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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 devastating.    Andy McClenaghan is joined by social worker and founder of Food is Care, Dominic Watters, Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick, Lecturer in Law at Ulster University and anti-poverty campaigner, and Jonny Adamson, Communications and External Relations Officer at the British Association of Social Workers. They explore the impacts of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and the BASW UK campaign, Social Work Stands Against Poverty.   You can listen to this, and all other episodes of Let’s Talk Social Work, at Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/3g7YcE0 Spotify https://spoti.fi/2QjefE6 and everywhere else you get your podcasts, just search ‘Let’s Talk Social Work’. To book Dominic's ground-breaking Food Insecurity Training email - singledadsw@gmail.com For information on BASW’s Social Work Stands Against Poverty campaign, click here.   To read the Christian’s Against Poverty client report Taking on UK poverty, click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 British Association of Social Workers, Anoosh Chakelian, Britain Editor of the New Statesman, host of the New Statesman Podcast and co-host of the Westminster Reimagined podcast and Shahid Naqvi, Editor of Professional Social Work Magazine. Andy is later joined by John McGowan, General Secretary of the Social Workers Union to discuss the work the union has undertaken with media regulators regarding coverage of social work related issues. To register to attend the live recording of Let’s Talk Social Work in Birmingham on the evening of Monday 12 June, please visit https://www.basw.co.uk/events/talking-heads-social-work-and-podcasts To find out more about Julia’s book, Call the Social, mentioned in the discussion, click here. To read the IMPRESS media reporting guidelines for cases involving social workers, click here and for further information on the work of the Social Workers Union in this area, click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Fellow in the School of Education and Social Work at Sussex University.  Their conversation explores what kinship care is, the challenges kinship carers face, what social workers need to know about it, and what needs to change to ensure children in kinship care, and their carers receive the support they need. During the conversation Sam references the document Practising in kinship care: The perspectives of specialist social workers.  Paul’s podcast, Do Do Social Work, co-hosted with Sarah Flagg, can be accessed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and everywhere else you get your podcasts. Some of Paul’s research can be accessed below:  Shuttleworth, P.D. (2023) 'What matters for child participation - The role of valuation-based dialogical participation for children living in kinship care in England' Child and Youth Service Review (149) Available at :https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106959 Shuttleworth, P.D. (2022) ‘Recognition of Family Life by Children Living in Kinship Care Arrangements in England’, The British Journal of Social Work, p. bcac114. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcac114  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 men in social work, and what the education sector can learn from social work and vice versa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 The Young ME Sufferers Trust. They consider the impacts M.E. has on the lives of those affected and what social workers need to know to support and advocate for service users with the illness. Several resources are referred to during the episode, they can be accessed via the following links: Action for M.E.: M.E./CFS in children and young people  Action for M.E.: Newly diagnosed with M.E./CFS National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and management BASW: Fabricated and Induced Illness Practice Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 adapted to deliver services amidst situations of political violence, and discuss the role of social work in post-conflict societies. With Andy to discuss these issues, are Dr Reima Ana Maglajlic, Reader in Social Work at the University of Sussex, Jim Campbell, Emeritus Full Professor of Social Work at University College Dublin and Janet Walker, Professor of International Social Work at the University of Lincoln and Chair of the British Association of Social Workers International Committee. As ever, the views expressed are those of the participants and not necessarily the views of BASW. To buy a copy of International Perspectives on Social Work and Political Conflict, please visit https://www.routledge.com/International-Perspectives-on-Social-Work-and-Political-Conflict/Duffy-Campbell-Tosone/p/book/9781032087283 Milkman, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Ulysses, and the works of William Faulkner, are available from all good libraries and bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 social worker, Chairperson of the community organisation the Heritage & Cultural Exchange and member of the governance group of the Welsh Government’s Anti-racist Wales Action Plan.  The conversation starts with the big picture—exploring the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan and whether political leaders have gone far enough in their efforts to achieve an anti-racist society. The group then moves on to discuss experiences of racism in the context of practice, how incidents were addressed by employers, and what needs to change to ensure anti-racist practice is embedded in social work in Wales. If you’d like to find out more about the BASW Cymru Anti-racism group, please email BASW Cymru Professional Officer Narinder Sidhu – narinder.sidhu@basw.co.uk To read the Welsh Government’s Anti-racist Wales Action Plan click here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On 2 February the Government launched its strategy for children's social care reform in England—Stable Homes, Built on Love.    