Episodes

  • #6 Ask The Experts: How do you go about recovering confidence after a placement breakdown?

    #6 Ask The Experts: How do you go about recovering confidence after a placement breakdown?
    May 5 2025
    In this episode, hear from Dame Lorna Boreland-Kelly, Claire Barcham and Kayleigh Rose Evans respond to a question we received asking how to secure a new job after receiving a negative reference, and where to access help.

    Read the transcript here.This episode is hosted by Kirsty Ayakwah, senior careers editor at Community Care.

    If you have a question you’d like our experts to answer or if you felt the advice has helped you secure your next social work role, we want to hear from you.

    Send us an email at: careersadvice@markallengroup.com

    You can follow all the Ask The Experts questions and responses on: www.thesocialworkcommunity.com

    Read past questions from social workers with a career question and read the responses here.
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    11 mins
  • A day at Fatima Whitbread's One Voice Summit

    A day at Fatima Whitbread's One Voice Summit
    Apr 29 2025
    Listen to Sharmeen Ziauddin's (career editor at Community Care) report from the One Voice Summit which was held at the London Guildhall on 24 & 25 April 2025.

    The summit, was organised by Olympian Fatima Whitbread’s charitable organisation Fatima’s UK Campaign. The main aim of the charity is to ‘create a safer, happier, and healthier environment for children, ensuring they can read their full potential’.

    The One Voice Summit brought together many different organisations and individuals involved in the care system. This included charities, social enterprises, politicians, local authorities, academics and care-experienced people.

    Here are some of the links mentioned in this episode:
    Fatima's backstory and her day with social workers.
    Coram Voice's report
    Creation of the Child Protection Authority
    Listen to Take My Hand
    News story on Community Care

    If you liked this episode do rate and review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you are listening to this on. And do follow us on Instagram - we are @CommunityCareOfficial
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    22 mins
  • Podcast: from independent domestic violence advocate to social work

    Podcast: from independent domestic violence advocate to social work
    Apr 28 2025
    In this episode of the Social Work Community Podcast, senior careers editor Kirsty Ayakwah speaks to specialist domestic abuse social worker Jenifer Lamadrid who started her career as an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate.We find out why they made the move, what core skills they’ve been able to take from their former profession into social work and what keeps them in the sector.

    Read the transcript of the interview here.About the podcastThe Social Work Community Podcast explores the issues that matter to social work practitioners in their working lives.

    Kirsty and fellow host, careers editor Sharmeen Ziauddin, interview experienced and inspiring guests, including frontline social workers who speak from the heart about their jobs, the sector and society.

    The first season went down a storm and was nominated in the 2024 British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Social Work Journalism Awards.

    We have since launched season two, during which we have covered whether we need more men in social work and interviewed a practitioner with 47 years’ experience about what keeps her in the profession.

    Although the podcast is available on major podcast platforms, Social Work Community members will get special early access to each episode.

    So sign up to the Social Work Community to be among the first to catch each episode and to connect with fellow practitioners in a safe space.Otherwise, check out the Social Work Community Podcast on the following:
    • Spotify
    • Apple Podcasts
    • Spreaker
    • Audible (Amazon)
    Click ‘follow’ or ‘subscribe’ on your podcast app so you know when a new episode is published.And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram.
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    38 mins
  • Social work around the world: Australia

    Social work around the world: Australia
    Apr 16 2025
    As part of the 'Social work around the world' series, this episode, hosted by careers editor Sharmeen Ziauddin, features two Australian social workers, who have practised in Australia and in England.

    Kristin, worked in Queensland, Australia before moving to London 12 years ago. Tina similarly moved to London from Queensland but moved back and found herself stuck in Western Australia during the covid-19 pandemic, and ended up staying there.

    Emigrating is never easy and the challenges Kristen experienced led her to write a blog to help other Australian social workers navigate their move to the UK. This is how Kristin and Tina met!

    The Aussies discuss the differences in social work between the two countries, how they overcame the challenges and what they love about working in both countries. Tina also shares her experience working with Aboriginal communities in Western Australia where she is currently based.

    Watch a clip here.

    Read the transcript.

