Messy Social Work
By Rich and Tim
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Category: Social Sciences
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Subscribers: 2
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Episodes: 128
Description
Messy Social Work is a podcast for social workers, leaders, students and anyone interested in helping people navigate life's toughest challenges.
Hosted by Rich Devine and Tim Fisher, the podcast explores child protection, systemic practice, relationships, leadership, trauma, family support and the realities of frontline social work.
Each week, we speak with leading thinkers, practitioners, researchers and people with lived experience to explore what helps, what harms and what social work can learn from both success and failure.
Expect honest conversations, practical ideas, challenging questions and occasional disagreement, all grounded in a belief that meaningful change happens through relationships.
Because social work isn't neat.
It's messy.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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Azariah Hope on Trauma, Loss, Recovery and the support that made the difference
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Nov 13, 2026 |
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Power, participation and the hidden dynamics of meetings.
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Nov 05, 2026 |
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A conversation about grief, belonging, and discovering who you are beyond caring for everyone else
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Oct 23, 2026 |
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What social workers need to know about working with fathers
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Oct 16, 2026 |
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Dr Beverly Barnett-Jones MBE on power, community and the purpose of social work
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Oct 13, 2026 |
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Episode 100: One hundred episodes of Messy Social Work
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Oct 04, 2026 |
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Terri-Anne on care experience, loneliness and the courage to challenge patterns passed down through generations
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Sep 28, 2026 |
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"I call her my second mum" The extraordinary relationship between care leaver Shakira and her Personal Advisor, Sarah.
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Sep 18, 2026 |
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What social workers get wrong in court: Insights from family barrister Gemma Chapman
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Sep 11, 2026 |
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Rich and Tim relational skills, networks, theory and leadership in Family Group Decision Making
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Sep 03, 2026 |
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Rich and Tim on Family Group Decision Making: Power, participation and family leadership
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Aug 30, 2026 |
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Peter Block: relationships, resistance and the relevance of 'Flawless Consulting'
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Aug 19, 2026 |
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Lee Crouch, a parent with lived experience of reunification: what social workers need to know
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Jul 31, 2026 |
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Practice lessons from the death of Victoria Marten (Part 2)
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Jul 24, 2026 |
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Practice lessons from the death of Victoria Marten
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Jul 17, 2026 |
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Connecting Research: Why social workers turn a blind eye and avoid mental pain in child protection
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Jul 13, 2026 |
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Rich and Tim on uncertainty, relationships and 14 lessons from practice
|
Jul 07, 2026 |
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Ex-undercover police officer on why the war on drugs is failing
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Jun 26, 2026 |
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Gareth K Thomas, foster carer, on trauma informed parenting
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Jun 19, 2026 |
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Headlines from Mithran Samuel’s, and speak to social worker Ellen
|
Jun 12, 2026 |
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Rose Byrne on her upbringing, caring for her sister and being diagnosed with ADHD
|
Jun 05, 2026 |
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Maddy McCormack (Social Worker) on the realities of Child Protection Social Work
|
May 22, 2026 |
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Sharon Shoesmith about Baby P, blame and learning from tragedies
|
May 15, 2026 |
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An introduction to Systemic Ideas in Social Work with student Natasha Dube and author Liz Bosanquet
|
May 08, 2026 |
|
BONUS Episode: Rich and Tim discuss time management (Part 2)
|
May 06, 2026 |
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Time management ideas that DEFINITELY & FINALLY allow you to get on top of your work
|
May 01, 2026 |
|
BONUS Episode: Rich and Tim discuss what Rich learned from 6 years of journaling (Part Two)
|
Apr 27, 2026 |
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Rich and Tim discuss what Rich learned from 6 years of journaling
|
Apr 24, 2026 |
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Care experienced psychotherapist, Jamie Crabb on suffering, care, and staying with what we don’t yet understand.
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Apr 16, 2026 |
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Janet Kay OBE about her experiences as a social worker, adoptive parent and kinship carer
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Apr 02, 2026 |
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Professor Jonathan Scourfield on what the largest-ever Family Group Conference study reveals
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Mar 27, 2026 |
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Juliette Davies about addiction, domestic abuse and her recovery journey
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Mar 21, 2026 |
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Practice lessons from the tragic death of Sara Shariff
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Mar 13, 2026 |
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Ethan St Pierre on trauma tourism, alongside a news roundup from Mithran Samuel (CC)
|
Mar 06, 2026 |
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Ethan St Pierre on growing up in care, addiction and being reborn in a cemetery
|
Feb 27, 2026 |
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Mark Hopfenbeck about the transformative possibilities of Open Dialogue.
