Episodes

  • Returning to social work after becoming a first-time parent

    Returning to social work after becoming a first-time parent
    Nov 4 2024
    Two social workers share their experience of returning to social work from maternity leave and highlight how Essex County Council has supported their transition.

    How much support did you have when you returned to social work after becoming a first-time parent?

    In the first in three podcasts with social workers at Essex County Council, we explore the various ways the local authority support their workforce and promote their well being.

    In this episode, Amy, a team manager in a care quality commission service improvement team in adult services, and Brooke, who works in family support and protection team in children’s services, share their experiences.

    Both first-time mothers highlight that being a parent is no barrier to career progression at the local authority and show how supportive management structures have helped them achieve a work-life balance.

    About the podcast
    The Social Work Community Podcast explores the issues that matter to social work practitioners in their working lives.

    You will hear direct from social workers in your community about their successes and their challenges.

    Our first season was nominated in this year’s British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Social Work Journalism Awards.

    So sign up to the Social Work Community to be among the first to catch each episode and to connect with fellow practitioners in a safe space.

    Otherwise, check out the Social Work Community Podcast on the following:
    • Spotify
    • Apple Podcasts
    • Spreaker
    • Audible (Amazon)
    Click ‘follow’ or ‘subscribe’ on your podcast app so you know when a new episode is published.And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram.
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    14 mins
  • Locum v Perm - what works for you?

    Locum v Perm - what works for you?
    Oct 29 2024
    In this episode of the Social Work Community Podcast, senior careers editor Kirsty Ayakwah asks two social workers (Le'Siran Edwards and Kayleigh Rose Evans) from either side of the divide about what has driven their career choices.

    Le’Siran has 25 years' experience working with children and families, and over a decade in children’s social work. She has spent the last 10 years building up her coaching service, Social Work Coaching Hub, and stepped away from locum work last year to focus on it full time. She also runs her own podcast, called Dear Social Worker Pod.

    Kayleigh has spent her career working in permanent roles. Alongside her social work practice, Kayleigh works as an independent trainer and also shares reflections on social work through her YouTube channel, @KayleighRoseEvans.

    Since this podcast was produced, there have been changes to rules curbing English councils’ use of agency social workers in children’s services. You can read more about the changes here.

    Read a transcript here

    About the podcast

    The Social Work Community Podcast explores the issues that matter to social work practitioners in their working lives.Kirsty and fellow host, careers editor Sharmeen Ziauddin, interview experienced and inspiring guests, including frontline social workers who speak from the heart about their jobs, the sector and society.Our first season went down a storm and was nominated in this year’s British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Social Work Journalism Awards.
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    36 mins
  • Would you work for an inadequate-rated service?

    Would you work for an inadequate-rated service?
    Oct 14 2024
    Would you work for an inadequate-rated children's services?

    This episode is in collaboration with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP).

    In this episode Sharmeen Ziauddin, careers editor at Community Care, speaks to a number of social workers at BCP Council about its improvement journey and why working for an inadequate-rated children's services is not all bad!

    Sharmeen speaks to Steph, Riauri, Jamie, Cyra and Monique talk about their experiences. Steph and Cyra talk about taking the leap from agency to becoming permanent members of staff and how that has allowed them more flexibility as well as career progression. Monique shares how she left to take a job in London but why she returned to BCP Council.
    Jamie talks about his experience from ASYE to present day and all the brilliant support he's got. And Riauri explains why he has stuck around for five years and plans to stay put.

    If you are interested in a career at BCP Council then take a look at their employer profile or check out their current vacancies.

    If you want to get in touch, then you can via our Instagram, which is @thesocialworkcommunity, and if you haven’t joined the community site then you can register for free - you will be able to talk to like-minded professionals about work, your career and a lot more.
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    40 mins
  • Celebrating a longstanding career in social work

    Celebrating a longstanding career in social work
    Oct 1 2024
    As Community Care marks its 50th anniversary this year, we wanted to find out what the social work landscape was like through those decades and how that shaped the career of a social worker.

    Community Care’s senior careers editor Kirsty Ayakwah, spoke to Gretchen Precey, an independent social worker, who celebrates 47 years in children’s services this year - almost as long as Community Care has been around – to find out.

    Gretchen qualified as a social worker in 1977 and spent over 20 years working directly for local authorities before establishing herself as an independent social worker.In her role, she combines direct assessment work with children and families and consultancy to practitioners.

