The Social World Podcast

This programme highlights a much needed service in mental health awareness raising. It’s like a training programme for ‘social lifeguards’—training people to identify, support and refer on,  if needed , those struggling with all types of mental health related issues. Paula’s own life experience contributed hugely to her awareness of the value of wellbeing and mental health in overcoming challenges...

Social Work Today    A new platform My guest today is Kellie Doubtfire , someone I’ve known and worked with over many years. She has, with COMPASS, produced and developed some of the most useful and memorable events in the social work sector, mixing huge attendance with great content. Social Work Today,  www.socialworktoday.co.uk , is a new platform, designed to give social work professionals an o...

  I talk to George Livingstone who acts as the development manager for this important charity. It’s one of dozens around the UK that are striving to help balance inequality and create opportunity for those disadvantaged through no fault of their own. Also learning to survive during the pandemic. So often we overlook the value and importance of small community charities, all making a difference and...

This is about women born in the 1950’s who strongly claim to have been cheated out of their pensions entitlement. #BackTo60    http://www.backto60.com   supports of 50’s women who demand the return of their earned dues which are being kept from them as opposed to men of the same age. The search for justice has taken considerable time and effort and is still being opposed by the courts and the admi...

Suicide, self harm and depression haunt young people across the world, taking thousands of lives all over the globe. Combined with the threats from drug and alcohol abuse, bullying, in all forms, and child pornography the risk to students are manifest. Based in Los Angeles, Jeff has developed a company that now offers protection and support to over 4.5 million school and college students. He has b...

The new Bradford Partnership Board replaces the  Safeguarding Children Board. It is made up of agencies including the Council, Police, Health services in addition to schools and voluntary services that work together to keep children in the district safe. We talk about multi agency cooperation, major changes to the Boards with the challenges of Covid19 impacting on the community, schools and learni...

 David Jones talks from an extensive history of involvement in international social work policy and practice. Promoting themes such as socio economic health , dignity and work , environmental change, strength of human relationships and protection of the millions of vulnerable people across continents, challenge the basic fundemental commitment of social work policy and practice. We talk of conflic...

100,100 Downloads and 100 programmes and that with an 18 month gap in between! This one on the media! I needed to say thank you to all the guests and listeners who made the podcast thrive. It’s been fantastic and I look forward to it continuing. So many fine people with insight and experience. I have submitted some videos to the  http://thegisw.org  website on social work and the media. Please hav...

In the 50th year of the British Association of Social Workers ( BASW ) it is fitting that my 100th podcast is with the National Chair, Gerry Nosowska. The Heritage Year sees challenges both national and international but finds the Association in a strong position, representing more than 20,000 social workers and growing. With further pleasant coincidence, I was the National Chair at the 25th anniv...

Part 2 of this fascinating interview on the power of diplomacy from when Christopher moved to the IFRC. The range of issues and the depth of need in the world is staggering. The constant demand on a macro and micro level to resolve conflict is well known but this gives an insight to the responsibilities and skills of those working to that end. From 2000, just before I first met him,  he worked as...

This is a great opportunity to listen in to the world of international diplomacy. Christopher served his country for 30 years , having worked for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 1968-2000.  In that time he served in a variety of embassies, at the Australian Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, as the Department’s Legal Adviser and as Ambassador to Myanmar (Burma) from 1986-89...

In which Jim becomes the CEO of the INEQE Safeguarding Group. http://www.ineqe.com  Initially, like many ex law enforcement officers he focussed on consultancy work but soon realised that they needed to expand to realise the many ideas that they had so created a business and a hub in Belfast–INEQE. The underlying content was technical solutions to safeguarding problems and the first App was to cha...

Jim Gamble is one of the UK’s leading voices on the safeguarding of children. I’ve known Jim for many years and he has always worked passionately to improve the safety of children. This is a great listen and an honest account of times in law enforcement during the troubles in Northen Ireland and the days where he had progressively senior positions in counter terrorism. Then the days when he began...

This time, I’m pleased to feature Tiggi Trethowan who now has developed almost total sight loss. Her story and thoughts on the traumatic impact is inspirational and she is a welcome addition to the podcasting community. There are 350,000 people in the UK with significant visual impairment and much could be improved in how we support them and offer emotional as well as practical support. Tiggi has...

Black Lives Matter has reached huge audiences over the last month or two but how can it be turned into action? Wayne Reid is a professional officer with the British Association of Social Workers and is my guest. He talks of the BLM impact personally and professionally in social work. He found himself writing and speaking widely and draws attention to his thoughts and the association’s thinking as...

A new and much needed initiative. SafeguardingInternational Schools. http://www. ChildSafeguarding.com  is launching. This recognises the need to offer child protection training to all staff at international schools, whatever their role and in their own language. The CEO is Matt Harris and he is todays guest on the programme. For years he has wanted to develop this resource and, at last, it’s come...

  I talk to Lee Emmett  Managing Director of Sanctuary International about recruitment of staff from overseas and the importance of ethical behaviour in doing so. Lee heads up Sanctuary’s International division, with a focus on client relationships and developing recruitment solutions for the NHS. It’s been a sharp learning curve and the most rewarding period of his career to date. Lee enjoys havi...

What social work can contribute during and following the Covid19 pandemic.   Professor Ngoh Tiong Tan is Chair of Global Institute for Social Work ( www.thegisw.org ) International Advisory Board —– President, Connexions International. —– Professor, Singapore University of Social Sciences.—– Treasurer, International Association of Schools of Social Work. We talk about the post Covid19 world and th...

Covid19 has been a nightmare for all populations. Paradoxically, the planet and the environment have benefited. Just before lockdown, I was invited with a group of poets in Bath to respond to a short but powerful video produced by two remarkable women by writing and reading poems reflecting their lament on environmental destruction. Rise: From one island to another is their work. One is from the M...

  Memories from World War 2 Welcome back to all.  After six years non stop , I took a breather. Now it feels right to restart and expand and I hope you’ll be pleased with the result. This is the first in the new series of podcasts that will be more of a magazine format than before. As always , there will be room for social care and safeguarding. I can’t just leave some things that have been so muc...

14th March 2019  Leeds Town Hall. Safeguarding Impact Conference. Speakers include: Opposition Shadow Minister for Children and Families  Emma Lewell-Buck MP   Police and Crime Commissioner for W Yorkshire Mark Burns Williamson OBE Dean Coady OBE highly decorated former detective specialising in safeguarding. Andy Woodward Football player and whistleblower of abuse in sport. Colin Radcliffe  found...

The internet can be a dangerous place and protecting the vulnerable from those who prey on them is becoming more and more important. Claudia is an expert on digital engagement and online safeguarding. She is co-chair of the Principal Social Workers’ national network. She is a fellow of National Institute of Health Research NIHR and Head of Service within a local authority. She is the founder of “S...

  A fantastic folk rock CD to raise funds for Looked After Children. The project is Jenni’s brainchild  and marries her lifelong love of social work with her passion for folk and folk-rock music. She is an award winning social worker who has retired to live in Cromer and has linked up with the Rees Care Leavers Foundation, a national charity that provides ongoing support for those who have previou...

Professor Ngoh Tiong Tan Chair, Global Institute for Social Work ( GISW ) International Advisory Board —– President, Connexions International. —– Professor, Singapore University of Social Sciences.—– Treasurer, International Association of Schools of Social Work. I’m very pleased to have been invited on to the International Advisory Board that Tiong Chairs and , in this interview, he lays out the...

A magazine edition today! 1  )  Chris Walters ( pictured) , a terrific stain glass artist who gives back to the community, talks about his work and his committment. If you’re anywhere near the SW of England go and see his work.  (Details below) Chris has been creating glass art work for nearly 20 years.  He is a member of the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen and Contemporary Glass Society.  Over the ye...