Rich and Tim speak to Nicki Pettitt, Consultant specialising in Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews
Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/Context Counts: Improving the analysis of socio-economic context and intersectionality in Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews: https://www.techne.ac.uk/research-and-education/departments-and-schools/law-and-criminology/research/our-projects-and-research-impact/context-counts-improving-the-analysis-of-socio-economic-context-and-intersectionality-in-local-child-safeguarding-practice-reviews/Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programmeRich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/Rich Devine LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-devine-181763177/
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1:06:00
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1:06:00
Rich and Tim probe Community Care Editor, Mithran for the latest social work headlines-from foster care shortages to the future of kinship
Josh MacAlister has said he’d like children to have a choice of where and with whom they live:https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/10/02/children-in-care-should-have-choice-of-where-and-with-whom-they-live-says-macalister/ Applications to register children’s homes are rocketing, such that Ofsted is having to prioritise applications, leaving others having to wait up to 18 months.https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/10/13/some-childrens-homes-face-waits-of-up-to-18-months-to-register-under-new-ofsted-policy/ Also, spending on looked-after children ate up all of the increase in spending in children’s services in 2024-25, with such spending pressures generally attributed to significant rises in residential care costs.https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/09/24/childrens-services-spending-increase-absorbed-entirely-by-care-system-last-year-figures-show/Community Care Live from Jahnine Davis, on her findings from a year as the kinship ambassador.
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44:11
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44:11
Rich and Tim speak to Dr Paul Shuttleworth on what children want you to know about kinship
In this episode of the Messy Social Work Podcast, Rich and Tim speak with Dr Paul Shuttleworth about his new book Listening to Children about Kinship Care: Child Welfare and Permanence. Drawing on powerful research and direct testimony from children and young people, Paul shares what they say really matters when professionals make decisions about kinship care, permanence, and support.We explore:Why listening to children is essential in kinship care planningThe emotional and relational complexities of kinship arrangementsHow professionals can better respond to what children actually needThe implications for policy, practice, and ethical social workThis conversation is a must-listen for anyone working in child welfare, fostering, or family support — and for those committed to centering children's voices in decision-making.Paul's book; FREE to download: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/listening-to-children-about-kinship-care-child-welfare-and-permanencePaul and Sarah's podcast; https://rpkp27vtwpz24.podbean.com/Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programmeRich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/Rich Devine LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-devine-181763177/
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1:04:01
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1:04:01
Rich and Tim speak to Dr Lorna Stabler about lived experience—its power, its promise, and its problems.
In this episode, we explore why lived experience has become such a dominant force in social work, and ask: what are we missing when we treat it as unquestionable truth? Dr Stabler helps us think critically about how stories are used, who gets to tell them, and what happens when experience becomes currency. This is a conversation about ethics, representation, and the uncomfortable edges of practice. Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programmeRich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/Rich Devine LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-devine-181763177/
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1:19:18
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1:19:18
Rich and Tim reflect on their personal failures, explore why failure is inevitable, & share what they’ve learned from it.
In this episode, Rich and Tim: How to Succeed at Failing, we reflect on the times we’ve got it wrong — professionally and personally — and explore why failure isn’t just inevitable, but essential. From missteps to lessons learned, we talk about how embracing failure can lead to growth, insight, and even unexpected success.Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programmeRich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/Rich Devine LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-devine-181763177/
UK