Social Work Radio
Episodes
Social workers talk about mental health every day, just never our own
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Social Work Radio, Vince Peart and Cara Davis take on a difficult truth in the profession: social workers talk about mental health ...
When everything else changes, a brother or sister can still be your anchor
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Social Work Radio, our social work hosts Vince and Cara explore why sibling relationships can be a lifeline for children in care, a...
A justice minister just said parental alienation has no scientific basis. Now what?
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode of Social Work Radio, Vince and Cara unpack the growing fallout after a justice minister said parental alienation has no scie...
Social Work Week 2026: It's all about AI
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the latest episode of Social Work Radio, Vince and Cara take on one of the biggest issues facing the profession right now: the growing role of AI i...
Debunking the common myths about social workers
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Social Work Radio, Vince and Cara take on some of the most persistent myths about social workers, from the damaging child-snatcher ...
Do you need trauma to be a good social worker?
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Social Work Radio, Vince and Cara take on a question that quietly sits in the background of the profession: do you need trauma to b...
Duration Neglect: aka “How can you not see this?”
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Vince and Cara unpack the idea of duration neglect - the psychological blind spot that helps explain why social workers can see years of cu...
Jeffrey Epstein isn't the whole story
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Social Work Radio, Vince and Cara unpack why Jeffrey Epstein isn’t the whole story. Moving beyond the fixation on famous names, t...
Does it really take a village to raise a child?
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Does it really take a village to raise a child, or is that a phrase we repeat without ever taking seriously? In this episode of Social Work Radio, Vin...
Is it lonely at the top for social work managers?
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Vince and Cara turn their attention to a question many social workers quietly wrestle with: is it lonely at the top? Drawing on lived...
The Maria Coto bill and what it means for social worker safety
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode of Social Work Radio, out hosts Vince and Cara turn their attention to the Maria Coto bill and what it could mean for social ...
social work preview of 2026
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Social Work Radio, Vince and Cara look ahead to what 2026 may hold for social work. Drawing on their experience from the past year,...
A social work review of 2025
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this end-of-year episode of Social Work Radio, Vince and Cara look back on the stories that defined social work across 2025, reflecting on the mome...
Welcome to the Social Work Radio Christmas party!
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this festive end-of-year episode, our hosts Vince and Cara invite listeners to the Social Work Radio Christmas party - a warm, reflective, ...
The killing of hospital social worker Alberto Rangel
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A sensitive and reflective episode in which Cara and Vince discuss the killing of hospital social worker Alberto Rangel in San Francisco last week, an...
Teens turning to TikTok therapy
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Teens are turning to TikTok for therapy - and many trust what they find there more than the services meant to support them. In this week’s episode, ...
Sara Sharif: What the serious case review tells us
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode, Vince and Cara unpack the newly published Serious Case Review into the death of Sara Sharif, and what it really means for fr...
Social Work England: Can trust be rebuilt?
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
n this week’s episode, Cara and Vince dive into the growing crisis of confidence surrounding Social Work England. With a major independent review no...
More children in need, fewer needing Protection: What’s really going on?
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Vince and Cara unpack new national figures showing rising numbers of children identified as “in need,” but fewer placed on child protec...
Domestic abuse is the everyday business of the family court
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this powerful episode, our hosts Vince and Cara dive into new findings revealing that domestic abuse is identified in nearly nine out of ten family...
Caring about the world without losing your mind
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our hosts Cara and Vince explore how to stay compassionate and engaged in a world that feels heavier than ever. From doomscrolling and onli...
The reality of 'No Further Action'
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, our social work hosts discuss the reality of NFA in practice - the point at which CPS or the police decide not to proceed due ...
Social Vampires and Social Workers
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week's podcast, inspired by THIS story, sees our hosts explore the concept of social vampires - the people or dynamics that constantly take witho...
Why are we all so sick?
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week our hosts break down the numbers behind THIS story at www.mysocialworknews.com, reflecting on the CIPD findings, exploring factors such as t...
