# Let's Talk Social Work Welcome to Let’s Talk Social Work, the podcast from the British Association of Social Workers. This is a space for conversation—discussion with social workers, the individuals they support, and colleagues working in related professions. We consider the key matters affecting social workers as we explore contemporary issues with a focus at both the local and global levels. The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of the Association. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for… Page: Feed: --- ## [Who you gonna call? - The BASW/SWU Advice & Representation Team](https://shows.acast.com/lets-talk-social-work/episodes/who-you-gonna-call-the-baswswu-advice-representation-team) _2026-07-01_ Social workers sometimes need help too. Whether it’s to resolve a workplace conflict, navigate a fitness to practice referral, manage complex or difficult cases, or to seek advice on an employment matter, knowing where to turn when facing professional challenges is critical. The temptation might be to go it alone, but doing so can be overwhelming, stressful and burdensome, taking a heavy toll on… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6144b6e69096e200123fb4d8/e/6a44bea206fb5d326d74aae5/media.mp3) ## [I’m not Invisible: Supporting children living with a parent in prison](https://shows.acast.com/lets-talk-social-work/episodes/im-not-invisible-supporting-children-living-with-a-parent-in) _2026-06-04_ Too often, young people have been the silent victims of the justice system. As our prison population gets bigger, so do the numbers of young people living with a parent incarcerated. They form one of the most overlooked groups in our society, with little known about their needs or experiences. That leads to them being forgotten about when it comes to policy-making and support networks, or even… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6144b6e69096e200123fb4d8/e/6a2145d31ddbe06b3ac7f7dc/media.mp3) ## [Exploring the relationship between supervision and practice with children and families](https://shows.acast.com/lets-talk-social-work/episodes/exploring-the-relationship-between-supervision-and-practice) _2026-05-01_ Supervision and home visits are central to social work with children and families, yet the interaction between them is rarely considered. Given the importance that social workers place on them both, it seems strange that we tend only to evaluate the influence of supervision through its impact on social workers, without gathering any empirical evidence around whether it is directly improving the… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6144b6e69096e200123fb4d8/e/69f45fbe8466468ab02725c3/media.mp3) ## [Centenary Episode: In Conversation with Baroness Lister CBE](https://shows.acast.com/lets-talk-social-work/episodes/centenary-episode-in-conversation-with-baroness-lister-cbe) _2026-04-08_ One hundred not out for Let’s Talk Social Work! To mark our centenary, we’re delighted to welcome Baroness Ruth Lister CBE onto the podcast for a unique ‘in conversation’ episode on a host of topic areas, from social justice to human rights, asylum and immigration, child safeguarding, and raising social work’s voice in parliament. Baroness Lister brings a wealth of experience and expertise in all… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6144b6e69096e200123fb4d8/e/69d60ef3ef4d724206d36970/media.mp3) ## [“I am the Safeguard, and I am Alone” - Carers, Nearest Relatives, and the Reality of the Mental Health Act](https://shows.acast.com/lets-talk-social-work/episodes/i-am-the-safeguard-and-i-am-alone-carers-nearest-relatives-a) _2026-03-10_ Have you ever considered what the role of a Nearest Relative is like? Under the Mental Health Act for England and Wales, any one of us could be thrust into the role, carrying the weight of its legal responsibilities, pressures of supporting our family member, and navigating the ever-complex mental health system. A recent research project funded by UK Research and Innovation conducted with AMHPs… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6144b6e69096e200123fb4d8/e/69aff89ba2ae95013b4a6dfd/media.mp3) ## [Scotland and Wales Decide](https://shows.acast.com/lets-talk-social-work/episodes/scotland-and-wales-decide) _2026-02-22_ Significant elections are taking place in Scotland and Wales this year. With the current political mood so unpredictable, the make-up of Holyrood in Edinburgh and the Senedd in Cardiff could be very different after May. And given that social work in Scotland and Wales is the full responsibility of these legislatures, any change is likely to have a sizeable impact on decisions taken about the… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6144b6e69096e200123fb4d8/e/699acd8768ec8626d2b0e29b/media.mp3) ## [What does the future hold for social work and BASW?](https://shows.acast.com/lets-talk-social-work/episodes/what-does-the-future-hold-for-social-work-and-basw) _2026-01-24_ Let’s Talk Social Work is kickstarting 2026 with a broad episode exploring the state of the profession in the UK. Host Jonny Adamson is joined by BASW Interim Chief Executive, Professor Sam Baron, BASW England Acting Chair, Shantel Thomas, and Professional Officer at the Scottish Association of Social Work, Susan Dobson for a frank discussion on the challenges currently facing social work, their… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6144b6e69096e200123fb4d8/e/6974ce257396c6aa982df5ba/media.mp3) ## [The Impact of Domestic Abuse on Babies and Infants](https://shows.acast.com/lets-talk-social-work/episodes/the-impact-of-domestic-abuse-on-babies-and-infants) _2025-12-08_ One third of domestic abuse begins during pregnancy, rising to 40% within a baby’s first 1001 days of life. It contributes to around one in four babies entering care, making it the highest-ranking factor for children’s safeguarding. Despite landmark legislation being introduced across the UK to protect children against domestic abuse, a recent report by the Children’s Commissioner for England and… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6144b6e69096e200123fb4d8/e/693693c7a63c6eaa59391caf/media.mp3) ## [Can we go higher? Opportunities for further education in social work](https://shows.acast.com/lets-talk-social-work/episodes/can-we-go-higher-opportunities-for-further-education-in-soci) _2025-11-19_ Higher degrees, such as a Master’s or a Doctoral, can prove extremely valuable for social workers and their practice. But is it a realistic and accessible option for social workers to undertake further education while still working? When you factor in a lack of time, unmanageable workloads, difficulties obtaining funding, not to mention the practicalities of studying while at the same time… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6144b6e69096e200123fb4d8/e/691d9bdc589629f7d620a0f9/media.mp3) ## [Chovy's Blog: Agentic Coding (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/QW4QuvuNICV5) _2025-11-19 · **Sponsored**_ Personal posts on agentic coding, moshcode CLI, and security findings. ## [Beware of the Dog - how should social workers manage encounters with dogs?](https://shows.acast.com/lets-talk-social-work/episodes/beware-of-the-dog-how-should-social-workers-manage-encounter) _2025-10-08_ Social workers frequently come into contact with dogs in their practice. Yet until now, it hasn't featured in social work research, education, training and guidance. A recent study published in the British Journal of Social Work entitled ‘ We’re not professionals when it comes to dogs: ’ Social work encounters with dogs and their implications for education and practice sets out to address this… [Listen](https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6144b6e69096e200123fb4d8/e/68e62032d798804c9e110a53/media.mp3)