Podcasts about social care

Research into humanoid robots is a rapidly advancing field, with companies around the world striving to produce robots that look and act more like us. But what is it about recreating ourselves in robot form that we find so captivating? Why do humanoid robots both enthral and terrify us? And is our obsession with robotic humans just vanity, or could they play valuable roles in our future society? In this special live recording at Imperial College London as part of the Great Exhibition Road Festival, Claire chatted to Ben Russell (Science Museum), Maryam Banitalebi Dehkordi (University of Hertfordshire) and Petar Kormushev (Imperial College London) about humanoid robotics. Ben Russell has been the Science Museum's Curator of Mechanical Engineering since 2004. He has curated six permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions at the museum, including Engineers (2023), Robots (2017), Cosmonauts (2015) and James Watt's Workshop (2011). He is the author of James Watt: Making the World Anew, (Reaktion Books, 2014), and editor of Robots (Scala, 2017), as well as numerous published and conference papers. Maryam Banitalebi Dehkordi is a Senior Lecturer in Robotics and AI at the University of Hertfordshire. She has a master's degree in Mechatronics and Automatic Control Engineering from the University Technology Malaysia and a Ph.D. in Perceptual Robotics from Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Italy. Her expertise spans assistive robots, mobile robots, agricultural robots, industrial robots, humanoid robots, parallel manipulators, navigation, and outdoor autonomous vehicles. Petar Kormushev is Director of the Robot Intelligence Lab at Imperial College London and an Associate Professor in Robotics at the Dyson School of Design Engineering. His research focus is on reinforcement learning algorithms and their application to autonomous robots. Petar's long-term goal is to create robots that can learn by themselves and adapt to dynamic environments. His machine learning algorithms have been applied to a variety of humanoid robots, including COMAN and iCub. Join the Robot Talk community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ClaireAsher Sign up to the newsletter: https://www.robottalk.org/newsletter/ 

In this inspiring episode of our ‘Day in the Life of' podcast series, host Maxine Bell sits down with Helen O'Grady, an experienced coach and supervisor who brings her background in paediatric nursing into her coaching work within the health, social care, and education sectors. Helen shares her powerful journey from healthcare to coaching, shedding light on the unique challenges and opportunities in supporting professionals working on the front lines. Maxine and Helen explore how coaching can transform leadership and client care in health and social care, the emotional toll of frontline work, and how coaching supports burnout prevention and emotional wellbeing. They also discuss the persistent funding challenges and why coaching should be prioritised in high-impact environments like the NHS, social work and education.   Helen also discusses the importance of supervision for coaches and the evolving conversation around professional regulation in the coaching field. She shares honest reflections on the mindset shifts required in helping professions—from "rescuing" to empowering clients—and why self-trust and community support are vital for sustainable coaching practices.   Full of insights and tips, Helen's passion and care for coaching and supervision light up the conversation. If you are feeling uncertain about coaching in any way or seeking a new perspective and purpose in your practice, this podcast episode is for you!     ·       Discover the value and impact of coaching in the health, social care, and education sector ·       Learn how to shift from a "rescue" mindset to one that supports agency and empowerment ·       Understand the critical role of supervision in sustaining ethical, reflective, and resilient coaching     "From the moment I discovered coaching, I was like, wow, this is fantastic. I still get so much joy from all aspects of it; I feel very blessed to have found it."   Tune in next week as Helen hosts a new 11-part podcast series: Coaching Supervision Uncovered!   Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content.   For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_day-in-the-life-of-coaches-supervision-frontline-professionals-inspirational  

Claire chatted to Gabriel Skantze from KTH Royal Institute of Technology about having natural face-to-face conversations with robots. Gabriel Skantze is a Professor of Speech Communication and Technology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. He specializes in conversational systems and leads several research projects on conversational AI and human-robot interaction. His work focuses on computational models of spoken interaction, integrating both verbal and non-verbal aspects such as prosody, turn-taking, feedback, and joint attention. In 2014, he co-founded Furhat Robotics, where he continues to serve part-time as Chief Scientist. Join the Robot Talk community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ClaireAsher  

An Independent Children's Monitor report finds almost half the reports of concern relate to young Māori. They make up two-thirds of those in care - and more than three-quarters in youth justice custody. Voyce Whakarongo Mai Chief Executive Tracie Shipton told Ryan Bridge that change is possible. She says it's a stark reminder if we get in early with wrap around services for whanau and young people, we can make a difference. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join me and Dr. Jackie Gray in our conversation about navigating care for aging parents. Dr. Jackie Gray is a retired GP and medical specialist in public health. She chats with me about the challenges and rewards of caregiving for aging parents, highlighting the importance of community support through her platform, Carents. And in this conversation, we talk about:

Dr Steve Baguley is a consultant in Sexual Health & HIV and has been Chief Clinical Digital Officer for NHS Grampian since 2010. This episode features a discussion in which he compares Estonia's effective digital health system, which requires providers to submit care summaries to a central repository, enabling seamless data sharing and full transparency for citizens (who can view their records), and Scotland's NHS, which struggles with fragmented IT systems and unfulfilled promises, failing to meet its 2017 pledge for citizen data access by 2020. There have been significant delays in GP IT Re-provisioning, electronic prescribing  and other digital transformation efforts. Steve also discusses the role of AI in healthcare. He highlights ambient scribe technology as a major breakthrough for reducing clinician administrative burden while maintaining documentation quality. However, he strongly advises caution regarding AI tools like ChatGPT for direct clinical decision-making. For critical applications, he recommends a dual-AI verification system to enhance safety and reliability. Steve argues for a pragmatic, needs-based deployment strategy for AI tools (such as ambient scribes and Microsoft Copilot), prioritizing specific use cases and user requirements. Spending time where it counts – an AI strategy for Health & Social Care in the North of Scotland 2023-27 Health and social care - data strategy: 2024 update - progress and priorities Interesting times for Scottish GP IT (Peter Cairns blog) There's only one team in Tallinn To join the NHSS Scottish Digital Health and Care Network, access Teams and use the Join Code b7tk31u. (NHS Scotland M365 account needed). You can subscribe to the SNUG podcast on the following platforms: SNUG podcast on Apple podcasts        SNUG podcast on Spotify