Charlie Kirk
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week our hosts are talking about Charlie Kirk - reflecting on his views and on the profession’s responsibility to call out harmful rhetoric wit...
Josh MacAlister: 7 priorities to follow in his new Children and Families role
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week our social work hosts, Vince and Cara, are talking about the news that Josh MacAlister has been appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary o...
Why is someone working three jobs at the same time?
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week our hosts are exploring this news story, about a social worker convicted of fraud after it was discovered she was working three jobs at the ...
Is DASH reliable?
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week our social work hosts are taking a closer look at DASH - Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-based violence checklist - after it was reveale...
Social work side hustles
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, inspired by THIS feature, our social work hosts are reflecting on the financial realities for social workers today, and discussing the bene...
Social workers deserve 'a little treat'
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, inspired by THIS column at mysocialworknews.com, our host Cara reflects on her personal experiences of incorporating "little treats" into c...
Is Social Work England fit for purpose?
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's podcast, our social work hosts, Vince and Cara, discuss Social Work England's decision to increase registration fees despite overwhelmi...
Psychological safety in social work
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our social work hosts delve into what psychological safety means in professional environments, explore how it enables better professional d...
What's more important, money or happiness?
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our social work hosts reflect on what's more important - money or happiness - as they explore the dispute over market-rate pay increases fo...
Reform teenagers in charge of adult and children’s services
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Inspired by THIS news story, about the recent appointment of young Reform councillors Joseph Boam (22) and Charles Pugsley (19) at Leicestershire Coun...
Boomer parenting habits that would terrify social workers in 2025
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Inspired by THIS column, this week our hosts are exploring how parenting supervision and surveillance have dramatically changed in the past 40 years, ...
Social work on the cusp of radical change
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Inspired by THIS article and THIS column, this week our hosts are exploring the idea of Artificial Intelligence in social work, highlighting potential...
Changing the social work script
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's show, our hosts provide an overview of Social Work England’s new 'Change the Script' campaign, highlighting the research findings a...
Should we be more open to recruiting social workers with a criminal history?
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Inspired by this news story about Tommy Sheridan this week, our podcast hosts debate the specific factors influencing decisions about employing indivi...
How social work makes your world a little brighter
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week’s episode, our social work hosts reflect on how social work has deepened their empathy and compassion, and improved their personal rela...
Does being a social worker change your view of the world?
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week’s episode, our hosts discuss how working in social work has shaped their views on social justice, inequalities, and systemic challenges...
Sex and The Supreme Court
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week our hosts are taking a closer look at the recent Supreme Court ruling, summarising the key outcomes and its implications. Together, they exa...
Friend, friend, social worker friend...
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our hosts Vince and Cara are reflecting on two stories published at mysocialworknews.com this week: Is it appropriate to be friends with y...
Five years on from lockdown: A social work retrospective
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's podcast, five years on from the pandemic, our hosts discuss their initial personal and professional reactions to the start of lockdown,...
How the 'Let Them' approach can make you a happier social worker
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our hosts are exploring the theories behind Mel Robbins' "Let Them" approach, highlighting key insights from her new book, reflecting on th...
How to spring clean your personal and professional life
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's podcast, our hosts Vince and Cara, inspired by THIS article at mysocialworknews.com, discuss the importance of taking the time to sprin...
Disbelief at social work caseload reductions
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's podcast, our hosts reflect on the recent statistics - which show that the average social worker caseload in the UK has fallen to the lo...
Another social work riot?
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week's episode is inspired by this article, after the MailOnline exclusively reported this week that a brawl on the streets of Gateshead last Tue...
Social Work: Code Black
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If hospitals can call a Code Black, why can’t social work? On this week's episode, our hosts discuss how social work trauma doesn’t explodes - it ...
The Social Work England fee increase
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week our hosts Vince and Cara, both social workers themselves as well as columnists for Social Work News, share their views - along with those of...
