Social Work Spotlight

International Episode 21: Paul (Ireland)

In this episode I speak with Paul, who has over 45 years experience managing child welfare and protection services in the statutory sector at local, regional and national level in Ireland. He currently operates as an independent consultant, specialising in serious case reviews, expert witness and policy development for state bodies and voluntary organisations. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: * Paul’s podcast ‘Life After Stalin - A Dubliner’s Diary’ - https://open.spotify.com/show/6kbfVumc19v9FgseoL17oC?si=771ba39bec374a22 [https://open.spotify.com/show/6kbfVumc19v9FgseoL17oC?si=771ba39bec374a22] * Abstract for Paul’s article, ‘No Smoke Without Fire: The Presumption of Guilt in Child Abuse Assessments’ - https://www.nagalro.com/_userfiles/pages/files/paul_harrison_no_smoke_without_fire_article_g.pdf [https://www.nagalro.com/_userfiles/pages/files/paul_harrison_no_smoke_without_fire_article_g.pdf] * Daughters of Charity Child and Family Service - https://www.docchildandfamily.ie/ [https://www.docchildandfamily.ie/] * Dublin Simon Community - https://www.dubsimon.ie/ [https://www.dubsimon.ie/] * Paul’s memoir, ‘Hanged If You Do…: Reflections from a Career in Child Protection’ - https://www.orpenpress.com/books/hanged-if-you-do-reflections-from-a-career-in-child-protection/ [https://www.orpenpress.com/books/hanged-if-you-do-reflections-from-a-career-in-child-protection/] This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/12DE2NhpOm7bMi0KS1OJHhABB_cCEuIGWRa4sJbRi4Uw/edit?usp=sharing [https://docs.google.com/document/d/12DE2NhpOm7bMi0KS1OJHhABB_cCEuIGWRa4sJbRi4Uw/edit?usp=sharing] Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

International Episode 20: Peter (Scotland)

In this episode I speak with Peter, a lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University and qualified social worker with particular experience of working with children and young people who have displayed harmful sexual behaviour. He has undertaken research and written extensively about abusive sexual behaviour between siblings. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: * Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse - https://www.csacentre.org.uk/ [https://www.csacentre.org.uk/] * Sibling sexual behaviour: A guide to responding to inappropriate, problematic and abusive behaviour and Sibling sexual abuse: A knowledge and practice overview (articles written by Peter and Stuart Allardyce) - https://www.csacentre.org.uk/research-resources/practice-resources/sibling-sexual-abuse/ [https://www.csacentre.org.uk/research-resources/practice-resources/sibling-sexual-abuse/] * Sibling sexual abuse: What do we know? What do we need to know? Stage 1 analysis of a 2-stage scoping review (article written by Peter and colleagues) - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.107076 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.107076] * The Sibling Sexual Behaviour Mapping Tool (SSBMT): Supporting practitioner confidence, planning and competency when responding to sexual behaviours between siblings (article written by King-Hill and Gilsenan) - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.107080 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.107080] * Understanding and responding to sibling sexual harm and abuse (article written by Elly Hanson) - Understanding and responding to sibling sexual harm and abuse | NSPCC Learning [https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/2024/understanding-and-responding-to-sibling-sexual-harm-and-abuse] This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ks5u5Jrr7mUelIGA__2FKjHXskJXGcbneh-X6DwihnQ/edit?usp=sharing [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ks5u5Jrr7mUelIGA__2FKjHXskJXGcbneh-X6DwihnQ/edit?usp=sharing] Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

International Episode 19: Dr Jzo (Botswana)

