occupational Therapists What does it look like to lead with purpose, replenish yourself honestly, and commit to leaving a profession better than you found it? In this episode of Social Workers Matter, Sylvia sits down with the re...

Caribbean Perspectives in Occupational Therapy in the UK is a pioneering resource that brings cultural specificity into occupational therapy practice, centring the experiences and needs of Caribbean communities living in the UK. It is notably authored by occupational therapists of Caribbean heritage themselves, lending the work an authenticity and lived-experience grounding that sets it apart. The...

A Valentine’s Day to Social Workers In this powerful Valentine’s Day episode, Amja shares her transformative Self-Soothing Creative Steps (SSCS) framework—a lifeline born from her own journey through domestic abuse and a beacon for those who pour themselves into caring for others. The framework’s four pillars—support, self-love, spirituality, and security—challenge the extractive culture that dema...

Welcome to this new episode of Social Workers Matter, my guest today is Antonia Amja Lee  where creativity meets resilience and empowerment! Join us as we dive into Amja’s inspiring journey —a self-taught artist and motivational speaker who has transformed her life through art after overcoming the shadows of domestic abuse. In today’s episode, Amja introduces her innovative framework, the Self-Soo...

In Conversation with Professor Prospera Tedam SFHEA   Join me for an inspiring conversation with the remarkable Professor Prospera Tedam, from the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice at University College Dublin.  Professor Tedam takes us on a journey through her career spanning both academia and frontline practice, sharing insights which are sure to resonate with social work p...

In conversation with Dr Andrea J. Boudreaux, a seasoned physician with a wealth of experience, she shares her insights on the pressing challenges within the U.S. healthcare system. In this thought-provoking episode, we dive into themes like trust, resilience, and the urgent need for change. Dr Boudreaux doesn’t shy away from discussing the stark realities of a broken system that often fails margin...

This is episode 101 of SWM, and Psychotherapist Hugh Mayers is our special guest. In our conversation, Hugh shares details about his career, and we take a deeper dive into his interesting work with young men at HM Prison Feltham following a difficult period, as well as his work with several school Pupil Referral Units and his meaningful therapeutic work with young Black boys. Hugh can be found on...

Celebrating 100 episodes of SWM, whoop whoop!  💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽🎤 Here is the interview my friend and colleague, the lovely Sharon Jennings, did with me when the 5th Anniversary arrived.     Do share your feedback at: adosylv@gmail.com Follow us on social media:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/412169436067530 Subscribe and leave a review to help us reach more listeners! Join us and remember—socia...

'We are giving Back' - Safeguarding in the Caribbean D. Aleski Brandy-Williams and his Team D. Aleski Brandy-Williams is a qualified Social worker and the CEO of Brandy-Williams Ltd. He is the author of the book 'My Journey to Becoming a Black Male Social Worker.' In this podcast, we discuss his career, how he found social work, the value he places on contextual safeguarding pr...

In this insightful episode of "Social Workers Matter," Dr. Sylvia B. Smith engages with Denise Harvey and Arlene P. Weekes as they share their recent collaboration on the book "Effective Personal and Professional Judgment in Social Work."    Throughout the episode, the authors explore the complexities of decision-making in social work and the broader application of the concepts...

Welcome to Episode 97 of "Social Workers Matter"! Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with two remarkable colleagues, Shabnam Ahmed and Jo Williams, who are not only dear friends but also passionate advocates for transformative supervision practice. They bring with them a wealth of experience and insight, having contributed to the newly released second edition of "The Anti-Racist...

Anna from Florida State University (FSU) completed her final Social Work placement at Doctors of the World. She was here for four months, and I met with her regularly as her long-term supervisor. We used this episode as an end-of-placement reflection session. Anna shared what she learned about the organisation, the work, and herself. She intends to complete her Master's in Social Work upon re...

In this episode, we sit down with Carlene Firmin, an influential sociology figure and a youth violence specialist.  Carlene shares her career trajectory, highlighting the pivotal moments and experiences that shaped her as a researcher.  She emphasises the significance of mentorship and strong leadership in her professional growth and development, offering valuable lessons. She discusses contextual...

Welcome to the 94th episode of SWM! In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with the outstanding Jazz Browne, CEO of the Nubian Life Resource Day Centre, a provision for Black and Asian elders. Jazz is a passionate community activist with deep roots in her neighbourhood. She shares her journey and how she arrived at Nubian Life, where she leads a dedicated and joyful team that continues p...

In this captivating episode of *Social Workers Matter*, we sit down with Professor Frank Keating, a prominent figure in social work and mental health. Frank, who recently retired from his role at Royal Holloway University of London, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our discussion. Key Highlights: A Pragmatist's Perspective: Frank shares his unique approach to writing and academi...

Join us for an inspiring episode as we sit down with Natalie, the dynamic founder of Social Life, on a crisp Friday morning. What began as a chilly start quickly became a heartfelt conversation that warmed us up.    Natalie shares her career journey and passion for empowering newly qualified and seasoned social work practitioners. Through her consultancy, Social Life, she is dedicated to helping t...

A short episode recorded partly during my gym workout session—some final reflections for 2024.  Next year is my 40th Anniversary of being a qualified social worker; what a ride! I will be marking this milestone for sure..............   Happy New Year and Peace! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode 90 of SWM, I talk with Andrez Harriott, the Founder and CEO of The Liminality Group. TLG's primary task is to prevent and reduce offending among children and young adults aged 10-15. They support health and well-being services within secure estates by delivering integrated models of care to children remanded or sentenced through bespoke psychologically informed programmes. TLG also...

In today’s episode, I'm in conversation with the passionate and extraordinary Meave Darroux, founder and CEO of Brilliant Parents. Brilliant Parents run parenting classes supporting families across the capital and beyond. Their work also specialises in programmes for children in their early years and young people.  BP supports families by introducing new parenting techniques to help them deal...

Nimal, Arlene, and I, members of the Anti-Racism Movement subgroup, discuss the Social Work Awards 2024 and our feelings following our win. We also share information about our forthcoming conference on 22/11/24 - entitled ICU. Tickets and more information can be found here; https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/icu-or-i-see-you-annual-national-conference-from-the-anti-racist-movement-tickets-100794399662...

**Overview:** In this episode, we conclude our insightful discussions with Dr. Agnes Bryan, focusing on Chapter 7 of her forthcoming book manuscript, which delves into the complex themes of race and racism. **Key Discussion Points:** - **Navigating Difficult Conversations:** Strategies for addressing racism and the importance of positional theory. - **Empathy and Emotional Intelligence:** The role...

In our last interview before the summer break, #DrAgnesBryan takes an even deeper dive into the role of the anti-racist facilitator/trainer in supporting transformation. She touches on the emotionality of the space, the feelings of the parties involved, and the need to keep moving forward through relationship-building and increasing our political savvy to promote understanding of the context in wh...

On the 5th Anniversary of The Social Workers Matter Podcast, Dr Sylvia is interviewed by Academic, writer and coach Ms Sharon Jennings. Sylvia and Sharon discussed various aspects of Sylvia's life and career, including her interests, her approach to work, and her personal and professional journey regarding anti-racism. Additional discussion topics included Sylvia's Interests and Approach...