    In the latest of our Social Work Community Podcast, Gretchen tells us what keeps her in the sector so many years on and what advice she would offer to the next generation of social workers.

    The Social Work Community Podcast explores the issues that matter to social work practitioners in their working lives.Kirsty and fellow host and careers editor Sharmeen Ziauddin, interview experienced and inspiring guests, including frontline social workers who speak from the heart about their jobs, the sector and society.

    Our first Season went down a storm and was nominated in this year’s British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Social Work Journalism Awards. You can listen to all of the episodes on the leading podcast platforms, including Spotify , Audible (Amazon) and Apple podcasts.

    Read the transcript here.

    Carry on the discussion on the Social Work Community.
    You can follow us on Instagram: @thesocialworkcommunity
    On X, Facebook & LinkedIn.
    For all the latest news go to visit www.communitycare.co.uk
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    34 mins
  • Do we need more male social workers?

    Do we need more male social workers?
    Aug 28 2024

    Welcome to Season Two of The Social Work Community Podcast!

    In this episode we'll be discussing whether we need more male social workers. The social work profession is female dominated – recent figures show women make up about 80-85% of the workforce in the United Kingdom. Why is this and what can be done to change this? Does it need changing?

    Sharmeen Ziauddin, careers editor at Community Care, speaks to social workers Curtis Powell and Jason Barnes about their experience of the sector, why they choose the social work profession and what they, as men, bring to the table.

    Read the transcript here.

    Carry on the discussion on the Social Work Community.
    You can follow us on Instagram: @thesocialworkcommunity
    On X, Facebook & LinkedIn.
    For all the latest news go to visit www.communitycare.co.uk
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    34 mins
  • Season 1: Which episode was your favourite?

    Season 1: Which episode was your favourite?
    Apr 2 2024
    In this episode of The Social Work Community Podcast, Kirsty Ayakwah catches up with Sharmeen Ziauddin about the episodes that launched the podcast in October 2023.

    The first season included discussions on racism in the profession, the impact of negative media coverage on social workers, the pros and cons of being a young social and if social workers should be on social media.

    We also shared a moving interview with one social worker not only overcame adversity after moving to the UK as a refugee when he was just a young teen to securing a double win in the Social Worker of the Year Awards.

    We find out which one resonated the most with social workers and share some insights into what we can expect from Season 2.

    If you haven’t heard, we have a new community site called The Social Work Community. The platform offers a safe, positive space to share careers guidance, network with peers and exchange experiences of social work.

    Find a transcript here.

    If you haven’t already, you can sign up now! at the socialworkcommunity.com and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @thesocialworkcommunity
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    27 mins
  • The refugee who became social worker of the year

    The refugee who became social worker of the year
    Mar 1 2024
    In this episode of the Social Work Community podcast, Sharmeen speaks to Omaid Badar, winner of not one but two Social Worker of the Year awards in 2023.

    Omaid tells his incredible story of coming to England as a teenage refugee. He recalls the night he spent in a Bradford police station and what happened when he met a social worker the next morning.

    He explains why he became a social worker and how his own experiences affect his practice.

    Omaid speaks about the importance of restorative practice and building relationships with families and young people.

    What made his colleagues at Kirklees Council nominate him? And what drives him to be the empathetic and compassionate social worker he is?

    Omaid also offers advice on how social workers can support unaccompanied asylum seeking children.

    You can read an interview with Omaid here.

    Have you joined the Social Work Community?
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    45 mins
  • Should social workers be on social media?

    Should social workers be on social media?
    Jan 31 2024
    In this episode we ask whether social workers should be on social media? Sharmeen speaks to two social workers, Yewande and Kayleigh, who are also YouTubers.

    Yewande’s an experienced social worker and manager in child protection. Her YouTube channel Young Black Social Worker focuses on social work content for students, newly qualified and experienced social workers.
    Joining her is Kayleigh a social worker who has experience working in various different adult services across some of the most deprived areas of England. She shares all her insights on her YouTube channel, Kayleigh Rose Evans. Both started their channels in the beginning of the pandemic, back in early 2020, and both have thousands of subscribers on YouTube and followers on Instagram. And they are both on TikTok too.

    Why did they create a public social media profile about their work as social workers?

    What are some of the positives and negatives of having a presence on social media?

    They talk about confidence and also give advice for students and newly qualified social workers on how to use social media personally and professionally, in a safe way.

    Here is the transcipt to this episode.

    Have you joined the Social Work Community?
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    33 mins