In this episode I speak with Dr Jzo, a community practice and youth specialist, teaching and supervising students at the University of Botswana and publishing widely in the area of social work and motivation. Dr Jzo is also active in community work, regularly presenting on national radio and television on issues of social wellbeing, and hosting his own podcast and YouTube channel. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: * Foretelling the History of Social Work: A Botswana Perspective - https://www.ifsw.org/product/books/foretelling-the-history-of-social-work-a-botswana-perspective/ [https://www.ifsw.org/product/books/foretelling-the-history-of-social-work-a-botswana-perspective/] * Social Work Professional Organizations: A Comparative International Perspective - https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/downloadpdf/edcollchap/book/9781447373698/front-1.pdf [https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/downloadpdf/edcollchap/book/9781447373698/front-1.pdf] * Article about Dr Jzo’s book “It’s Possible” - https://www.ub.bw/news/it%E2%80%99s-possible-dr-jongman%E2%80%99s-fifth-book-lights-path-belief-and-renewal [https://www.ub.bw/news/it%E2%80%99s-possible-dr-jongman%E2%80%99s-fifth-book-lights-path-belief-and-renewal] * The 2026 joint conference on social work, education and social development - https://swsd2026.or.ke/ [https://swsd2026.or.ke/] * YouTube channel “A Chat with Dr Jzo” - https://www.youtube.com/@AchatwithDrJzo [https://www.youtube.com/@AchatwithDrJzo] This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/14xeBLL7IM2ydSJQztgjZ66hB1EdQcMWyVJ5-C5ljkrc/edit?usp=sharing [https://docs.google.com/document/d/14xeBLL7IM2ydSJQztgjZ66hB1EdQcMWyVJ5-C5ljkrc/edit?usp=sharing] Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

International Episode 18: Kgomotso (Botswana & Germany)

In this episode I speak with Kgomotso, a social worker from Botswana currently residing in Germany, with qualifications in both Social Work and African Studies. She has experience working as a project support officer focused on orphans and vulnerable children-related policies and programmes, working to strengthen social protection systems and improve service provision by social workers in Botswana, and has interests in social policy reforms, informal social protection and inclusive development. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: * Thandika Mkandawire’s Google Scholar page - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ecPI09EAAAAJ&hl=en [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ecPI09EAAAAJ&hl=en] * Jimi Adesina’s Google Scholar page - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ZJPKVjYAAAAJ&hl=en [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ZJPKVjYAAAAJ&hl=en] * Dolly Ntseane’s Research Gate page - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dolly-Ntseane [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dolly-Ntseane] * Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni’s Google Scholar page - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=K_TTLasAAAAJ&hl=en [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=K_TTLasAAAAJ&hl=en] * Frantz Fanon’s Brittanica biography - https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frantz-Fanon [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frantz-Fanon] This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D5IvZqszYZcdo2CJmfbmPRRsOwgxwuav4HV4pthDUoI/edit?usp=sharing [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D5IvZqszYZcdo2CJmfbmPRRsOwgxwuav4HV4pthDUoI/edit?usp=sharing] Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

International Episode 17: Donald (Wales)

In this episode I speak with Donald in Wales, a researcher interested in the relationship between good child and family social work practice and outcomes, and in understanding the features of organisations that produce good practice. Donald has been instrumental in setting up the Tilda Goldberg Centre, academic lead for the Frontline social work programme, founding the What Works Centre for Children's Social Care, helping to found the Better Childhoods Centre in University College Copenhagen and the SCALE Centre for Social Care and AI research, as well as leading CASCADE Centre for Children's Social Care Research and Development. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: * Donald’s faculty profile - https://profiles.cardiff.ac.uk/staff/forresterd [https://profiles.cardiff.ac.uk/staff/forresterd] * Greenham Common peace camps - https://phm.org.uk/blogposts/greenham-common-peace-camp/ [https://phm.org.uk/blogposts/greenham-common-peace-camp/] * Cascade Centre Wales - https://cascadewales.org/ [https://cascadewales.org/] * Article on the set-up of the Best Childhoods Centre in Wales - https://cascadewales.org/cardiff-university-to-help-set-up-major-new-research-centre-to-ensure-children-in-denmark-have-the-best-start-in-life/ [https://cascadewales.org/cardiff-university-to-help-set-up-major-new-research-centre-to-ensure-children-in-denmark-have-the-best-start-in-life/] This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dUp0vSpayHCnS-5KtI2kuxi4MvN2wUjxb_exfl_J9bI/edit?usp=drivesdk [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dUp0vSpayHCnS-5KtI2kuxi4MvN2wUjxb_exfl_J9bI/edit?usp=drivesdk] Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.