    About the podcast

    The Social Work Community Podcast explores the issues that matter to social work practitioners in their working lives. Sharmeen and fellow host Kirsty Ayakwah, senior careers editor, interview experienced and inspiring guests, including frontline social workers who speak from the heart about their jobs, the sector and society.

    The first season went down a storm and was nominated in this year’s British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Social Work Journalism Awards.

    Season two has covered whether we need more men in social work and interviewed a practitioner with 47 years’ experience about what keeps her in the profession.A

    Click ‘follow’ or ‘subscribe’ on your podcast app so you know when a new episode is published.
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    36 mins
  • #5 Ask The Experts: How do I secure a role working with refugees or co-ordinating disaster relief?

    #5 Ask The Experts: How do I secure a role working with refugees or co-ordinating disaster relief?
    Apr 7 2025
    In this episode, hear from Dame Lorna Boreland-Kelly, Claire Barcham and Kayleigh Rose Evans respond to a question we received asking how an adults' social worker can secure a role working with refugees or co-ordinating disaster relief.

    This episode is hosted by Kirsty Ayakwah, senior careers editor at Community Care. If you have a question you’d like our experts to answer or if you felt the advice has helped you secure your next social work role, we want to hear from you.

    Read the transcript here.

    Send us an email at: careersadvice@markallengroup.com You can follow all the Ask The Experts questions and responses on: www.thesocialworkcommunity.com Read past questions from social workers with a career question and read the responses here.
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    13 mins
  • Social work around the world: Israel

    Social work around the world: Israel
    Mar 19 2025
    This is the second part of our conversation with Yohai Hakak, senior social work lecturer and MSc lead at Brunel University, London. If you haven't listened to the previous episode then do go back and have a listen!

    The episode begins with Yohai talking about his PhD subject, going on to share his experience working as a mental health social worker back in Israel where he was born and raised.

    He shares insights from his work at a psychiatric hospital in Jerusalem as well as discussing a journal article he wrote on the involvement of social services in interfaith marriages.

    A fascinating listen.


    Read Yohai's research article, 'Battling Against Interfaith Relations in Israel: Religion, Therapy, and Social Services'.
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    22 mins
  • Social work around the world: Exploring migration to the UK

    Social work around the world: Exploring migration to the UK
    Mar 17 2025
    Welcome to the first episode of the new miniseries "Social Work Around The World" from the The Social Work Community Podcast.

    In the first episode, social work senior lecturer and MSc lead from Brunel University Yohai Hakak, talks to Sharmeen Ziauddin, careers editor at Community Care, about the research he is leading with his social work students.
    The research looks into the migration of social workers to and from the UK. Yohai explains what led him to conduct the research and some of his findings.
    This is the first of two episodes with Yohai, the second episode is about his experience in Israel so do have a listen to that when it drops.

    Access the transcript here.

    There are the studies that Yohai mentions so if you are interested in taking part, have a look:

    Focusing on international social work students studying in the UK: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/brunel/international-social-work-students-in-the-uk

    A study examining how international social workers are bridging cultural differences. Social workers who migrated from any, either before or after qualifying as social workers can participate:
    https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/brunel/the-international-social-worker-advantage-strategies-for-naviga

    You can find more information about the project and download the papers published based on it, including questionnaires from some of the countries mentioned in the episode: The migration of social workers to and from the UK


    Have you joined the Social Work Community? If not, you can sign up for free if you are a social worker or social work student.
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    33 mins
  • #4 Ask The Experts: What are the pros and cons of working in a local authority versus a trust?

    #4 Ask The Experts: What are the pros and cons of working in a local authority versus a trust?
    Mar 12 2025
    In this episode, hear from Dame Lorna Boreland-Kelly, Claire Barcham and Kayleigh Rose Evans respond to a question we received asking: what are the pros and cons of working in a local authority versus a trust?

    This episode is hosted by Kirsty Ayakwah, senior careers editor at Community Care. If you have a question you’d like our experts to answer or if you felt the advice has helped you secure your next social work role, we want to hear from you.

    Read the transcript here. Send us an email at: careersadvice@markallengroup.com You can follow all the Ask The Experts questions and responses on: www.thesocialworkcommunity.com Read past questions from social workers with a career question and read the responses here.
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    24 mins