Solvonis Therapeutics PLC CEO Anthony Tennyson talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the completion of the company's acquisition of Awakn Life Sciences and the progress of its lead clinical program. Tennyson explained that the acquisition positions Solvonis as a biotechnology firm focused on treating addiction and mental health disorders. A key asset from the deal, formerly AWKN-001 and now renamed SVN-001, targets severe alcohol use disorder and is currently in a Phase 3 clinical trial. "The results of the phase two for that program were groundbreaking," Tennyson said, highlighting that participants improved from 2% sobriety to 86% six months post-treatment. The Phase 3 trial is being conducted in partnership with the UK Department of Health at an unusually low cost of £800,000 – a figure Tennyson noted is “unheard of really, in the biopharmaceutical industry.” The trial is being carried out within the NHS and supported by UK addiction specialists and the Department of Health and Social Care, adding national relevance to the program. Tennyson also discussed a second program, SVN-002, focused on alcohol use disorder in the U.S., and outlined plans to integrate Awakn's assets and grow Solvonis's team. Visit Proactive's YouTube channel for more videos, and don't forget to give the video a like, subscribe to the channel and enable notifications for future content. #SolvonisTherapeutics #AlcoholAddictionTreatment #SVN001 #BiotechNews #Phase3Trial #MentalHealthInnovation #AwaknAcquisition #ClinicalResearch #AddictionRecovery #ProactiveInvestors

8.2 million working-age people report having a long-term health condition that limits their ability to work. 1.7 million say that work itself is making them ill or creating challenges. In addition to causing personal hardships, this decline in working-age health is causing concern among employers, politicians and policymakers.  With the benefits bill rising, government has set its sights on wide-ranging welfare reforms, including significant changes to health and disability benefits. Are these reforms likely to incentivise and support people back into work? And how can the system intervene earlier and support employers to provide people with the flexibility they need to stay in work in the first place?  To discuss, our Chief Executive Jennifer Dixon is joined by: Jon Ashworth, Chief Executive of Labour Together and former shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and for Work and Pensions. Sacha Romanovitch, Chair of the Commission for Healthier Working Lives, which is supported by the Health Foundation. Show notes Commission for Healthier Working Lives (2025). Action for healthier working lives.  UK government (2025). Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper.  Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (2024). Pathways to Work Commission.  Health Foundation (2025). Will short-term fixes undermine building a healthier workforce in the long run? Financial Times (2025). How to keep sick people in employment.  Health Foundation (2025). Mental health trends among working-age people. 

This week the podcast looks at another of those knotty, seemingly intractable issues sat on Labour's in-tray when they entered government last year; namely social care.To look at how successive administrations have failed to grasp the nettle and deal with the rising costs of a sector that has ballooned in size to deal with our ageing population, host Alain Tolhurst is joined on the panel by Paulette Hamilton, Labour MP and the acting chair of the health and social care select committee, as well as Joe Robertson, Tory MP for the Isle of Wight who also sits on the select committee.Alongside them are Lucinda Allen, policy fellow in social care at The Health Foundation, and Will Dalton, national officer for care at the GMB union, to discuss Andrew Dilnot's infamous unimplemented review, Theresa May's election-losing dementia tax, and what Keir Starmer's government is doing to take on the care crisis.They argue whether the latest review is another exercise in kicking the can down the road, and what impact this week's immigration white paper will have on the sector's massive vacancy issues, while later on in the episode Joe Dromey from the Fabian Society talks about the think tank's proposals for dealing with pay and recruitment.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

Hear from two academic policy experts, one in the UK and one in the US, who discuss the most effective ways that researchers can share their expertise with politicians and civil servants. We speak to: Michael Sanders is a professor of public policy at Kings College London and director of the School for Government. In addition to his academic career, he has worked in government as chief scientist on the Behavioural Insights Team and was the founding chief executive of What Works for Children's Social Care. David Garcia is a professor with Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. Prior to joining ASU, he helped found the Arizona Center for Public Policy - ThinkAZ, and he was worked as an associate superintendent and a director of research and policy with Arizona Department of Education. He is also a former legislative staffer with the Arizona State Senate and was the 2018 Democratic candidate for governor of Arizona. For more advice and insight on how best to engage policymakers with your research, take a look at our latest spotlight: An academics' guide to policy impact.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was known as the ‘godmother of rock and roll' and influenced countless musicians from Elvis to Johnny Cash. Now Olivier Award-winning performer Beverley Knight is playing Sister Rosetta in a new production, Marie and Rosetta, which has just opened at the Rose Theatre in London. It tells the story of Rosetta and her singing partner, Marie Knight, described as one of the most remarkable and revolutionary duos in music history. Beverley joins Nuala McGovern in the Woman's Hour studio to discuss how the show hopes to restore these forgotten musical heroines to the spotlight. The Government has announced that care workers will no longer be recruited from overseas as part of a crackdown on visas for lower-skilled workers. The care sector has criticised the plans as "cruel" and "short-sighted". To discuss this and what good care looks like, Nuala is joined by Gavin Edwards, Head of Social Care at Unison, and care worker Kathryn Faulke, author of the memoir Every Kind of People: A Journey into the Heart of Care Work.It's thought that around 3 to 4% of people in the UK, that's one in 20, have ADHD - Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However many women still remain undiagnosed for decades of their lives, with those in their 40s, 50s and 60s only now discovering they have it for the first time. Jo Beazley was diagnosed with ADHD just two years ago at the age of 49, after her symptoms worsened during the menopause. She joins Nuala along with Amanda Kirby, the former chair of the ADHD Foundation and a professor in the field of neurodiversity. This week we'll be hearing different perspectives on the recent Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman under the Equality Act, and how it could and should be interpreted on the ground. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has issued interim guidance that, in places open to the public, trans women shouldn't use women's facilities such as toilets. Today Nuala speaks to Robin Moira White, a barrister who specialises in taking discrimination cases, and who is also a trans woman. Robin transitioned in 2011 and is co-author of A Practical Guide to Transgender Law. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Cyber security is no longer a future concern – it's a challenge facing social care providers right now.In this episode of The Care Social podcast, we speak to Michelle Corrigan, Programme Director at Digital Care Hub and NHS Cyber Leader of the Year, about the real risks – and opportunities – of going digital in social care.Michelle explains why data security matters so much in care, how AI is really being used, and what providers can do today to improve their cyber resilience, meet DSPT requirements, and protect the people they support.In this episode:What cyber security means for social care providersHow to protect personal care data from cyber threatsSimple steps to improve digital safety and readinessWhat AI can and can't do in a care settingWhy completing the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) is so important – and easier than you thinkThis is a must-listen for registered managers, care home owners, supported living providers, and anyone interested in safer digital care.

