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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.

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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!
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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.

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Coventry got the Ofsted call so this episode is a bit different. Matt is with us for the intro, and then handed over the reigns to Hannah and Producer Arin who popped to the Family Justice Council Conference in Birmingham, where the theme was ‘The role of technology and AI in modern family law: opportunities and challenges’. Hannah spoke with Sir Andrew McFarlane (President of the Family Division and Chair of the Family Justice Council), Lisa Harker (Director at the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory), and Julie Young (Research Fellow at the University of East Anglia) about the conference, including why the topic was chosen, how we must hold onto our values as we move forwards with AI, and how technology can support in maintaining important relationship in open adoptions.

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This episode was recorded at The Care Leaders Summit in York. The episode starts with Luke Rodgers, Founder and CEO at The Care Leaders, telling us about The Summit. Hannah and Matt are then joined by Karla George (Founder of The Baloo Project), Rosie Blackett (Director of Pro Alliance Sports), John Golding (Founder of PATH), Lee Weston (Founder of Believe and Achieve), and Tia James (Co-Founder of The Bigin Project) who are all fellows of The Care Leaders Fellowship. The episode explores how the fellowship supported Tia, Lee, John, Karla and Rosie on a personal level and to develop their ideas to support the care experienced community, to build their organisations. The episode goes on to consider what needs to change in the care system, before hearing some reflections from delegates from the Summit. The episode ends with an incredible performance by Ric Diaghe, performing a song written especially for The Care Leaders Summit.

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!
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This episode starts with Hannah and Matt talking about reforms to fostering (and caramel lattes). Matt and Hannah are then joined by Harry Ferguson to talk about his latest book, ‘Making Child Protection Work’. The episode explores how over time Harry’s research moved from asking social workers what they do, to immersing himself in social work practice, through ethnographic research, being with social workers in the places where child protection social work happens. Harry shares some of the key themes from his book, emphasising the importance of relational and intimate child protection practice.

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This episode was recorded at the West Midlands ADCS Network, Innovate and Grow Conference and explores some exciting innovations happening across West Midlands region. The episode is packed full of guests, with Hannah and Matt joined by Sandeep Virk and Lizzie White to tell us a bit about the West Midlands ADCS Network and the Innovate and Grow Conference; Jane Dunne and Sophie Carter speaking about problem solving approaches with Coventry and Warwickshire Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC); Jo Minife and Eleanor Hedges discuss how they support parents who have had their children removed at Breathe, Trust, Connect, Birmingham Trust; George Davies and Charlotte Bell from Trees, Shropshire, talk about their work with young people at risk of exploitation; Jude Nash chats about how she is supporting the use of AI in the special educational needs and disabilities field; Jayne Stevens talks to us about parents participation in Telford and Wrekin; Lizzie Jones and Becky Steele from the National House Project, and Chloe and Rey, talk about the Care Leavers National Movement, and finally Mike Hayward from Solihull reflects on the importance of the region coming together to share practice through Innovate and Grow.

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This week Hannah and Matt are joined by Scott Mair, Founder and Director of Fatherhood Solutions and advocate for neurodiverse families and father-inclusive practice. This episode explores the perception of services being designed with mothers in mind, and how this may unintentionally make fathers feel excluded. Scott shares ideas for father inclusive practice, and the impact that this has had through the work of Fatherhood Solutions.

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!
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