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Artwork for Messy Social Work

Messy Social Work

Messy Social Work
Social Work
Child Protection
Family Group Conference
Relational Activism
Community Support
Kinship Care
Parenting Assessments
Parental Engagement
Social Work Analysis
Mental Health
Care Experience
Class Identity
New Zealand
Interpersonal Relationships
Motivational Interviewing
Lived Experience
Community Engagement
Domestic Abuse
Maya Angelou
Courage In Leadership

Welcome to the Messy Social Work podcast. The hosts are Richard Devine and Tim Fisher. Check out our website here: www.relationalactivism.com/

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes86Founded3 years ago
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Artwork for Messy Social Work

Latest Episodes

Rich and Tim are joined by Andrew Turnell to reflect on 2025.

Relational Activism: www.relationalactivism.com/

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

Rich Devi... more

In this episode of The Messy Social Work Podcast, we sit down with Professor Donald Forrester, researcher and social worker. 

 We talk about why he thinks social workers are a bit like Nanny McPhee, why social work isn’t really about “helping,” and ... more

Rich and Tim sit down with Charlotte Clark, a practising frontline child protection social worker, to explore what it means to build trust in contexts where distrust runs deep. From navigating statutory power dynamics to managing conflict under inten... more

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Recent Guests

Donald Forrester
Professor at Cascade in Cardiff and author
Cascade, Cardiff
Episode: Rich and Tim speak to Prof Donald Forrester about Nanny McPhee, baseball bats and the heart of social work (rights?!)
Charlotte Clark
Child Protection Social Worker, graduate of the Frontline graduate scheme
Bains and North East Somerset
Episode: Rich and Tim speak to Charlotte Clark (Child Protection Social Worker) about trust, power and relationships
Anam Raja
Research manager at Kinja
Kinja
Episode: Rich and Tim speak with Anam Raja to discuss the experiences of Black and Asian kinship carers
Toni Mayo
Expert in Radical Social Work and advocate for systemic change.
Episode: Rich and Tim speak to Toni Mayo about Radical Social Work
Rhian Taylor
Social worker, freelance trainer, and academic specializing in children in care
CAMHS
Episode: Rich and Tim speak to Rhian Taylor on the tension between being and doing in social work
Nicki Pettitt
Independent social worker and consultant specializing in child safeguarding practice reviews.
Independent
Episode: Rich and Tim speak to Nicki Pettitt, Consultant specialising in Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews
Mithran Samulon
Editor of Community Care
Community Care
Episode: Rich and Tim probe Community Care Editor, Mithran for the latest social work headlines-from foster care shortages to the future of kinship
Dr. Paul Shuttleworth
Expert in kinship care and author
Not specified
Episode: Rich and Tim speak to Dr Paul Shuttleworth on what children want you to know about kinship
Professor Rick Barth
A leading figure in the field of social work and former dean at the University of Maryland School of Social Work
University of Maryland
Episode: Rich and Tim interview Prof Rick Barth on the top misconceptions in child protection

Hosts

Richard Devine
Social worker with 15 years' experience in child protection; co-host of the Messy Social Work podcast.
Tim Fisher
Social worker passionate about participation and community; co-host of the Messy Social Work podcast.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 54 ratings
  • Weaponising empathy and professional curiosity

    Words fail to describe my feelings about this episode. I listened today to Lads like Us , and Danny and Mike are inspirational. I have already passed on the episode with others (including to a friend who was interacting with a distraught child yesterday in out of school education) to share the wealth of wisdom, experience and insight. I will continue to share to motivate and inspire others. Thank you Rich, Mike and Danny…you are amazing, brilliant individuals.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ulongtime
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Learning so much from all of these podcasts

    Absolutely recommend

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Noralene
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Excellent podcasts

    Really great podcast! I learned a lot, especially from the authority and power in child protection podcast. This podcast was actually the jumping board for my capstone work. Thank you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mharsbarrr
    Australia3 years ago
  • Always provokes learning

    Qualified in Sept 22 with 14+ years past experience of working with people in various statutory and voluntary roles, and this podcast still prompts new thoughts.

    Please can you consider doing something around ‘home conditions’ the challenges of quantifying, challenging parents and drawing the line.

    Great work.

    Chris

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Redman101986
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Relatable content

    Thank you Rich for your open, transparent detail to your childhood and your unconscious rationales on why you ended up in your job role. So much of what you talked about resonated with me and my decision making on my career choice. I look forward to hearing more episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    APCHAR
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners express appreciation for the open and honest discussions around complex social work issues.
The hosts receive commendation for their relatable personal stories that resonate with the audience's experiences.
Many find the podcast engaging and thought-provoking, often provoking new insights into their own practice.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Rich and Tim speak to Prof Donald Forrester about Nanny McPhee, baseball bats and the heart of social work (rights?!)
Q: How do you think technology will change social work in the coming years?
AI will transform social work both positively and negatively, but the nature of social work, which is relationship-based, will remain essential.
Rich and Tim speak to Prof Donald Forrester about Nanny McPhee, baseball bats and the heart of social work (rights?!)
Q: What do you think is one idea that every social worker should know about?
Reflective statements are crucial for effective communication, along with the importance of wanting the best for others.
Rich and Tim speak to Prof Donald Forrester about Nanny McPhee, baseball bats and the heart of social work (rights?!)
Q: What do you think makes a good social worker?
A good social worker should do what they say, and not change jobs too often as it affects children and families.
Rich and Tim ask each other surprising & difficult questions
Q: What brings a quiet smile to your face?
Rich shares that he enjoys getting up early and going to the gym, especially in cold weather, as well as spending time with his family and respected colleagues.
Rich and Tim ask each other surprising & difficult questions
Q: What would you like to learn more about going forward?
Rich expresses his desire to learn more about technology and its implications for social work, particularly in the context of AI advancements.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Messy Social Work

What is Messy Social Work about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Discussions center around the intricacies and challenges of social work, with a strong emphasis on child protection, kinship care, and the significance of relationships within social work practices. Unique elements include guest expertise in radical social work and systemic change, as well as personal reflections from the hosts about their experiences in the field. Episodes frequently tackle contemporary issues in social work, including the impact of trauma, community engagement, and the ethical implications of lived experience narratives. This podcast is particularly valuable for professionals in the social work field, students pursuing social work careers, and anyone interested in current themes and critiques surrounding social justice an... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Messy Social Work?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Messy Social Work:

1. Social Work Sorted with Vicki Shevlin
2. Happy Place
3. How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
4. Social Work Radio
5. Woman's Hour

How many episodes of Messy Social Work are there?

Messy Social Work launched 3 years ago and published 86 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Messy Social Work?

Recent guests on Messy Social Work include:

1. Donald Forrester
2. Charlotte Clark
3. Anam Raja
4. Toni Mayo
5. Rhian Taylor
6. Nicki Pettitt
7. Mithran Samulon
8. Dr. Paul Shuttleworth

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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