As Women's Health Ambassador for England, Professor Dame Lesley Regan leads the implementation of the Government's Women's Health Strategy. In this episode of the Clinical Update Podcast she talks to MIMS Learning's Deputy Editor Rhiannon Ashman about her focus on improving women's healthcare across their lives. Professor Regan emphasises, ‘when we get it right for women, we get it right for everybody else in their family, their community and in wider society.' She highlights two key questions all clinicians should ask their female patients. The discussion also covers the importance of preventative care, the role of women's health hubs, HRT, cancer diagnosis, and the need for better information to empower patients. Content warning: this episode includes a brief mention of maternal suicide at 32.45–33.33.Educational objectivesAfter listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to:Explain the benefits of a ‘one-stop shop' approach to women's health servicesUnderstand the goals and challenges of implementing the Women's Health StrategyUnderstand the concept of patient-initiated follow-up and its benefitsExplain how pregnancy can serve as a ‘window' to a woman's future health risksRecall the two key questions all clinicians should ask womenYou can access the website version of this podcast on MIMS Learning to make notes for your appraisal. MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser.Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events.Useful linksDepartment of Health and Social Care. Women's health strategy for England. 30 August 2022. McKinsey Health Institute. Closing the women's health gap: A $1 trillion opportunity to improve lives and economies. 17 January 2024. MIMS LearningGuidance update: NICE guidelines on menopauseHealth inequalities in women: menopause, pelvic floor disorders and endometriosisEquity in maternity care - lessons from MBRRACE-UKRegister for a free healthcare professional account Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Today we are abolishing the biggest quango in the world,' – Wes Streeting, 13 March 2025  Many people were surprised by the government's decision to abolish NHS England and fold its functions into the Department of Health and Social Care. Not least Richard Meddings, Chair of NHS England since 2022. Having formally completed his term in March, Richard joins our Chief Executive Jennifer Dixon to discuss.  In a wide-ranging conversation, Richard reflects on his time at NHS England and how the organisation has changed. With the NHS facing growing demand for care, and continuing to top the public's list of priorities, where does the forthcoming 10-year health plan need to focus? How should ministers lead the service in the future? And what needs to happen to ensure the NHS reaches its 100th year? Show notes The Health Foundation (2020). Glaziers and window breakers. Former health secretaries in their own words. OECD (2025). How do health system features influence health system performance? Department of Health and Social Care (2023). The Hewitt Review: an independent review of integrated care systems. The Health Foundation (2025). Taking a chainsaw to NHS England is not the sign of a healthy state.  The Health Foundation (2025). Labour's 10-year plan for the NHS in England: what should it look like? NHS England (2025). Review of NHS performance and delivery (27 March 2025). NHS England board meeting.

On the day the Commons Health & Social Care Select Committee publishes its' first report of the new Parliament - on social care - Steve and Sarah chat with Chair Layla Moran MP about what they describe as the "true cost on inaction". This episode, which is exclusively given over to the interview, discusses the Casey Review, the politics and the hope for meaningful action before the Labour Government face the electorate in 2028/29.And this is a podcast first as two FORMER chairs interview the CURRENT chair of the select committee! Be in touch with your views, and ideas for future interviews, podcast@stevebrine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nathan Keates is a lecturer, improvisation teacher and performer. Like many of us, Nathan became addicted to improv studying in diverse forms and even clowning. He found that his interests drew him to teaching improv. Nathan Keats has delved into researching improv, one major project being with autistic people. He is an expert on autistic people, and we discussed the terms that have been use for autistic people that does not honor their individuality. We spoke several years ago, and I was delighted to connect with him again. He is a Lecturer in Health and Social Care at the University of Sunderland in London. Nathan is involved in research in Applied Social Sciences, Critical Autism Studies, Social and Positive Psychology, Organizational Culture and Improvisation. He has many research articles on neurodiversity including his recent "Inclusive Improv Pedagogy" https://keatesresearchblog.wordpress.com/2025/04/25/inclusive-improv-pedagogy/ “The Experience of Participating in Improv Comedy for Autistic Adults” https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/27546330251323154 And his 2017 book is especially worthwhile! "University Improv Comedy Society Manual" https://www.amazon.co.uk/University-Improv-Comedy-Society-Manual/dp/1549662694 You can contact Nathan at: Nathan.keates@sunderland.ac.uk

Following the publication of the Grace Report earlier this month, many questions have been raised about the level of care that people in our system have been receiving, and whether it is in fact fit for purpose…Joining Kieran to discuss is Tracey Carroll, mum of Willow, to discuss what she believes needs to change in the system.

Following the publication of the Grace Report last week, many questions were raised about the level of care that people in our system have been receiving. We want to turn our eyes to the issues facing those who work in the system today and whether the system is fit for purpose? Kieran spoke to Leader of Aontu, TD for Meath West Peadar Toibin and Terry Dignan Director Of Don Bosco Care and Spokesperson for the Children's Residential and Aftercare Voluntary Association (CRAVA)

Kieran spoke to Charlotte Burke, Continuous Professional Development officer with Social Care Ireland, registered social care worker and PhD candidate.

In this episode, Barry Price talks with insomnia and mindset specialist Gavin Rubinstein about the sleep difficulties faced by social care professionals.They discuss how stress, anxiety, and overthinking can disrupt sleep and share practical tips to help you rest better,Gavin highlights the importance of letting go of the pressure to sleep:​ 'The moment you stop trying to sleep is often when sleep comes naturally.'You'll learn:​Simple ways to calm your mind before bedHow accepting being awake can reduce sleep anxietyEasy relaxation techniques to improve sleep quality​Whether you're on the frontline or in a management role, this episode offers useful advice to help you get a better night's sleep.​

