Shows
Do Do Social WorkSmashing It: Sarah and Paul Do Do InterviewsBe prepared to smash it at interviews. Sarah and Paul discuss the do dos and no nos of interviews. It's a serious matter, but we enjoyed talking about it with a few giggles on the way. Although tailored for social work, these tips can be applied to all types of interview experiences, including being accepted onto a course or module.
Some more tips are available on the Social Work Portal: https://www.socialworkportal.com/social-work-interview-questions-answers/
Explanations about the Johari Window and unlocking the unknown unknown: Bergquist, W., 2009. The Johari Window: Exploring the unconscious processes of interpersonal relationships and the coaching en...2025-06-2453 minDo Do Social WorkOh my it's AI: Sarah and Paul Do Do AISarah and Paul discuss what’s happening with AI, ChatGPT, and using big data to inform risk. Will AI be a help or a hindrance? They also discuss how to be part of the change and ensure that professional and lived experiences are not lost. Oh, and Paul does his famous Sir Keir Starmer impression.
Ferguson, H. (2018) ‘Making home visits: Creativity and the embodied practices of home visiting in social work and child protection’, Qualitative Social Work, 17(1), pp. 65–80.
IMPORTANT - Have your say about AI with Research in Practice
2025-04-2347 minDo Do Social WorkLet’s Get Critical: Sarah and Paul Do Do Critical ThinkingIn this episode, Sarah and Paul provide tips on one of the most necessary but often confusing parts of social work practice – critical reflection and critical thinking. What is it? Why do we need to do it? Is Bowlby all he’s cracked up to be? How do you fend off comments that you are too descriptive in your writing and not critical enough?
Maclean, S. (2016) A new model for social work reaction: whatever the weather Professional Social Work, March, pp28-9
Moon, J.A. (2006) Learning Journals: A Handbook for Reflective Practice and Professional Development. 2nd edition. Florence: Routledge.
Munro, E. (20...2024-12-1646 minDo Do Social WorkShaking the Ladder: Sarah and Paul Do Do Experts By Experience
In this episode Paul and Sarah have a chat about Experts by Experience, co-production and participation and are joined by Debs Pawley, Coordinator of the Experts by Experience Network at the University of Sussex.
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Show Notes:
Fox, J. (2020). Perspectives of experts-by-experience: an exploration of lived experience involvement in social work education. Social Work Education, 41(4), 587–604. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2020.1861244
Roger Hart's Ladder of Children’s Participation Model:
Hart, R. A. (19...2024-07-1051 minDo Do Social WorkThree’s Company: Sarah and Paul Do Do Relationship Based PracticeIn this episode Sarah and Paul discuss Relationship Based Practice with children. After a few months away they felt a bit rusty so roped in experienced Social Work Manager and all round good egg Laura Lacey to help.
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Show Notes:
Gillian Ruch, Danielle Turney, Adrian Ward, 2010, Relationship-based Social Work: Getting to the Heart of Practice, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2010
Harry Ferguson et al, 2019, Relationship-based practice and the creation of...2024-05-1452 minDo Do Social Work(Not) Festive: Sarah and Paul Do Do Communication and EganIn this episode Sarah and Paul discuss good communication skills, the challenges and what it means in practice. Paul tries out Egan’s Skilled Helper Model on an unsuspecting Sarah.
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Show Notes:
Egan, G, 2012, The Skilled Helper, 10th Ed, Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning https://nibmehub.com/opac-service/pdf/read/The%20Skilled%20Helper%20A%20Problem-Management%20and%20Opportunity%20-%20Gerard%20Egan.pdf
Lishman, J. (2020) ‘Communication in Social Work’, pp. 1–240.
Richard...2023-12-2144 minDo Do Social WorkGay School: Sarah and Paul Do Do LGBTQIA+ issuesIn this episode Sarah and Paul discuss LGBTQIA+ issues. They talk about marginalisation, discrimination, intersectionality and how to work in an inclusive way. Paul also discusses his queerdom and his time bunking off from Gay School.
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Shownotes:
Kinsey (2004). Film directed by Bill Conlon and starring Liam Neeson, Laura Linney and John Lithgow.
Community Care: Career tips on what social workers should consider when working with LGBTQIA+ people. https...2023-10-2443 minDo Do Social WorkMoral Distress: Sarah and Paul Do Do Retention and RecruitmentSarah and Paul discuss the difficult topic of retention and recruitment, what it feels like not to have recognition for the work social workers do do and how this leads to moral distress. They also talk through Murphy's (2023) and Ravalier et al.'s (2023) new research on working conditions, and Paul suggests that often it's easier to say you're gay than say you're a social worker.