Are too many children subject to social services intervention?
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, inspired by THIS news article, our hosts are exploring how these numbers compare to past trends and whether they match what frontline socia...
The appeal of the fictional 'bad boy'
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week our hosts discuss the draw to morally grey characters... can you relate...? Created by social workers, for social workers. Tune in ever...
Abusing and exploiting your children for social media clout
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week our hosts are delving into the world of social media, examining a number of recent high profile cases that have seen social media influencer...
Naming and shaming social workers”
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week our hosts are discussing the appeal that is currently underway to allow the media to name the family court judges, social workers, and guard...
Elon Musk
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week our hosts are discussing Elon Musk's recent interest in CSA, along with the broader issues as a whole: Do we need another national enquiry i...
The January Blues
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's show, our hosts discuss the phenomenon of the 'back to work' blues... Created by social workers, for social workers. Join the discussio...
A social work review of 2024
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week our hosts are reviewing social work throughout 2024, working through the top news stories, features, and columns - as voted by you - at Soci...
Sara Sharif
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week our hosts are discussing the tragic case of Sara Sharif - the social services interventions in the run-up to Sara's death, the media coverag...
The Assisted Dying Bill
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our hosts discuss their personal views on assisted dying, the arguments for and against, and the impact that the Bill may have on the profe...
MasterChef, McGregor, Men & Misogyny
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our hosts draw on news articles published at Social Work News about Greg Wallace and Conor McGregor, and explore the role of men in social ...
Should we allow profit in social work?
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the same week the government announced a major overhaul of children's social care to tackle profiteering, our hosts discuss their thoughts on the p...
The Social Worker of the Year Awards 2024
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Social Work Radio our hosts, Vince Peart and Cara Davis, chat all things Social Worker of the Year Awards. Don't miss it...= Created ...
Trump triumphs: What does this mean for social workers?
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our hosts discuss the historic US election result, as well as delving into the state of UK politics right now. How much do politics really ...
Dating as a social worker
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our hosts discuss dating as a social worker - does being a social worker throw up additional complications when dating? Would you date a fe...
Will AI completely change the way we do social work?
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our hosts discuss the benefits of AI in social work, as well as the problems they feel it could cause. What are the concerns about the ethi...
Could you be a social worker AND a foster carer?
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Could you be a foster carer? What are the rewards and challenges? And what unique skills do social workers bring to fostering? This week on Social Wor...
What’s going wrong with Social Work England?
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, our hosts discuss their views on Social Work England as a regulator, the changes to CPD as announced this week, and what they ...
How to find the perfect social work job for you
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, inspired by THIS article, our hosts explore how social workers can find their ideal role. What are the signs you've found the ...
Expecting social workers to walk through water and not get wet...
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, our hosts ask, are social workers being asked to manage extreme emotional and professional demands without enough support? Are...
Is hybrid working helping or hindering social workers?
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, inspired by this recent article, our social work hosts discuss both the the benefits and potential downsides of hybrid working...
Ofsted
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As Ofsted announced plans this week to eliminate single-word judgments from their evaluation framework for children’s social care, our hosts Vince a...
The 10 biggest stereotypes about social workers
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, inspired by this article, our hosts Vince and Cara discuss stereotypes in social work, examining portrayals in the media, TV, ...
Can you ever really switch off from being a social worker?
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Where do we draw the line on being a social worker and being a person? On this week's episode, our hosts Vince and Cara discuss whether being a social...
The UK anti-immigration riots
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, our hosts Vince and Cara delve into the difficult subject of the recent riots that have impacted communities across the countr...
The Leeds social work riot
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
* Please note: this episode was recorded earlier this week, before the judge ruled that the children involved in the case be returned to the care of e...
The prison system is broken - how can we fix it?
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's podcast, inspired by this opinion column, Vince and Cara discuss their experiences of working with people in prison - the good, and t...
The rise of the far-right should terrify social workers
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's podcast, inspired by this opinion column, Vince and Cara discuss Trump, Reform, and the National Rally - and ask the question: has ther...