The UK Supreme Court rules that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. BBC correspondent Catriona Renton joins Nuala to discuss the ramifications of the ruling. Parents of disabled children are being forced to spend thousands of pounds of their own money to plug funding gaps in the health and social care system, according to new research by the disability charity Sense. Nearly half of mums polled have had to give up work as they don't get enough support to care for their child, and many families are turning to loans, credit cards and even crowdfunding to plug the gaps. Nuala is joined by Harriet Edwards, Head of Policy at Sense, and mum-of-three Kimberley Hind. The Irish writer Edna O'Brien died last year at the age of 93. The last person to be granted an interview with her was the documentary director Sinéad O'Shea. Her new film Blue Road weaves those final interviews with archive and readings from Edna's own diaries to tell the story of her extraordinary life. How does parental infidelity impact children, even years later when they become adults? Juliet Rosenfeld, a psychoanalyst and author of Affairs, and Tanith Carey, parenting expert and author of What's My Tween Thinking, join Nuala to discuss.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Dianne McGregor

A Clare native has been shortlisted for a prestigious Business Woman of the Year Award. Grainne Fogarty is in the running for the accolade, in the IMAGE Media and PWC Business Woman of the Year Awards 2025. Grainne is Director of RehabCare, the Health and Social Care division of the Rehab Group. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Director of RehabCare, Grainne Fogarty. Photo(C): Rehab Group Facebook

Welcome to the Personal Development Trailblazers Podcast! In today's episode, we'll explore how to release the mental blocks, inherited stories, and hidden fears that keep you from fully stepping into the life you're meant to live.Avelene Dalton is a certified Life Coach with a degree in Social Care and a certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy. She also works a 9–5 in her family's haulage business. Avelene loves helping people and has a massive interest in the brain, mindset, and how we can build new neural pathways to improve our thinking and daily life.She talks a lot about beliefs—how we can strip and reframe the ones that no longer serve us or are holding us back—so we can live a life that's true to who we really are. After all, most of what we've learned growing up is based on someone else's beliefs.Avelene's mission is to share knowledge, offer her own insights, and provoke thought, so others feel empowered to take aligned action—whatever that looks like for them—without pressure or expectation. She invites people to see life through a lens of love, abundance, gratitude, and opportunity.Connect with Avelene Here: https://www.instagram.com/avelenedaltonlifecoaching?igsh=MXNrZjNiMTN6bmFkNw%3D%3D&utm_source=qrGrab the freebie here: BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL HERE: https://calendly.com/avelenedalton/30min?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZ-iMD00wXjkJQrw66duxwzyOCnX-TMB5IaLnDhKt0mR93pOB2M4YY7XoE_aem_Ty7MZme2QvZrG3XzU5nysg===================================If you enjoyed this episode, remember to hit the like button and subscribe. Then share this episode with your friends.Thanks for watching the Personal Development Trailblazers Podcast. This podcast is part of the Digital Trailblazer family of podcasts. To learn more about Digital Trailblazer and what we do to help entrepreneurs, go to DigitalTrailblazer.com.Are you a coach, consultant, expert, or online course creator? Then we'd love to invite you to our FREE Facebook Group where you can learn the best strategies to land more high-ticket clients and customers. QUICK LINKS: APPLY TO BE FEATURED: https://app.digitaltrailblazer.com/podcast-guest-applicationDIGITAL TRAILBLAZER: https://digitaltrailblazer.com/

Fliss and James discuss the Welsh Government's new plans to cut waiting times. The proposed changes are part of a number of ideas looking to improve the NHS in Wales. They are joined by the Welsh NHS Confederation's Director Darren Hughes to talk through the details revealed to health leaders by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care. Professor Angela John then joins the podcast to discuss the launch of her new biography on Philip Burton, the man who helped propel Richard Burton to fame.

Exerting maximum influence on stakeholders, helping companies navigate regulatory complexity and promoting industry best practice are three big jobs that the UK consumer healthcare industry association, PAGB, has set itself for the next five years. In the last five years, PAGB has made significant headway with UK government, reports PAGB CEO Michelle Riddalls, establishing the economic and social value of self-care and ensuring that self-care is part of the UK's national healthcare strategy. Rx-to-OTC switch has been a major area of success, Michelle notes in this episode of the Over the Counter podcast. The Department of Health and Social Care recently published a list of switches it would like to see applications for, and PAGB is now facilitating members to take advantage of this opportunity. But there's always more work to be done. Switch involves significant risk, which PAGB is trying to reduce through further work with policy makers, and with a new government, the association must ensure that self-care remains high up on the agenda for politicians. Given the breadth of PAGB's work discussed by Michelle, we have split this episode into two, so watch out for the second part in two weeks' time on your favourite podcast provider and on Citeline's HBW Insight. Timestamps 2:10 – Introductions 2:40 – PAGB's new five-year strategy 5:40 – Evolution not revolution 8:00 – Self-care and UK government policy 10:30 – Quantifying the value of self-care 12:30 – Lobbying around AMR and OTCs 16:00 – Rx-to-OTC switch in the UK 24:00 – The power of brands Guest Bio Michelle Riddalls OBE is Chief Executive Officer of PAGB, the consumer healthcare association, which represents the manufacturers of branded over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, self-care medical devices and food supplements in the UK. Prior to joining PAGB, Michelle was Director of Regulatory Affairs for the Northern European Cluster at Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, where she was integral in the highly successful POM to GSL reclassification of Nexium Control and the Viagra Connect POM to P switch. Michelle has been recognised across a number of industry awards, including the Women in Trade Powerlist in 2024, and was awarded an OBE for outstanding services to consumer health in the King's 2025 New Year Honours.

Episode 113 - Social Care is the subject on this weeks ‘D' Word as Pete chats to Kat Hall Director of The Bay Care Group. Disclaimer: Please note that all information and content on the UK Health Radio Network, all its radio broadcasts and podcasts are provided by the authors, producers, presenters and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge. As a service to our listeners/readers our programs/content are for general information and entertainment only.  The UK Health Radio Network does not recommend, endorse, or object to the views, products or topics expressed or discussed by show hosts or their guests, authors and interviewees.  We suggest you always consult with your own professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advisor. So please do not delay or disregard any professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advice received due to something you have heard or read on the UK Health Radio Network.

The government has put improving the NHS at the heart of its plans, but will it be able to deliver on its promises? And how long could it take to turn the health service around? Pippa Crerar asked health secretary Wes Streeting at a special Guardian Live event. In a wide-ranging discussion, he also took questions on others issues including assisted dying, transgender rights and the war in Gaza. To purchase the full event video on demand, go to the theguardian.live. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The Government is reorganising the way the NHS is run in England by scrapping the body that's been in charge and giving direct control to the Department of Health and Social Care. Jobs will go and the country's biggest quango will be dismantled. But what is the government actually trying to do to the NHS? What are its aims and how does the restructure fit into the government's big picture for the health service in the UK?Guests: Hugh Pym, BBC Health Editor Siva Anandaciva, Director of Policy, King's Fund Dame Jennifer Dixon, Chief Executive of the Health Foundation Dame Carol Propper, Professor of Economics Imperial College in the Department of Economics and Public PolicyPresenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Beth Ashmead Latham, Kirsteen Knight, Caroline Bayley Sound Engineer: James Beard Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman Editor: Richard Vadon

An ageing population, a funding squeeze and a recruitment crisis have taken England's adult social care system to breaking point. This week, John Harris is in Greater Manchester to find out what a day in the life of a care worker looks like, and whether it is too late to save this vital service. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

As of February 2025, the Generation Study has recruited over 3,000 participants. In this episode of Behind the Genes, we explore what we have learnt so far from running the study and how it continues to evolve in response to emerging challenges. The conversation delves into key lessons from early recruitment, the challenges of ensuring diverse representation, and the ethical considerations surrounding the storage of genomic data. Our guests discuss how ongoing dialogue with communities is helping to refine recruitment strategies, improve equity in access, and enhance the diversity of genomic data.  Our host Vivienne Parry, Head of Public Engagement at Genomics England, is joined by Alice Tuff-Lacey, Program Director for the Generation Study; Dalia Kasperaviciute, Scientific Director for Human Genomics at Genomics England; and Kerry Leeson Bevers, CEO of Alström Syndrome UK. For more information on the study, visit the Generation Study website, or see below for some of our top blogs and podcasts on the topic: Podcast: What do parents want to know about the Generation Study? Podcast: How has design research shaped the Generation Study? Blog: What is the Generation Study? "We always have to remember, don't we, that if people say no to these things, it's not a failure to on our part, or a failure on their part. It's just something they've thought about and they don't want to do, and for all sorts of different reasons. And the other reflection I have about different communities is the ‘different' bit, is that what approach works for one community may not work for another, and I think that that's something that's going to have to evolve over length of the study, is finding the things that are the right way, the most helpful way to approach people." You can download the transcript, or read it below.   Vivienne: Hello and welcome to Behind the Genes.    Alice: “And this is quite an exciting shift in how we use whole genome sequencing, because what we are talking about is using it in a much more preventative way. Traditionally, where we've been using it is diagnostically where we know someone is sick and they've got symptoms of a rare condition, and we're looking to see what they might have. What we're actually talking about is screening babies from birth using their genome, to see if they are at risk of a particular condition, and what this means is this raising quite a lot of complex ethical, operational, and scientific and clinical questions.”    Vivienne: My name's Vivienne Parry, and I'm Head of Public Engagement here at Genomics England, and I'm your host on this episode of Behind the Genes.      Now, if you are a fan of this podcast, and of course you're a fan of this podcast, you may have already heard us talking about the Generation Study, the very exciting Genomics England research project which aims to screen 100,000 newborn babies for over 200 genetic conditions using whole genome sequencing.      Well, we've got more on the study for you now. What we're doing to make it both accessible and equitable for all parents-to-be, and our plans to ensure that we continue to listen to parents, and perhaps in future, the babies as they grow up. We'll chat, too, about emerging challenges and how we might deal with them.    I'm joined in our studio by Alice Tuff-Lacey, the Programme Director for the Generation Study, and Dalia Kasperaviciute, Scientific Director for Human Genomics, both from Genomics England, and we're delighted to welcome Kerry Leeson-Bevers, Chief Executive of Alström Syndrome UK. And I'm just going to quickly ask Kerry, just tell us about Alström Syndrome and how you're involved.    Kerry: Yes, so Alström Syndrome is an ultra-rare genetic condition. My son has the condition and that's how I got involved. So, the charity has been around now since 1998, so quite a well-established charity, but as part of our work we developed Breaking Down Barriers, which is a network of organisations working to improving engagement and involvement from diverse, marginalised and under-served communities as well.    Vivienne: And you wear another hat as well?  Kerry: I do. So, I'm also a member of the research team working on the process and impact evaluation for the Generation Study. So, I'm Chair of the Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Advisory Group there.    Vivienne: Well, the multiply hatted Kerry, we're delighted to welcome you. Thank you so much for being with us.      So, first of all, let's just have a sense from Alice Tuff-Lacey about this project. In a nutshell, what's it all about, Alice?  Alice: Thanks Viv. So, I think in the last few years we've seen some really big advances in the diagnoses of rare diseases through things the Genomic Medicine Service. But we know it takes about 5 years often to diagnose most of these rare conditions. What we also know is that there are several hundred of them that are treatable, and actually there can be massive benefits to the child's health from diagnosing and treating them earlier. I think a really good example of this which is often talked about is spinal muscular atrophy, which is a particular condition where there is a genetic treatment available and there is a really big difference in families from those babies where the condition was identified later on, versus their brothers and sisters where they were identified early because they knew there was a sibling that had it and they were given that treatment.     What we think there is a huge potential opportunity to identify these children from their genome before they get ill, and this is quite an exciting shift in how we use whole genome sequencing, because what we are talking about is using it in a much more preventative way.  But this is a really different approach to how we've been using it so far, because traditionally where we have been using it is diagnostically where we know someone is sick and they've got symptoms of a rare condition and we are looking to see what they might have, what we are actually talking about is screening babies from birth using their genome to see if they are at risk of a particular condition. And what this means is, this raises quite a lot of complex ethical, operational and scientific and clinical questions.      So the aim of the Generation Study is really to understand if we can and should use whole genome sequencing in this way to screen for rare conditions in newborn babies. We've been funded by the Department of Health and Social Care to do this over the following years, and the way we'll be doing this is by a national study across a network of trusts in England where we are aiming to recruit about 100,000 babies and screen them for rare treatable conditions that we know present in childhood. And really the aim of this is to understand if this will work and how it will work, and to generate the evidence to allow the NHS and the National Screening Committee to decide if this could become a clinical service, and that's very much the primary goal of the study.      Beyond that, however, there are some other aims of the study, and we also consent mothers to ask permission to retain their genomic data and to link it to the baby's clinical data over their childhood, and we'll be providing access to this to researchers in the de-identified way in our trusted research environment. And this is to really understand if that data can also be used to further generate information around other discovery research, but also critically understand that the motivations for parents involved will be very different, and we need to think very carefully about how we engage and work with the parents of the babies going forward about how we use their data.    Vivienne: And the super exciting thing is we've started recruiting. How many mothers have we recruited?  Alice: So, we've recruited over 3,000 to date, and it's building every day and every week really. And it's really exciting because we see more and more trusts coming online and the study building and really starting to learn from the experience. And every week and every month, we're learning much more about how this process works, what the impact it's having, and kind of what we need to do over the coming few months and years to deliver it.    Vivienne: And we did a huge about of work at Genomics England before the study even started, to try and find out what people wanted. So, we found out, for instance, that people didn't want to know about late onset conditions, they did want to know about conditions where there was a treatment, and they wanted things that could be done for their babies in childhood. So, we had a really clear steer from the public about this project before we even started. So, how are we continuing to learn from the people who are involved in the study and the public? I mean Kerry, you've been involved in this aspect. We need to listen, don't we, to find out what's going on?    Kerry: We do, we do, and I think it's really encouraging to see the public dialogue and the amount of engagement work that was done there to kind of identify what some of those areas were, but it's really important that we don't stop that engagement there. It's really important to continue that, and I know that we've got quite a diverse group for our Patient and Public Involvement Advisory Group and the Evaluation Team, and one of the things they're really interested in is how we're going out there to speak with communities. You know, we can't just be reliant on the media, and press releases about the study. We need to actually go to communities and have these conversations so that people can have a conversation within an environment that they feel safe and confident with the people that they feel supported by as well.    So I think it's really key that we continue to ask those questions but also learning from the evaluation and, as we go through the process, of speaking to the patient organisations as well who support families that suffer from some conditions that we plan to identify through this study, and learn what some of their challenges are as well. You know, do they feel equipped to be able to support parents that are getting a diagnosis? As well as obviously their participants and the general public, to make sure that we're aware of attitudes and perceptions as the study goes along.    Vivienne: Because there's always a danger with this kind of study that it's people who are health literate who end up being involved. Whereas some of the people on whom the burden of rare disease is greatest may not either feel that they can access, or would want to access, this study. So, what are we doing there? How are we listening to people?  Kerry: When we are looking at recruitment as well, like you say, you know this is a research study and when we look at history and when we look at participants in research studies, we very rarely do you get a diverse representation of people in these types of studies. So, it's really important that those extra efforts are made really in terms of recruitment to get the right sample of people involved. And I know at Genomics England, that they have invested their time and money in terms of interpreters and translating materials and things, but actually it's the sites and recruiting people that need to be well resourced in order to use recruitment strategies, because if we're just looking at posters in waiting rooms, for instance, you're going to get a particular demographic of people that will respond to those kind of posters, such as people who don't speak English as a first language, it would be really difficult sometimes to read those kinds of posters and then to ask questions about that.     