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Resources:
Murphy, C., 2023. How...2023-07-0947 minDo Do Social WorkChapter and Verse: Sarah and Paul Do Do Paul’s Kinship Care ChapterThis time Sarah and Paul discuss a book chapter written by Paul! The chapter focusses on the shaky assumptions that are often made with Kinship Care placements.
The chapter is part of an upcoming book out in July called:
The Future of Children's Care: Critical Perspectives on Children's Services Reform
Editors:
Robin Sen and Christian Kerr
Other contributors include:
Avery Bowser, Taliah Drayak, Brid Featherstone, Anna Gupta, Isobel Drew, Joe Hanley, Rebekah Pierre, John Radoux, June Thoburn and Carolyne Willow
Publisher:
Bristol University Pre...2023-05-0942 min
Let's Talk Social WorkIt's a family affairIn February, Let’s Talk Social Work examined the Government’s strategy for children’s social care in England, Stable Homes Built on Love, and we’re returning to an important issue discussed in that episode—kinship care.Andy McClenaghan is joined by kinship carer, Natalie Boyes, Sam Turner, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the charity Kinship, and Dr Paul Shuttleworth, Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Education and Social Work at Sussex University. Their conversation explores what kinship care is, the challenges kinship carers face, what social workers need to know about it...2023-05-0448 minDo Do Social WorkRule of Thumb: Sarah and Paul discuss Domestic AbuseContent warning: This podcast contains references to domestic abuse from the outset which some may find distressing.
Sarah and Paul discuss domestic abuse, including victim-survivor experience, trauma responses and social work practice. Domestic abuse is a sensitive, complex and sadly all too common aspect of social work practice. As with all episodes our intention is to create informative discussions as well as informal conversations.
For further information the Domestic Abuse Commissioner website is a great starting point:
https://domesticabusecommissioner.uk/
Further References:
Domestic Abuse Act (2021) Available at: https://www.legislation...2023-04-1749 minDo Do Social WorkSpeaking Up: Sarah and Paul Do Do Social ActionFor Social Work Month/Week/Day - Sarah and Paul discuss social action, social justice and critical social work. What do they mean? Should we be doing them? If so, how? Do we even have enough time?
So many questions – and all managed despite Sarah’s high calcium levels. Don’t ask!
The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
References:
Campaigns (2018) www.basw.co.uk. Available at: https://www.basw.co.uk/what-we-do/campaigns (Accessed: 15 March 2023).
Featherstone, B. and Gu...2023-03-1537 minDo Do Social WorkTitty Tat: Sarah and Paul Do Do Social Work at ChristmasSarah and Paul chat about the stresses and strains for social workers and families at Christmas time. This episode gets a bit silly and there is a bit too much singing - we are truly sorry.
More than ever the views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
2022-12-2038 minDo Do Social WorkShameless Money Talk: Sarah and Paul Do Do The Cost of Living CrisisSarah and Paul and debt expert Ripon Ray discuss the cost of living crisis, money matters, anti-poverty practice and what it means for us and the people we work with.
The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Ripon's Debt Talk podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7hoqQcAQxcZjNnifU92eEc
Ripon's website: http://www.yourdoctordebt.org/
2022-11-0446 minDo Do Social WorkSyncing not Sinking: Sarah and Paul Do Do Social Work Student TipsIn advance of the new academic year, Sarah and Paul discuss their own UK social work student experiences, and provide recommendations and tips for students to survive and get ahead in their studies and placements.
Recommendations include:
Child Abuse and Neglect, Attachment, Development and Intervention. David Howe, Palgrave Macmillan 2005
Attachment Handbook for Foster Care and Adoption. Schofield G and Beek M, British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) 2006
Social Work Skills and Knowledge. Pamela Trevithick, Open University Press 2012
Siobhan Maclean’s webinars. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-VvBcDnqAcUTAUXherZgybLfb0QB567l...2022-09-0948 minDo Do Social WorkGrandstanding: Sarah and Paul Do Do the Care Review: Part 3Sarah and Paul finish their epic discussion of "The Independent Review of Children's Social Care". In this episode Paul mentions the work of Children England, and Martin Barrow.
The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
2022-07-191h 07Do Do Social WorkKnotty Topics: Sarah and Paul Do Do the Care Review: Part 2Sarah and Paul continue their discussion of "The Independent Review of Children's Social Care".
The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
2022-06-2346 minDo Do Social WorkPilot: Sarah and Paul Do Do The Care Review: Part 1UK based social workers Sarah and Paul introduce themselves and the idea behind their new podcast. They have irreverent reflections and giggles on how their week has been, and then dive in to the murky background of "The Independent Review of Children's Social Care".
The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
2022-06-0744 min