In this episode we we look at what the Strategy means for children and young people in care, those who care for them and for social workers working in children’s services.   To discuss the strategy, host, Andy McClenaghan is joined by social workers Bekah Pierre and Joe Hanley—Bekah is a care experienced adult and BASW England Professional Officer, and Joe is a lecturer with the Open University and a member of the BASW Policy, Ethics and Human Rights Committee—and Sam Turner, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the charity Kinship.   To read the Government’s strategy, click here.   To visit BASW’s review of children’s social care web hub, which includes BASW’s response to the publication of the strategy click here.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Social Work we explore the important, and unfortunately all too often overlooked issue of the needs of Black children in care. The episode begins by exploring a ground-breaking initiative run by Camden Council, to ensure all foster carers are able to meet the haircare and skincare needs of Black children and young people in their care. The discussion later widens out to look at other issues concerning cultural awareness.  Host, Andy McClenaghan is joined by friends of the podcast James Kargbo  Equalities Lead at Camden Council, and Patriche Bentick, member of the BASW Black & Ethnic Minority Professionals Symposium and Senior Social Work Practitioner, also at Camden Council and foster carer, Sarah Livingstone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy McClenaghan is joined by social workers Deb Solomon and Florence Smith to talk about neurodiversity in social work and examine how employers and educators can improve support for neurodivergent social workers. Deb is Chair of the BASW Neurodivergent Social Workers Special Interest Group and Florence is a campaigner for neuro-inclusion, host of the blog the neurodivergent social worker and she is also a member of the BASW Special Interest Group. For more information on the BASW Neurodivergent Social Workers Special Interest Group follow them on Twitter @ND_SWgroup. To access Florence’s blog, please click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To start 2023, Andy McClenaghan is joined by Dr Rory Truell, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Social Workers to discuss how the Federation is assisting social workers in Ukraine and neighbouring countries to support people displaced as a result of the Russian Invasion. They examine what life is currently like in Ukraine and how social workers within the country, and internationally, have responded to the Russian invasion. They explore the role of social workers in the creation of a Social Investment Partnership launched in the Kamenets Podisk district of Ukraine and discuss the importance of this initiative in providing people with access to food and essential products in a manner which respects their dignity and prevents a reliance on aid. For more information of the work of IFSW in Ukraine, visit https://www.ifsw.org/social-work-in-ukraine/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of 2022, our focus is on human rights in the UK.  To celebrate Human Rights Day, Andy McClenaghan and guests explore the protections afforded to us all via the Human Rights Act, and the plans of the Westminster Government to alter these protections through the introduction of a UK Bill of Rights. The conversation explores implications of the planned legislation for rights in a range of contexts, including the provision of social work services.  Andy is joined by Jun Pang, Policy and Campaigns Officer at Liberty, and social workers, Martin Sexton, Chair of the BASW Policy Ethics and Human Rights Committee and Annie Smith, formerly of the British Institute for Human Rights and now Community Led Support Delivery Lead at the National Development Team for Inclusion.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Returning to an issue which was the focus of our first ever episode—the role of social workers in disaster situations—this conversation explores the themes outlined in the book Out of the Shadows: The Role of Social Workers in Disasters (Critical Publishing, 2022). Andy McClenaghan is joined by Dr Angie Bartoli, Principal Lecturer in Social Work at Nottingham Trent University, Maris Stratulis, National Director of BASW England and Margaret Aspinall, Chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group.  During the discussion, Margaret poignantly reflects on the tragic death of her son James, who aged 18, was one of the 97 people who were unlawfully killed in the FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on 15 April 1989. She recounts her own experiences of receiving social work support following the disaster and offers her views on how social workers can best support families affected by grief and trauma.  Angie and Maris, who along with Rebekah Pierre edited Out of the Shadows, provide insights into the role of social workers in disaster scenarios and comment on the learning for the profession which is outlined in the book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Andy McClenaghan is joined by Caroline Bald and Helen Woods, Co-Chairs of the BASW England Criminal Justice Group, and BASW England Professional Officer, Wayne Reid. They explore how social workers working in the criminal and youth justice sectors make a positive difference in the lives of individuals who have come into contact with the justice system.  