In this episode Sarah and Paul discuss Relationship Based Practice with children. After a few months away they felt a bit rusty so roped in experienced Social Work Manager and all round good egg Laura Lacey to help. The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for. Show Notes: Gillian Ruch, Danielle Turney, Adrian Ward, 2010, Relationship-based Social Work: Getting to the Heart of Practice, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2010 Harry Ferguson et al, 2019, Relationship-based practice and the creation of therapeutic change in long-term work: social work as a holding relationship, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02615479.2020.1837105

In this episode Sarah and Paul discuss good communication skills, the challenges and what it means in practice. Paul tries out Egan’s Skilled Helper Model on an unsuspecting Sarah.  The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for. Show Notes: Egan, G, 2012, The Skilled Helper, 10th Ed, Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning https://nibmehub.com/opac-service/pdf/read/The%20Skilled%20Helper%20A%20Problem-Management%20and%20Opportunity%20-%20Gerard%20Egan.pdf Lishman, J. (2020) ‘Communication in Social Work’, pp. 1–240. Richards, S., Ruch, G. and Trevithick, P. (2005) ‘Communication Skills Training for Practice: the Ethical Dilemma for Social Work Education’, Social Work Education, 24(4), pp. 409–422. Available at:https://doi.org/10.1080/02615470500096928.

In this episode Sarah and Paul discuss LGBTQIA+ issues. They talk about marginalisation, discrimination, intersectionality and how to work in an inclusive way. Paul also discusses his queerdom and his time bunking off from Gay School. The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for. Shownotes: Kinsey (2004). Film directed by Bill Conlon and starring Liam Neeson, Laura Linney and John Lithgow. Community Care: Career tips on what social workers should consider when working with LGBTQIA+ people. https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2022/02/01/what-social-workers-should-consider-when-working-with-lgtbq-people/ LYPSA: Improving LGTBTQ+ Young People's Experiences of Social Care resources available at https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/departments/social-work-social-care/research/gender-and-sexualities/young-people-in-social-care.aspx?msclkid=aa23b773cfa111ec8fec04708ffbb457   LGBTQIA+ services: Switchboard provides a one-stop listening service for LGBT+ people on the phone, by email and through Instant Messaging.  www.switchboard.lgbt  Across Rainbows aim to redefine queer identity, by celebrating and embracing the diverse stories and experiences of individuals. www.acrossrainbows.com MindOut is a mental health service run by and for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) people. www.mindout.org.uk

Sarah and Paul discuss the difficult topic of retention and recruitment, what it feels like not to have recognition for the work social workers do do and how this leads to moral distress. They also talk through Murphy's (2023) and Ravalier et al.'s (2023) new research on working conditions, and Paul suggests that often it's easier to say you're gay than say you're a social worker. The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for. Resources: Murphy, C., 2023. How learning from the lived experiences of child protection social workers, can help us understand the factors underpinning workforce instability within the English child protection system. Journal of Social Work Practice 0, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2023.2185213   Ravalier, J.M., Allen, R., McGowan, J., 2023. Social Worker Working Conditions and Psychological Health: A Longitudinal Study. The British Journal of Social Work bcad144. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcad144    https://www.basw.co.uk/professional-support-service   https://batonofhopeuk.org/   If you want to get in touch you can email us at: dodosocialwork@gmail.com Find us on Twitter: @DoDoSocialWork Or Instagram: do_dosocial_work Or Facebook

This time Sarah and Paul discuss a book chapter written by Paul! The chapter focusses on the shaky assumptions that are often made with Kinship Care placements.  The chapter is part of an upcoming book out in July called: The Future of Children's Care: Critical Perspectives on Children's Services Reform Editors: Robin Sen and Christian Kerr Other contributors include:     Avery Bowser, Taliah Drayak, Brid Featherstone, Anna Gupta, Isobel Drew, Joe Hanley, Rebekah Pierre, John Radoux, June Thoburn and Carolyne Willow Publisher: Bristol University Press

Content warning: This podcast contains references to domestic abuse from the outset which some may find distressing. Sarah and Paul discuss domestic abuse, including victim-survivor experience, trauma responses and social work practice. Domestic abuse is a sensitive, complex and sadly all too common aspect of social work practice. As with all episodes our intention is to create informative discussions as well as informal conversations. For further information the Domestic Abuse Commissioner website is a great starting point: https://domesticabusecommissioner.uk/ Further References: Domestic Abuse Act (2021) Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2021/17/part/1/enacted  Ferguson, H., (2016) How Children Become Invisible in Child Protection Work: Findings from Research into Day-to-Day Social Work Practice available at: https://academic.oup.com/bjsw/article/47/4/1007/2622323 Johnson, M.P., (2008) A Typology of Domestic Violence available at: https://books.google.com/books/about/A_Typology_of_Domestic_Violence.html?id=alLur9raDCwC#v=onepage&q=johnson%202008%20typology%20reference&f=false Katz, E., (2022) Coercive Control in Children's and Mothers' Lives. Oxford University Press Liz Kelly publications available at: https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/profiles/staff/liz-kelly/ The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.

For Social Work Month/Week/Day - Sarah and Paul discuss social action, social justice and critical social work. What do they mean? Should we be doing them? If so, how? Do we even have enough time? So many questions – and all managed despite Sarah’s high calcium levels. Don’t ask! The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for. References: Campaigns (2018) www.basw.co.uk. Available at: https://www.basw.co.uk/what-we-do/campaigns (Accessed: 15 March 2023). Featherstone, B. and Gupta, A. (eds) (2018) Protecting Children: A Social Model. 1st edition. Bristol: Policy Press. Garrett, P.M. (2021) Dissenting Social Work: Critical Theory, Resistance and Pandemic. London: Routledge. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003024019. Garrett, P.M. (2021) ‘“A World to Win”: In Defence of (Dissenting) Social Work—A Response to Chris Maylea’, The British Journal of Social Work, 51(4), pp. 1131–1149. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab009

Sarah and Paul chat about the stresses and strains for social workers and families at Christmas time. This episode gets a bit silly and there is a bit too much singing - we are truly sorry.  More than ever the views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.

Sarah and Paul and debt expert Ripon Ray discuss the cost of living crisis, money matters, anti-poverty practice and what it means for us and the people we work with. The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for. Ripon's Debt Talk podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7hoqQcAQxcZjNnifU92eEc Ripon's website: http://www.yourdoctordebt.org/

In advance of the new academic year, Sarah and Paul discuss their own UK social work student experiences, and provide recommendations and tips for students to survive and get ahead in their studies and placements. Recommendations include: Child Abuse and Neglect, Attachment, Development and Intervention. David Howe, Palgrave Macmillan 2005 Attachment Handbook for Foster Care and Adoption. Schofield G and Beek M, British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) 2006 Social Work Skills and Knowledge. Pamela Trevithick, Open University Press 2012 Siobhan Maclean’s webinars. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-VvBcDnqAcUTAUXherZgybLfb0QB567l The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.

Sarah and Paul finish their epic discussion of "The Independent Review of Children's Social Care". In this episode Paul mentions the work of Children England, and Martin Barrow. The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.

Sarah and Paul continue their discussion of "The Independent Review of Children's Social Care". The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.

UK based social workers Sarah and Paul introduce themselves and the idea behind their new podcast. They have irreverent reflections and giggles on how their week has been, and then dive in to the murky background of "The Independent Review of Children's Social Care". The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.