State of our Nation

In the final episode of the State of Our Nation: Global Perspectives podcast, Adelina Comas-Herrera, Director of the Global Observatory on Long-Term Care, discusses the challenges and opportunities in social care systems globally. The conversation highlights the funding gaps and inefficiencies in England's social care system, comparing it with international models. Adelina emphasises the need for...

In our final episode of this series, we delve into a compelling discussion on social care with Adelina Comas Herrera. During our conversation, we explored the notion that social care should be viewed as an investment in our economy, rather than a mere expense. This post will unpack key insights from the interview and reflect on the broader themes we've encountered throughout this series.

In this episode of the State of Our Nation podcast, we delve into the intricacies of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Australia. Many people are unaware of the distinct systems in place for older individuals versus working-age people with disabilities. To shed light on this, we invited Dr. Sam Bennett, the inaugural Disability Programme Director at the Grattan Institute, to discu...

In the eighth episode of State of our Nation: In Conversation , Kari is joined by Andy McCabe to unpack and reflect on State of Our Nation: Global Perspectives with Sam Bennett.

This episode Kari and Andy McCabe discuss the recent findings of the Casey Commission on social care, exploring societal changes, government responsibilities, and the future of social care reform in England. Featuring insights from Baroness Casey's speech at the Nuffield Conference, the discussion emphasises the importance of informed public engagement, transparency, and systemic change.

In Episode 6 of State of Our Nation: Global Perspectives Brendan Martin shares his personal journey into social care, insights from the Dutch neighborhood care model, and lessons for scaling innovative practices in the UK. Discover how systemic change, leadership, and relationship-based care can transform social services.

In the sixth episode of State of our Nation: In Conversation , Kari is joined by Andy McCabe to unpack and reflect on State of Our Nation: Global Perspectives with Brendan Martin.

In the fifth episode, Kari Gerstheimer interviews Marcus Riley, Executive Chairman of BallyCara in Queensland, Australia, to explore the intricacies of Australia's social care and aged care systems. They discuss recent legislative reforms, funding mechanisms, workforce challenges, and lessons that the UK can learn from Australia's approach to aging and social support.  Find Marcus' book here: http...

In the third episode of State of our Nation: In Conversation , Kari is joined by Andy McCabe to unpack and reflect on State of Our Nation: Global Perspectives with Marcus Riley.

In this conversation, Kari Gerstheimer speaks with Donald Macaskill, Chief Executive of Scottish Care, about the state of social care in Scotland. They discuss Donald's journey into social care, the challenges and successes of the National Care Service, the importance of human rights in care delivery, and the pressing issues surrounding workforce and funding. Donald emphasises the need for a perso...

In the third episode of State of our Nation: In Conversation , Kari is joined by Andy McCabe to unpack and reflect on State of Our Nation: Global Perspectives with Donald Macaskill.

Episode 3 features a thoughtful conversation with Mansur Dalal, who traces his path from architecture into elder care, inspired by his experiences caring for his grandfather and mother. Mansur reflects on the social and cultural realities of ageing in India, where a rapidly growing older population is outpacing existing care infrastructure. He discusses the need for clear standards and regulation...

In the third episode of State of our Nation: In Conversation , Kari is joined by Andy McCabe to unpack and reflect on State of Our Nation: Global Perspectives with Mansur Dalal.

Episode 2 features a wide ranging conversation with Vic Rayner, CEO of the National Care Forum, as she reflects on her journey in social care and the experiences that have shaped her leadership. Vic discusses the growing importance of digital transformation and how technology and data can strengthen care services and better demonstrate the value of social care alongside healthcare. Drawing on inte...

In the second episode of State of our Nation: In Conversation , Kari is joined by Andy McCabe to unpack and reflect on State of Our Nation: Global Perspectives with Vic Rayner.

Episode 1 opens with an in depth conversation with Phil Hope, former Minister of State for Care Services, drawing on his long career shaping social care and health policy. Phil reflects on the origins of the National Care Service, the creation of the first national dementia strategy, and why closer integration between health and social care is essential. He explores what a truly national care serv...

In the first episode of State of our Nation: In Conversation , Kari is joined by Andy McCabe to unpack and reflect on State of Our Nation: Global Perspectives with Phil Hope.

This final episode of the "State of Our Nation" podcast features a heartfelt conversation between co-hosts Kari Gerstheimer and Anna Severwright as they reflect on the series, and discuss the current challenging state of social care. They double down on the onslaught of recent policy and financial decisions that seem to be negatively impacting people who rely on social care; discuss reactions to t...

This episode of the State of our Nation shines a light on the critical issue of health and social care inequalities faced by Black and other minority ethnic groups in the UK. Our guest this time is Charles Kwaku-Odoi, CEO of the Caribbean & African Health Network (CAHN) who shares his experience to highlight the key issues. Namely, a lack of trust in healthcare systems, negative experiences wi...

Join Kari and Anna as they welcome Svetlana Kotova from Inclusion London to discuss the complexities of charging for social care. Svetlana Kotova.  Director of Campaigns and Justice is a lifelong advocate for disability rights, and shares her journey from her early years in Russia to her impactful work in the UK. When she first arrived in the West she was  surprised to discover that disability rig...

Are strengths-based assessments a "wolf in sheep's clothing?"  In this episode, Kari and Anna ask a critical question: are they actually doing more harm than good? Anna shares a frustrating personal experience where a strengths-based review felt rigid, unhelpful, and ultimately left her feeling confused and boxed in, rather than empowered. This leads to a deeper exploration of the potential downsi...

Welcome to the State of Our Nation podcast. We recorded this episode in the run up to Christmas 2024 with Anna Severwright, Kari Gerstheimer and guest, James Bullion, former director of Adult Services at Norfolk and president of ADASS, also DHSC lead for social care discharges and recently, interim Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care at CQC. This omnibus edition of the podcast looks backwards ove...

Anna Severwright and Kari Gerstheimer talk about the why language matters with Bryony Shannon. They explore how the language we use within and about social care exposes and perpetuates our attitudes and behaviours, and consider how we can create safe spaces for people to challenge language together so we can co-produce more inclusive expressions to describe social care terms. Find out more about B...

Anna Severwright and Kari Gerstheimer discuss the importance of 'people power' in social care and how lived experiences can and should shape decision-making. They share insights on co-production and the need for genuine involvement of individuals in service design, highlighting positive examples from councils like Hammersmith and Fulham. Anna reflects on the challenges faced in advocating for chan...

In the first part of the episode, Anna and Kari discuss the findings from the latest edition of the ASC State of the Nation report which looks into adult social care advice seeking. Anna and Kari are joined by the authors of the report, Amit Kohli, Head of Data at Access Social Care and Hannah Hewish, Legal Manager and Data Lead at Access Social Care. The report is based on data gathered from enqu...