|
Feb 20, 2026 |
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Connecting Research: Why young people don't access mental health support
|
Feb 11, 2026 |
|
BONUS Episode: Rich and Tim reflect on what its like to be silent for 6 days
|
Jan 30, 2026 |
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Seana McDermott (Social Worker for Children in Care) about relational practice and moral injury
|
Jan 30, 2026 |
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Dr Anna Harvey on handstands, breakdance battles, and the unconscious
|
Jan 23, 2026 |
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Dr Anna Harvey on fear, loneliness, and joy in social work
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Jan 16, 2026 |
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Rich and Tim return to talk boundaries, creating space and big changes ahead
|
Jan 09, 2026 |
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Rich and Tim wrap up the year in conversation with Andrew Turnell
|
Dec 19, 2025 |
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Donald Forrester about Nanny McPhee, baseball bats and the heart of social work (rights?!)
|
Dec 12, 2025 |
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Charlotte Clark (Child Protection Social Worker) about trust, power and relationships
|
Dec 05, 2025 |
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Anam Raja on the experiences of Black and Asian kinship carers
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Nov 28, 2025 |
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Rich and Tim ask each other surprising & difficult questions
|
Nov 21, 2025 |
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The Trauma Industrial Complex
|
Nov 14, 2025 |
|
Connecting Research: linking childhood maltreatment to later intimate partner violence victimization
|
Nov 11, 2025 |
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Toni Mayo on Radical Social Work
|
Nov 07, 2025 |
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Rhian Taylor on the tension between being and doing in social work
|
Oct 31, 2025 |
|
Nicki Pettitt, Consultant specialising in Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews
|
Oct 25, 2025 |
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Community Care Editor, Mithran on the latest social work headlines
|
Oct 17, 2025 |
|
Dr Paul Shuttleworth on what children want you to know about kinship
|
Oct 09, 2025 |
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Dr Lorna Stabler about lived experience—its power, its promise, and its problems.
|
Oct 03, 2025 |
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Rich and Tim reflect on their personal failures, explore why failure is inevitable, & share what they’ve learned from it.
|
Sep 26, 2025 |
|
Professor Rick Barth on the top misconceptions in child protection
|
Sep 19, 2025 |
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Professor Harry Ferguson on the heart, history and future of social work
|
Sep 12, 2025 |
|
Lee Crouch about his experience of losing his children & the journey toward reunification
|
Sep 05, 2025 |
|
Rich and Tim; 'Headlines with Mithran' (CC editor) and personal reflections on parenting
|
Aug 29, 2025 |
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Rich and Tim on how writing sharpens thinking, strengthens practice and opens doors
|
Aug 22, 2025 |
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Rich and Tim debate: help individuals or change the system?
|
Aug 15, 2025 |
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Dr. Lorna Stabler about what children think makes a great social worker
|
Aug 08, 2025 |
|
BONUS: Chapter 1 of Messy Social Work read by Rich Devine
|
Aug 01, 2025 |
|
Rich and Tim: 'headlines with Mithran' & Cordie Gwilym (Social Worker/Coach) on adoption, overcoming loss and coaching
|
Jul 25, 2025 |
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Rasheed Pendry OBE (Director) on systemic practice and leadership
|
Jul 18, 2025 |
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Rich and Tim discuss the 5 reasons why chronologies essential for effective social work practice
|
Jul 11, 2025 |
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Clarissa Stevens (Development Worker for Peer Power) on how to work with teenagers and gangs
|
Jul 04, 2025 |
|
Kevin Campbell on Family Finding; an innovative method for finding family, love and connection
|
Jun 27, 2025 |
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Rich and Tim introduce 'Headlines' with CC Editor Mithran Samuel and Review 'Radical Help' by Hilary Cottam
|
Jun 23, 2025 |
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Professor Jill Derrick on the impossible imperative; navigating competing principles in child protection
|
Jun 12, 2025 |
|
Duane Phillips on being mixed heritage, male social worker, working with fathers and much more
|
Jun 06, 2025 |
|
Terri-Anne on requesting and reading her care files
|
May 29, 2025 |
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What 10 years in child protection taught me about people, pain and purpose
|
May 23, 2025 |
|
Professor Clive Diaz on psychoanalytical ideas in contemporary social work
|
May 16, 2025 |
|
George Fielding BEM on living with cerebral palsy and how we can put the social back into social care
|
May 09, 2025 |
|
Rich and Tim take on the top three myths in child protection work
|
May 02, 2025 |
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Rich and Tim introduce 'Messy Social Work' and discuss Rich's blog on reasons for not being a manager
|
Apr 25, 2025 |
|
Professor Anna Gupta (Royal Holloway, University of London) on Poverty and intersectionality
|
Apr 18, 2025 |
|
Rich and Tim on how to find meaning in life in the second half of life
|
Apr 11, 2025 |
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Jamie Spencer (London Borough of Camden) on Data, Community and Connection
|
Apr 04, 2025 |
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Professor Andrew Turnell (Australia) on Safety and belonging in child protection
