• Rich and Tim on practice lessons from the tragic death of Sara Shariff
    Mar 13 2026

    Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

    Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

    Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

    Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/

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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Rich and Tim speak to Ethan St Pierre about trauma tourism, alongside a news roundup from Mithran Samuel (CC)
    Mar 6 2026

    Connect with Ethan here:

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-st-pierre-bb58403ab/

    Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

    Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

    Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

    Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Rich and Tim speak to Ethan St Pierre about growing up in care, addiction and being reborn in a cemetery
    Feb 27 2026


    Connect with Ethan here:

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-st-pierre-bb58403ab/

    Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

    Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

    Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

    Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Rich and Tim talk to Mark Hopfenbeck about the transformative possibilities of Open Dialogue.
    Feb 20 2026

    In this conversation, Rich and Tim and Mark Hopfenbeck explore the concept of Open Dialogue, its origins, and its application in mental health and social work. They discuss the importance of community involvement, the need for continuity in care, and the training required to develop relational skills. Mark emphasizes the significance of peer support and the challenges faced in implementing Open Dialogue in various settings. The conversation also touches on the role of evidence in validating Open Dialogue practices and the future of this approach in mental health care.


    Mark's presentation at the Thrive conference

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EAegtEWsi4&t=2s

    Professor Russell Razzaque on Radio 4

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUVXKrFqaqE

    takeaways

    Open Dialogue originated from a need for better mental health support.
    The approach emphasizes community involvement and transparency.
    Continuity of care is crucial for building trust and relationships.
    Training in relational skills is essential for effective practice.
    Open Dialogue can be adapted to diverse cultural contexts.
    Peer support plays a vital role in the Open Dialogue framework.
    The approach encourages flexibility in meeting arrangements.
    Evidence-based practice is important for validating Open Dialogue.
    Radical transparency can improve client-professional relationships.
    Open Dialogue reflects the values of excellent social work.


    sound bites

    "It's a very human way of being."
    "We can do it better, and we can do it for less."
    "We can show that everyone seems to be better."


    Chapters

    00:00 The Origins of Open Dialogue
    04:21 The Evolution of Open Dialogue Practices
    08:47 The Role of Community and Relationships
    13:23 Open Dialogue in Diverse Settings
    17:35 Comparing Traditional and Open Dialogue Approaches
    26:23 Understanding Moral Injury in Healthcare Professionals
    28:44 The Impact of Open Dialogue Training
    30:25 Relational Skills in Social Work
    32:49 The Essence of Open Dialogue
    35:28 Navigating Difficult Decisions in Mental Health
    39:41 Radical Transparency and Compassion in Care
    41:38 The Need for Evidence in Compassionate Care
    45:21 Global Perspectives on Open Dialogue


    Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

    Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

    Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

    Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Connecting Research: Why young people don't access mental health support
    Feb 11 2026

    In this episode, we speak with Dr Mina Fazel, a British psychiatrist who is Professor and Chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford. Her research considers the mental health of children and young people, and how to design effective mental health interventions.


    We talk to her about a recent paper: Adolescent consent and Generation Alpha: bridging policy, practice and empirical evidence in healthcare, you can download it here:

    https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/adolescent-consent-and-generation-alpha-bridging-policy-practice-and-empirical-evidence-in-healthcare/1773C8B49A361BB55747FF7BD80F0730

    Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

    Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

    Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

    Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/

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    33 mins
  • BONUS Episode: Rich and Tim reflect on what its like to be silent for 6 days
    Jan 30 2026

    Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

    Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

    Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

    Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/

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    53 mins
  • Rich and Tim talk to Seana McDermott (Social Worker for Children in Care) about relational practice, moral injury and making a difference
    Jan 30 2026

    This week, we speak to Seana, a social worker in a Child in Care Team.

    We explore what her role involves, how she builds relationships with young people, carers, and families, and the challenges she faces—as well as what helps her keep going.

    We’re really grateful to Seana for taking the time to talk with us, especially given how busy the role is. We hope you enjoy her passion, child‑centred practice, and commitment to the work as much as we did.

    Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

    Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

    Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

    Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/

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    47 mins
  • Rich and Tim hear about handstands, breakdance battles, and the unconscious: Dr Anna Harvey on what shapes social work
    Jan 23 2026

    In this two-part episode of Messy Social Work, hosts Richard Devine and Tim Fisher speak with Dr Anna Harvey about the realities of child protection practice, reflective supervision, and the emotional weight of decision-making. Using a selection of Anna’s vivid LinkedIn posts and readings as a jumping-off point, the conversation moves from psychoanalytic ideas like organisational mindlessness, fear, guilt, and compassion, into leadership and workplace culture, challenging the “hero narrative” and calling for learning cultures and belonging in teams. The episode then widens out into ecology, community, and power, touching on what it means to “think global, act local,” and how social work can hold a wider lens on inequality, politics, and care.


    Anna's LinkedIn account

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-anna-harvey-sfhea-5220563b/

    and a link to her Linkedin posts

    https://docs.google.com/document/d/17rJmo2bvYNpm_Bj2zT6xOuI3PreHoSm-_D4UND9R6m8/edit?tab=t.0


    Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

    Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

    Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

    Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/

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    51 mins