It's a Labour win: what next for social workers?
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What do we want to see from a Labour government? On this week's podcast, Vince and Cara discuss the results of yesterday's general election, and wh...
How to find healthier coping strategies for social workers
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's podcast - inspired by this article on mysocialworknews.com - our hosts Vince and Cara discuss healthy vs unhealthy coping strategies, t...
Should we bring back the national service?
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's podcast, our hosts Vince and Cara discuss their take on PM Rishi Sunak's proposal to bring back national service. What are their issues...
How to give excellent supervision to social workers
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's podcast, our hosts Vince and Cara discuss whether they feel therapy is necessary for social workers, explore their own experiences with...
Is it time we all went back to the office?
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's podcast, our hosts - and fellow social workers - Vince and Cara discuss how their working lives have changed since Covid, the pros and ...
Are YOU a social work workaholic?
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a social work workaholic? This week our hosts, and fellow social workers, Vince and Cara, take the test to find out if they are a social wor...
Working with children, but not wanting to have your own
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is there a stigma to being a children’s social worker without children? This week our hosts, and fellow social workers, Vince and Cara, are explorin...
Why you should always take a cup of tea if your client offers one
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you accept a drink from your clients when you visit them in their home? This week our hosts, and fellow social workers, Vince and Cara, explore the...
Child stars and social workers
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From Corey Feldman, and Judy Garland, to Lindsay Lohan, Macaulay Culkin, and Britney Spears, there is a long history of child stars succumbing to the ...
Cats, dogs, and social workers
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do social workers feel about working with pets in people’s homes? Have there been a lot of ‘hairy’ experiences in the line of duty, and is i...
Is it okay to cry about work?
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, responding to this news story, published this week, our hosts Vince and Cara explore whether it's okay to cry at work, how often they've ea...
Spring cleaning for social workers
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As we usher April in the door, it's time to discuss... spring cleaning for social workers! Are you a fan of the annual reset/out with the old, in with...
Terrible self-care ideas for social workers
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s be honest, what toxic self-care have we previously indulged in? What genuinely helpful self-care support could our employers give us? And what...
A social worker's guide to making friends
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Does hardship, trauma, and shared pain bond us as friends? Have you made friends in social work, and what are the differences between your social work...
Are you a perfectionist procrastinator?
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a perfectionist, a procrastinator, or both? Is it possible to be perfect in social work? How do we avoid procrastination at work? And how do ...
Social work stress (and how to reduce it)
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode of Social Work Radio, our hosts are tackling the topic of 'stress' - what are their own symptoms of work stress, what are thei...
Ethical dilemmas in social work
23 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The biggest challenge of an ethical dilemma is that it does not offer an obvious solution that would comply with ethical norms. Throughout the history...
Ten ways to improve social work retention
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our Social Work Radio hosts explore why current retention rates in social work - across both children's and adults - are so poor, and each ...
What Myers-Briggs personality types make the best social workers?
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Social Work Radio, Vince puts co-host Tilly through her paces as she undertakes the Myers-Briggs personality test live on the show, befor...
Should social workers be doing a lot more for our clients?
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Should social workers be doing more for our clients? This week on Social Work Radio, hosts Vince and Tilly explore what - if anything - social workers...
The heartbreaking case of Bronson Battersby
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Social Work Radio, our hosts examine the heartbreaking death of Bronson Battersby, dissecting the known timeline, the actions of Bronso...
The harm (and good) that being a social worker does to your own family
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Has being a social worker made you a better or worse partner? Has it made you a better or worse parent? If they could choose, would your partner and c...
Social workers are far more valuable than we believe ourselves to be
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do social workers value themselves? Are they valued by their employers, government, and society? Are they supported by their union and professional as...
A 2023 social work review
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year social workers! Put 2023 to bed as our hosts Vince and Tilly walk you through a year of some of our most well-read social work stories....