Social Work Sessions

Follow Social Work Sessions
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Social Work Sessions is a podcast which provides information through discussions with people in social work, from the front line, academia and elsewhere. Hosted by Carolyn Smith, Principal Social Worker for Adult Social Care in Somerset Council. Please get in touch with us with feedback or requests for future episode topics: SWSPodcast@somerset.gov.uk

The Social Work Sessions


    • Mar 28, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 39m AVG DURATION
    • 18 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Social Work Sessions with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Social Work Sessions

    Suzy Bray on the Self-neglect Thematic Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 26:39


    In this episodeof the Social Work Sessions, Carolyn Smith (Principal Social Worker for Adults,Somerset Council), talks with Professor Suzy Bray about the Self-neglectThematic Review she recently completed for the Somerset Safeguarding AdultsBoard (SSAB).  Suzy is an Independent Safeguarding Adults Consultant and Professor of Social Work (University of Sussex). Her work onself-neglect has influenced policy and legislation plus she was awarded an OBE for her contribution to the field of adult safeguarding. Suzy talks about what a Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR) is, shares key findings from the Self-neglect Thematic Review about needs and risks, mental capacity, and inter-agency working, alongside discussion about relationship-based practice.  The Self-Neglect Thematic Review will be published on the SSAB website where other SARs can also be accessed: Safeguarding Adult Reviews  Practice guidance and resources, including self-neglect guidance, are also available on the SSAB website: Practice guidance and resources Suzy is one of the authors of the Second national analysis of Safeguarding Adult Reviews: April 2019 - March 2023, which contributes to the knowledge base for adult safeguarding: Second national analysis of Safeguarding Adult Reviews:April 2019 - March 2023 | Local Government Association

    Somerset Council's Adult Safeguarding Team - The Social Work Sessions

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2024 30:01


    Jess Manu, Becky Frounks and Loveness Chimombo join Carolyn Smith to talk about the vital and complex work of the Safeguarding Team from Adult Services in Somerset.

    Michael Preston-Shoot Part 1 - SARs

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 47:16


    In this episode of the Social Work Sessions, Michael Preston-Shoot talks about the role of SARs in adult social care, including research findings and case examples

    Social Work Week and Wellbeing, with Amanda Rae and Jana Taylor

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2024 39:17


    In this special episode to mark Social Work Week, Carolyn Smith talks to two of Somerset Council's Advanced Practitioners, Amanda Rae and Jana Taylor about Wellbeing and the transformative role social workers play in people's lives. But we need to look after ourselves.

    Relational Activision and Co-design, with Tim Fisher

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2024 50:47


    Tim Fisher has been a social worker for over 15 years and is currently a service manager in London's Camden Council. Tim's Masters Degree research focussed on empowerment models in social work and he has published academic writing on community approaches. He has collaborated with organisations to develop restorative practice, under the banner To Love is to Act. This encourages people towards Relational Activism, which means taking action in the everyday and making change happen through personal and informal relationships.   @familygroupmeet

    Mental Capacity and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, with Chris Hamilton

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2024 36:57


    Chris Hamilton is an experienced social worker and leader of Somerset's Mental Capacity and DoLS Team. Carolyn Smith talks to Chris about his past and his work in Somerset. Chris speaks passionately about communicating decisions so that non-professionals can understand them and what 'best interest' actually means for people and their families.

    Social work with older people, with Dr Phoebe Beedell

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2024 33:35


    Dr Phoebe Beedell is a Senior Research Associate in the School for Policy Studies at Bristol University. In this episode of the Social Work Sessions, Dr Beedell talks to Carolyn Smith about her recent research project into social work with older people (SWOP), undertaken with the Universities of Birmingham and Bristol, and Effective Practice , funded by the NIHR School for Social Care Research. For more information, please go to: https://swopresearch.wordpress.com/

    Legal Literacy with Professor Michael Preston-Shoot

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2023 46:26


    In this episode of the Social Work Sessions, Professor Michael Preston-Shoot talks to Carolyn Smith about legal literacy; the ability to connect relevant legal rules with ethical and rights-based practice; and how legal literacy informs defensible decision-making.