We need skilled people within sites that are recruiting who have got cultural competence who can have those conversations, address some of those areas, some of those concerns so that we can get that diverse representation.    Vivienne: So, there's a whole piece about equity of access for everybody and Dalia, perhaps you can explain why this is so important, scientifically as well as ethically? There's another piece about making sure that we get a full diversity represented.    Dalia: We know that some of the conditions are more common in certain populations or certain communities. We also know that some of the conditions are caused by certain variants in one population but not in the others. And these genetic causes even of the same condition can vary between different communities and different genetic ancestors.  On the other hand, our knowledge about the conditions and the genes, and the variants which cause them, come a lot from what we've seen before. Where we've seen those variants in the patients with the disease, and importantly where we've seen those variants in control populations where these individuals which don't have conditions.      Therefore, if we lack the diversity in our datasets, we would not know about all the diverse reasons of why conditions can be caused, or how it progresses, or what it might mean for individuals. And we would not be able to have equitable testing, or we wouldn't know whether the test works for everyone. If that happened, we might be in the territory where we can't detect or don't detect as well all the conditions across different individuals. But also, we may be having more false positive results and create more anxiety for families as well as burden for healthcare system.    Vivienne: So, are you saying, Dalia, that actually sometimes we might get a false positive, or indeed a false negative, simply because in that person, the condition which we think is usually caused by a particular change, they've got a slightly different change and so therefore we're not picking it up.  Dalia: Indeed, but it's one of the possibilities. If, let's say, all our knowledge about certain genes came from a limited number of individuals, seeing a new variant in another individual might seem that it's something really rare and never seen before and it's potentially changes how the gene functions, we would say; “oh that's maybe something which causes the disease,” when actually it can be that it is a benign variant, just a normal variation which is very common in another part of the world, it's just that we don't have enough data to know about it. So, we need to be aware of those risks and take it into account when we interpret the variants.      And, we also need to be transparent when operating in the environment. There was historical and investment in the diversity in research and our data sets still are not as diverse as we would like to be. It's shifting, the balance is definitely shifting in the last few years. A lot of effort is being done but the only way to shift the balance forever and make that genomic medicine work for everyone is to really actively engage those individuals and involve them in the research, and taking all the effort that Kerry was talking about.    Advert: The Genomics England Research Summit is fast approaching and registration is now open! Join us for this one day in-person event on Tuesday 17 June 2025. This year's agenda dives into rare condition diagnosis, cancer genomics, pharmacogenomics, therapeutic trials, and the impact of emerging technologies. Hear from leading experts and inspirational speakers as we explore the present and future of genomics and the latest research and technology from the Genomics England research community. Keep an eye on the website, genomicsresearchsummit.co.uk for all the details and to secure your spot. Spaces are limited, so don't miss out. We'll see you at the summit!  Vivienne: Alice, that goes back to this thing about holding the genomic data, because you need to hold the genomic data because the thing about genomics as always, you need to know what happens next. So, for instance, if somebody had a negative result and then later developed a condition, you need to be able to go back that data in order to find out what the problem was.  Kerry: That's right. You know, as Dalia talked about, we know that there is a risk within the study and we try and be clear about that in our participant information that there are some babies where they may have a genetic condition that we will need not find it, and others where we might find something that doesn't go on to be the actual condition. And we need to kind of monitor those in different ways.      So in particular in the cases where, if we've returned a result where we don't think we suspect a condition and a baby goes on to develop a condition, it's quite complex how we monitor that, and we're trying to go for a multi-track approach, and I think a lot of the benefits is some of the infrastructure that Genomic England already has that we can utilise.  So, some of the foundational things we've put into the study to help support the approach are things like the ability to contact parents regularly so we can actually work with them to find out over time if their babies develop conditions.    As you say, ability and consent to access the clinical data about the baby so that we can then access national data sets, and then we can then potentially monitor to see if babies seem to be showing signs of developing a condition. And also, really continuing to work with a network of clinical specialists where we've work quite hard over the last couple of years to build that kind of network and engage with them about the study, because they'll be the ones who the babies will come to if they develop those conditions. So, they are a really good route to us finding out, whether or not there are babies who have been part of the study who then go on to develop a condition.     And I think the reality is that this is a really complex process and it's something that even traditional screening programmes really struggle with, and that's why this multi-pronged approach is really important, and why also we see that this approach will evolve over time, and at the moment, the important thing is we've worked hard to put the right foundations in to allow us to do this type of monitoring, and to really evolve that approach as things develop and as more things come along potentially where we can invest in.    Vivienne: So, it's interesting, isn't it, because I guess that some parents would think that if you get a false positive or false negative, that it means that the test is at fault. And actually the accuracy of the test is good, but what we may have an issue with is that there is something else causing the problem that we don't yet know about. So, a big part of this project is giving much, much more information about the causes of conditions.    Alice: Yes, and I think that's also why the discovery research aspect is really important, the fact that we consent for that ability to hold the baby's data. So not only will we want to use it for the evaluation, but as I mentioned at the beginning, we have asked for parents to be able to allow us to link it to clinical data which then allows us to track over time and find out more information, because it's always the quality of the information we know that will help us in the future to identify these conditions, so the more we can generate potential information, you know, the more we will learn as a society.    And so it's actually quite an altruistic thing we're asking of parents, and that's something we recognise and that's why it's also important we think about, how we continue to engage with the parents and the baby over their lifetime to remind them that we're holding this data, but also to understand what their concerns and feelings are about us holding that data and how we're using it for that broader research.  Vivienne: And that's very much what you're involved in, isn't it Kerry?  Kerry: Yes, and I think sometimes in some ways that may offer some reassurance to parents as well, to know that's there as a reference point if things do develop over time, but I know that one of the things we're looking at as part of the evaluation, and the PPI Group we're involved in, is looking at the experiences of patients through this journey because actually it will create quite a lot of uncertainty.      As a parent of a child with a genetic condition, that uncertainty really is one of the hardest things to learn to live with. So at that early stage, one of the things we're looking at is that experience, how much support people have received, whether that has an impact on the parent and their child and their on bonding and their experiences and things like that, and I think it is important that we do that, but I think also having those references, where you're able to go back and ask those questions, that's really important that the support is in place, and that pathway really for parents to know where to go to. Because sometimes, although we may arrange to have calls at regular intervals and things, sometimes the questions of parents don't necessarily come at the time when they are having a telephone call. They come really late at night when there's nobody to pick up the phone, so having as much information as we can available, and those support structures in place, is really key.    Vivienne: We all start off these projects thinking that they are going to go in a particular way, but actually there's a lot of flexibility in this study, isn't there, Alice?  For instance, we will be looking at all those false positives, false negatives because we need to learn from that. We will be, perhaps, changing our approach as we go on if there is something that isn't working out. Is that what we're doing?  Alice: Yes, I think what we have recognise is it is a study and therefore that involves learning by it's very nature, and that's why partly we're working with external evaluation partners that Kerry's involved with, but also why we invest in a lot of things internally. Like we do a lot of user research with our midwives and our participants, and also potential participants. Because, actually we don't know the answer to this. No one's done this before, and so this is about all of us really learning, and learning in the right way and continuing to do that throughout the study, but also more importantly capturing that information and making sure that at the end of it, we then have some understanding of if we were to see that it's right to deliver this as a clinical service, what that might actually involve.      But also, even if we get to that point, I think beyond that we will still continue to learn over time and that's again why that long enduring consent is quite important, because we can then continue to maintain that long term evaluation and continue to maintain that long term potential to help further further research. And so that's the thing where actually we'll be learning for the next 10-15 years, really what the Generational Study has learnt, and actually what we have achieved through it.  Vivienne: I just want to move back to something that you mentioned, Kerry, about conditions that we're looking for, and there were a lot of very specific things. I've said that what parents wanted, but there's also some scientific things, and Dalia might want to come in here, that these are conditions that we pretty sure that if you've got the particular genetic change, that you will get the condition – something called penetrance. So, you know, we're not leaving people with a lot of uncertainty. But, how will we go about assessing new conditions as part of this study, or are we just on the ones that we're on at the moment?  