|
Mar 28, 2025 |
|
Jo Sutton (ISW and Director of Purple Elephant in the Room) on Assessment and how to change the system
|
Mar 21, 2025 |
|
Rich shares his learning from a 5 day silent meditation retreat (Bonus episode)
|
Mar 19, 2025 |
|
Rich, Tim and Parent Activist Kar-Man discuss how to heal from childhood trauma
|
Mar 14, 2025 |
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Rich and Tim discuss Child Protection vs. Family Support
|
Mar 07, 2025 |
|
Martin Hampton (Adult social worker, Camden) on how to see the person not the problem
|
Feb 28, 2025 |
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Rich and Tim on relationships in social work and 'Spongy boundaries'
|
Feb 21, 2025 |
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Rich and Tim answer, 'What is Relational Activism'
|
Feb 13, 2025 |
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Lee Weston on leaving care and prison life
|
Feb 07, 2025 |
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Charlotte Spires (Assessment social worker from BANES) on how to navigate conflict in social work
|
Jan 31, 2025 |
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Ian Thomas, Tedx Speaker, Care Experienced Social Worker on addiction
|
Jan 24, 2025 |
|
Vicki Shevlin from Social Work Sorted on Supporting newly qualified social workers
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Jan 17, 2025 |
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Rich and Tim on the courage to be disliked
|
Dec 20, 2024 |
|
Becca Carr Hopkins (ISW and attachment expert) on attachment and the use of self in social work
|
Dec 13, 2024 |
|
Rich and Tim on how to create organisational and systemic change in social work
|
Dec 06, 2024 |
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Rich, Tim and Lee Crouch (parent with lived experience) on how to assess a parents capacity to change
|
Nov 29, 2024 |
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Rich and Tim on the why, what and how of Family Group Conferences
|
Nov 22, 2024 |
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Renata (Newly Qualified Social Work in Child Protection, East Sussex) on small acts that make a big difference as a social worker
|
Nov 13, 2024 |
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Rich and Tim on ideas for social workers who feel ‘stuck’ or overwhelmed
|
Nov 08, 2024 |
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Care Experienced Activist, Terri-Anne Hamer on growing up in care, shame and healing
|
Oct 31, 2024 |
|
Rich and Tim on top tips for direct Work with children and insights from Maya Angelou
|
Oct 25, 2024 |
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Rich and Tim on how to write analysis in assessments
|
Oct 18, 2024 |
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Toni Mayo (Team Manager of Family Placement Team, BANES) on how to support Kinship Carers; What social workers need to know
|
Oct 11, 2024 |
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Parent and Relational Activist, Kar-Man shares her lived experience of social work involvement
|
Oct 04, 2024 |
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Rich and Tim on storytelling in social work and parental engagement
|
Sep 27, 2024 |
|
An interview with social worker and author, Rhian Taylor (Ep.22)
|
Apr 20, 2023 |
|
Typologies of domestic abuse (Ep.21)
|
Apr 04, 2023 |
|
An interview with Rob Tucker: Effective Communication Skills with children (EP.20)
|
Mar 24, 2023 |
|
Critical Cause of Danger and Critical Cause of Change (EP. 19)
|
Mar 19, 2023 |
|
12 lessons from 12 years on the frontline (EP.18)
|
Mar 10, 2023 |
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Working with neglect in child protection (EP.17)
|
Feb 28, 2023 |
|
An interview with Vicki Shevlin, Social Work Sorted (EP.16)
|
Feb 23, 2023 |
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Common pitfalls and cogntive biases in child protection (Ep.15)
|
Feb 16, 2023 |
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Using power and authority in child protection practice (Ep.14)
|
Feb 08, 2023 |
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Principles for effective communication with children (EP.13)
|
Jan 31, 2023 |
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Attachment Theory and Child Protection Practice (EP.12)
|
Jan 25, 2023 |
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8 top tips for becoming an efficient, effective, organised and resilient social worker, part 2 (Ep. 11)
|
Jan 19, 2023 |
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8 top tips to becoming an efficient, effective, organised and resilient social worker, part 1 (EP 10)
|
Jan 11, 2023 |
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End of Year Review 2022 (EP.9)
|
Jan 04, 2023 |
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Who kills children? With Professor Colin Pritchard (EP. 8)
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Dec 21, 2022 |
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Top tips on exercising professional curiosity in child protection (EP.7)
|
Dec 16, 2022 |
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Weaponising empathy and cultivating professional curiosity, with Lads Like Us (EP.6)
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Dec 05, 2022 |
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Walking the fine line between compassion for parents and safety for children (EP.5)
|
Nov 24, 2022 |
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6 Lessons from renowned Systemic Therapist, John Burnham (EP.4)
|
Nov 17, 2022 |
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'She prioritise her own needs above her child' (EP. 3)
|
Nov 08, 2022 |
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Relationship Based Practice in Child Protection: An Insurmountable Problem? (EP.2)
|
Nov 02, 2022 |
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An Introduction: drugs, death and my decision to be a social worker (EP.1)
|
Oct 26, 2022 |