    Social Work England - Philippa Geddes on the work of the Social Work regulator

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2023 44:02


    Philippa Geddes, from Social Work England, talks to Carolyn Smith on the work of the Social Work regulator.

    The Importance of Language in Social Work with Bryony Shannon

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2023 52:08


    Bryony Shannon is the Strategic Lead for Practice Development in Adults, Health & Wellbeing at the City of Doncaster Council. Bryony is also the author of the Rewriting Social Care blog, which can be found here: https://rewritingsocialcare.blog/ In this thought-provoking and highly entertaining episode of the Social Work Sessions, Bryony talks to Carolyn Smith about the importance of language and the overuse of labels and jargon in social care.

    Contemporary Adult Social Work with Chief Social Worker Lyn Romeo

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2023 41:25


    In this episode of the Social Work Sessions, Carolyn Smith talks with Lyn Romeo, Chief Social Worker for Adults. In a wide-ranging discussion, Lyn talks about her Australian roots, her current role and the importance of keeping social work personal, curious and, above all, hopeful.

    Hospital Social Work with Maxine Walton

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2023 45:37


    In this episode, Carolyn Smith talks with Maxine Walton about the central role that hospital social work and intermediate care plays in the health and social care system. In this fascinating discussion, Maxine talks about power imbalances, the importance of relational social work and working with people towards their goals. If you have any comments about this podcast, or have ideas for new episodes, please get in touch with us via swspodcast@somerset.gov.uk.

    Safeguarding Adults with Louise White

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2023 36:46


    In this episode of the Social Work Sessions, safeguarding lead Louise White talks about her career, the role of her team and why safeguarding is everybody's responsibility. If you have any comments about this podcast, or have ideas for new episodes, please get in touch with us via swspodcast@somerset.gov.uk.

    Making Safeguarding Personal with Professor Michael Preston-Shoot

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2023 53:07


    In Episode 4 of the Social Work Sessions, Somerset's Principal Social Worker, Carolyn Smith, speaks to Professor Michael Preston-Shoot. Michael is an Emeritus Professor of social work at the University of Bedfordshire and is the current Chair of Somerset's Safeguarding Adults Board. In this conversation, which ranges from the medieval to the modern, Michael sets out the legal, ethical and moral case for making safeguarding personal. If you have any comments about this podcast, or have ideas for new episodes, please get in touch with us via swspodcast@somerset.gov.uk.

    Reflections on the ASYE with Holly Stockdale and Sue Richardson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2023 36:53


    Somerset Council's Principal Social Worker for Adults, Carolyn Smith, speaks to social workers Holly Stockdale and Sue Richardson about their respective roles in the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment. Holly is a Learning & Development Advanced Practitioner and Sue is a recent graduate from our ASYE scheme. If you have any comments about this podcast, or have ideas for new episodes, please get in touch with us via swspodcast@somerset.gov.uk.

    Commissioning in social work with Paul Coles

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2023 37:54


    Paul Coles, Assistant Director for Commissioning in Somerset Council's Adult Services, talks about his career in social work and the importance of good commissioning.

    Social Work Sessions - Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2023 0:27


    Carolyn Smith, Principal Social Worker for Somerset Council's Adult Services, introduces the new podcast series Social Work Sessions.

    The Subject of self neglect with Professor Michael Preston-Shoot

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2023 50:07


    Carolyn Smith, Principal Social Worker for Adult Social Care in Somerset Council talks to Professor Michael Preston-Shoot about his career and his role in safeguarding, specifically around self neglect. As promised in the podcast, here are the links to: the Clutter Image Rating Scale: https://hoardingdisordersuk.org/clutter-image-ratings/ Keith's Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhmfptpwNZc&t=3s Please get in touch with us with feedback or requests for future episode topics: SWSPodcast@somerset.gov.uk

    Claim Social Work Sessions

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel