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The Relational Social Work Podcast

The Relational Social Work Podcast

Written by: Matt and Hannah
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The Relational Social Work Podcast is aimed at child and family social workers. Relationships are central to social work practice and this podcast focusses on the importance of connection and relationships in social work ‘with’ children, young people and their families, exploring this through meaningful conversations with inspiring leaders from across the sector. The podcast will celebrate excellent and innovative practice ‘with’ amazing children, young people and families, and have honest conversations about some of the struggles which we can face in children and family social work. There will be a minimum of one episode released every month.

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Matt Clayton

Matt has led and developed a number of services within Coventry primarily around children in care and care leavers. Matt has a reputation for innovative practice with young people at the center. This has included leading on the BAFTA nominated documentary Superkids and follow up Channel 4 show Kids, piloting the first automatic water bill discount to care leavers and the rollout Lifelong Links in Coventry. Matt is passionate about the importance of maintaining and promoting loving relationships for children in care and has had strategic oversight of Coventry’s reunification work as part of this. Matt was recently invited to write the foreword to the NSPCC and Action for Children joint national report: Home again: reunification practice in England. Matt is the ADCS member of the Family Justice Council and Vice Chair of the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum steering group. Matt also Chairs the Adoption Central England Executive Board. After 20 years of neglecting himself, Matt has rediscovered his teenage love of being active outside, having just complete couch to 5k! When Matt isn’t working or running, he enjoys watching football and supports Liverpool.

Hannah Bedford

Hannah qualified as a social worker in 2013, following in her father’s footsteps. Hannah has a passion for practice and practice leadership and has held several roles with a focus on practice development, both in practitioner and management roles. This has including being involved in the development of Coventry’s Social Work Academy, being a Child Sexual Abuse Practice Lead and most recently leading on Coventry Family Valued; a whole-system culture change programme in Coventry, which has led to the safe reduction of the number of children in care in Coventry, against rising numbers of looked after children nationally. Hannah is passionate about restorative practice and has led on the development of Coventry’s practice approach; with a focus on working ‘with’ children and their families, rather than doing ‘to’ or ‘for’ them. Apart from being a proud social worker, Hannah loves dungarees, loves cats and dogs (equally), and supports Liverpool F.C.

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Episodes
  • ADCS Presidency - Passing the baton: Rachael Wardell and Ann Graham

    ADCS Presidency - Passing the baton: Rachael Wardell and Ann Graham
    Mar 29 2026

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    It’s the final episode of series 5! Hannah and Matt are joined by Rachael Wardell and Ann Graham during the week that Rachael’s ADCS Presidency comes to an end and Ann’s begins. This episode explores what the ADCS has achieved over the past year, and what the focus will be for the year ahead, including discussion about child poverty, reforms and stop and search.

    Thank you for listening to The Relational Social Work Podcast. We are always interested to learn what you thought of the episode and welcome your feedback, suggestions, or ideas for future topics. Stay connected and join the conversation on our social media channels!
    LinkedIn: The relational Social Work Podcast
    Instagram: @RelationalSW
    Visit Our Website and Subscribe to our mailing list: www.therelationalsocialworkpodcast.com
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    55 mins
  • What does the future of social work look like?: Lisa Harris, Farai Kanengoni, Mike Hayward, Kieron White and Neil Thompson

    What does the future of social work look like?: Lisa Harris, Farai Kanengoni, Mike Hayward, Kieron White and Neil Thompson
    Mar 23 2026

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    This episode was recorded with a live audience at the Social Work Show in Birmingham. Hannah and Matt are joined by Lisa Harris (Director at Birmingham Children’s Trust), Farai Kanengoni (Operational Lead, Coventry Children’s and Education Services), Mike Hayward (Principal Social Worker, Solihull Children’s Services), Kieron White (CEO, Leading AI), and Neil Thompson (social work academic, author and trainer). Together, with the support of our live audience, we discuss what the future of social work looks like. There is a particular focus on the advancement of AI, the benefits of this to social work, and the challenges and ethical implications that this this poses. Conversation also explores the political context that social work operates within, and how politics impacts social work practice.

    Please note: This episode was particularly challenging for Producer Arin, with some technical issues during the live recording, so there are some places within this episode where the conversation may sound slightly distorted.

    Thank you for listening to The Relational Social Work Podcast. We are always interested to learn what you thought of the episode and welcome your feedback, suggestions, or ideas for future topics. Stay connected and join the conversation on our social media channels!
    LinkedIn: The relational Social Work Podcast
    Instagram: @RelationalSW
    Visit Our Website and Subscribe to our mailing list: www.therelationalsocialworkpodcast.com
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • A citizen advocacy approach to supporting people with a learning disability: Clare Wightman and Mel Smith

    A citizen advocacy approach to supporting people with a learning disability: Clare Wightman and Mel Smith
    Mar 16 2026

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    The intro for this episode was recorded in week two of Coventry’s Ofsted inspection, and starts with Matt and Hannah’s sleep deprived ramblings. Luckily the interview was recorded pre-Ofsted, and Hannah and Matt are joined by Clare Wightman, CEO, and Mel Smith, Deputy CEO, at Grapevine Coventry and Warwickshire. The episode explores Grapevine’s work, the concept of citizen advocacy and the importance of relationships and connection in the context of working with people with learning disabilities. The episode end with some reflections in relation to the recent White Paper, ‘Every child achieving and thriving’, which outlines changes to the special educational needs and disabilities system.

    Thank you for listening to The Relational Social Work Podcast. We are always interested to learn what you thought of the episode and welcome your feedback, suggestions, or ideas for future topics. Stay connected and join the conversation on our social media channels!
    LinkedIn: The relational Social Work Podcast
    Instagram: @RelationalSW
    Visit Our Website and Subscribe to our mailing list: www.therelationalsocialworkpodcast.com
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
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