The conversation considers the nature of criminal justice social work, the groups that criminal justice social workers support, and whether, all social workers are in fact criminal justice social workers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Vivian Geiran, Chair of the Irish Association of Social Workers talks with Andy McClenaghan about social work in Ireland. They discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the profession, the importance of cross border working and probation as a social work service. The conversation explores the impacts of the acute housing crisis gripping Ireland, during which the publication, the View digital, is mentioned. You can read the relevant issue here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the 1990s, successive governments have unsuccessfully attempted to reform the approach to funding adult social care.  In this episode, Andy McClenaghan is joined by guests Resh Patel, an expert by experience of adult social care, Jackie Mahoney, co-chair of the BASW England Adult Thematic Group and Katy Jackson, Co-Chair of BASW England Committee, to discuss the Government’s plans for reform of Adult Social Care in England. They explore how planned changes will be funded, how users of social care services will be affected, and what the likely impacts will be for social workers. To participate in the BASW England survey mentioned in the episode, please click here. The House of Commons Library research report, Proposed reforms to adult social care, can be accessed here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode, made to mark World Mental Health Day, explores the delivery structures for mental health social work services in England. Andy McClenaghan is joined by Jason Brandon, Mental Health Social Work Lead at the Office of the Chief Social Worker and Sarah Morris, Principal Social Worker for Adults at North Northamptonshire Council.   Their conversation examines the pros and cons of integration of mental health social work services into the NHS, and considers why, some local authorities are moving away from the integrated model, taking back operational responsibility for their social workers. The discussion explores impacts at an organisational level, individual practice level and in terms of the quality of the service provided.   The Government White Paper mentioned during the discussion is Health and social care integration: joining up care for people, places and populations Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Andy McClenaghan is joined by social work students Abigail Doe and Stuart Harrington, and Operational Head of Social Work at the University of Chichester, Dr Denise Turner. They discuss the effects the Covid-19 pandemic has had on social work students who have trained during the past two and a half years.    The conversation examines students’ experiences of learning during lockdown, whether the pandemic has had any lasting impacts on universities and, as we return to what we hoped would be normality, the challenges students are now facing as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. Denise's book, which is referenced in the episode, Digital Connection in Health and Social Work, is available to buy here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode explores the benefits of a community-based, peer support approach to helping people recover from addiction. Joining Andy McClenaghan for the conversation are James Deakin and Sophie McCluskey from North Wales Recovery Communities and Social Worker, Wulf Livingstone.   The conversation explores the environment needed for recovery to thrive, the model at the core of the North Wales Recovery Communities approach and the role of outdoor challenges as a key aspect of group recovery activities.   To find out more about North Wales Recovery Communities, visit https://northwalesrc.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s July 2022 and households are being hammered by the highest rate of inflation in 40 years—a rate the Bank of England is predicting will rise above 11 per cent in the autumn. This is placing immense pressure on millions of households across the country. It’s in this context that social worker and anti-poverty campaigner, Dominic Watters, joins Andy McClenaghan to discuss his living experience of poverty and his campaign to highlight and address the issue of food insecurity.   They discuss the alienating impacts of poverty, Dominic’s route into social work, and the importance of ensuring social workers are trained to recognise the many negative impacts of poverty on life opportunities for children and families. The conversation also examines the extent to which politicians are aware of the effects of poverty and the need for the social work profession to challenge the factors which lead to hardship.   Dominic’s book, Social Distance in Social Work: COVID Capsule One, can be purchased at https://amzn.eu/d/2RR7lEN Institute of Fiscal Studies figures on the relative poverty rate for children of lone parents is available at https://ifs.org.uk/publications/16115 The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s report Not heating, eating or meeting bills: managing a cost of living crisis on a low income is available at https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/not-heating-eating-or-meeting-bills-managing-cost-living-crisis-low-income The Food Foundation statistics on food insecurity referenced in the episode can be downloaded from https://foodfoundation.org.uk/press-release/new-data-shows-food-insecurity-major-challenge-levelling-agenda Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.