Dalia: So, we started from the things we understand the best and we know how to detect them and we know how to confirm them because the tests that we are doing in Genomics England is a screening test, it will not be a definitive answer whether you have or you don't have a condition. Anyone which will get a positive result will be referred to an NHS specialist clinician for further assessment. And some of those positive results turn out not to have the conditions and some of them will have, and they will have their treatment pathways. So, we're started to very cautiously, and that's what came from public dialogue, everyone was saying that; “you need to be really cautious, we need to see that it works for the conditions that we understand well”.     But as a starting point, as we learn more, we're learning of how could we expand that list.  What would be acceptable for public. Maybe some conditions will have an experimental treatment, which currently would not be included in screening but as treatments evolve, at some stages maybe there will be opportunities to include some conditions in the future.      As our science evolves, we keep assessing the new conditions and seeing can we include them, would it be acceptable to parents, would it be acceptable to the healthcare system, and one of the things about screening it's really important not to cause harm. There are a lot of benefits in screening but if we didn't do it cautiously, it also has some risks, and we need to be very careful about it.    Vivienne: Now Kerry, there are lots of parent groups who will come along to us and say; “oh you must include this condition,” but perhaps there isn't yet a treatment, or there isn't a pathway in the NHS that will help people get what they need. And I guess if we try to include too many conditions, we would actually undermine trust.    Kerry: So, the patient organisation, our condition, Alström Syndrome, isn't included in the list. For our condition, there is no specific treatment although we do have a highly specialised service, and it is very important to get early diagnosis because children can develop heart failure and there are symptom-specific treatments available there. But I get the reasoning why there needs to be a specific treatment and the need to include just a smaller group at the beginning, but our hope as with I'm sure a lot of other patient organisations, is that our condition will be added at a later time if it is found that this is something that would be acceptable in routine care.    Advert: If you're enjoying what you've heard today and you'd like to hear some more great tales from the genomics coalface, why don't you join us on the Road to Genome podcast, where our host, Helen Bethell, chats to the professionals, experts and patients involved in genomics today. In our new series, Helen talks to a fantastic array of guests including the rapping consultant, clinical geneticist Professor Julian Barwell about Fragile X Syndrome, cancer genomics and the holistic approach to his practice. A genuine mic-drop of an interview. The Road to Genome is available wherever you get your podcasts.  Vivienne: Let me move on to another aspect of this study. These are babies, and we are holding their genomic information but at 16, they will be able to decide whether they want us to continue holding their genomic information. Alice, is that very much part of this programme to think about what we're going to say and how we're going to engage those 16-year-olds?  Alice: Yes, it very much is. What I always say, because I get asked this question a lot, is that I don't think we can pre-judge what that looks like. Because I look at my children, and certainly their lives are very different from my childhood, and I don't think we can imagine exactly what our babies will look in 16 years and what that world looks like. I think the important thing is many of things we are trying to do is that we lay the right foundations in place, and part of that is ensuring that we continue to think about how we engage with young people as the study evolves and over time, so that we understand what the world is looking like from their perspective.      But also, how do we equip the parents to talk about the fact that these babies are part of the study to them? What does that look like? How can we support them? And that's very much something we want to be looking at in the next year, really working with parents from the Generation Study to understand how best we can do that so that they can have some of that conversation for themselves as well. I think we can't pre-judge exactly how we need to talk about them and also not think it's just one thing. We need to evolve and work with the children as they grow up, and work with their parents to equip them because, as I said, we don't really know how they're going to access information in the future. You know certainly TikTok didn't exist when I was a child, and so that's what we've got to think about is what's the best avenues or forums to really engage properly with them as they grow.  Vivienne: Kerry, what other concerns to parents have that we're learning now?    Kerry: I think the concern is that when treatments are being developed, that they are not necessarily being developed for the whole population. They're often being developed for sub-sets of population because we don't have a complete dataset. And when you think about people being involved in research, people feel that they are being left behind because their data is not necessarily represented within there, it doesn't reflect their community, and it's not being discussed within communities, the different research opportunities and things have been available, I think it's the fact that we're not investing enough in community engagement and dialogue to explain more about genetics.   I think technology has advanced at pace. As a parent of a child with a genetic condition, that is very encouraging to see that, but I think sometimes the support and the information is not necessarily keeping up, so we're not having those open conversations really about genetics and genomics, and I think that's one of the things I hope that this study will really lead to, that it will now become much more part of everyday conversation.   Because often, when you have a child with a genetic condition, you first hear about a condition, the way you take in that information and ask questions is very different than having a conversation with the general public about genetics. When you're concerned that your child may have a condition or you may have a condition yourself, you're in a completely different mindset. So, the hope is that that dialogue will open so that people will be able to ask questions to learn more about the projects and things that are out there and available so that people are included and can take part in research if they want to. But it's important to remember that not everybody will want to. It's about being given informed choices and to do that we need to make sure that the support and the information is appropriate, inclusive and accessible.    Vivienne: We always have to remember, don't we, that if people say no to these things, it's not a failure to on our part, or a failure on their part. It's just something they've thought about and they don't want to do, and for all sorts of different reasons. And the other reflection I have about different communities is the ‘different' bit, is that what approach works for one community may not work for another, and I think that that's something that's going to have to evolve over length of the study, is finding the things that are the right way, the most helpful way to approach people.   Kerry: I completely agree. I think it's like you say, if people say no, that is completely their right to do so as long as they're saying no when they've been given the information to be able to really take that on board, think through, consider it and then make an informed decision. I think often people say no because they've not been given the right information to be able to understand what is expected, so they've not necessarily been given the opportunity. And I think we all want good outcomes for everybody. That doesn't mean delivering the services in the same way. Sometimes we need to deliver services in different ways because often services aren't very accessible for some communities to be able to access. So sometimes we need to make changes, adapt, to make sure that everybody has the same opportunities to the same outcomes.  Vivienne: We are constantly re-evaluating, rethinking, re-engaging to try and make it the best we can. Whether it's with different communities and different approaches. Whether it's with constantly assessing people who've had false positives, false negatives and finding out why that is the case. And in the future, I think this will have some really major effect.  Dalia, you're the scientist amongst us today. Tell us what you're hoping for from this study in science terms.  Dalia: So, first of all, we want to find the babies which we can treat before we develop symptoms, before we get ill, so that we can have more fulfilling lives. That's the bottom line. But we're doing that, we also will learn about the conditions. We'll learn a lot about the natural history of the conditions. What happens when you detect it before baby gets ill, then you start treatment, and how does it work in the diverse communities and diverse populations that we've talked about. Are there are any differences based on people's ancestry, but not just ancestry, about their lifestyle, about anything else which can affect how disease develops, or how the care or treatment goes.      So, that's kind of the bottom line. The top line and now our ultimate aim, probably many years from now, would be that we can detect variants of genes or conditions before they develop, and we can create treatments for them before our children get their conditions.  That's something that the science community is very excited about. I think we're quite a few years from that, but that's where we hope all this will be heading in the future.    Vivienne: It's really becoming a possibility, but the science is only the first part of it. It's the human interaction. It's the how it lands with people. It's how they feel about it. It's how they trust it. And these are all the things that we're really working on at Genomics England to make this study not just a scientific success, not just a success for the NHS, but also something that is really meaningful and important and valuable and trusted for people having babies. Would you agree?  Alice: Yes, 100%. I think, just to come in there, Viv, I think we've talked a bit about the importance of public trust and being the foundations of what we do, and I think that's something that Genomics England's always held true to itself, but I think for the purpose of the Generation Study, it's been one of kind of the foundational principles from the beginning, and I think Kerry and you have touched upon some really important themes today about how it's not a ‘one size fits all' approach. And I think very much that piece that we touched on a bit about, kind of, how do we make this accessible to everybody, we see it very much as not a ‘one size fits all', and so we've been trying lots of different things to really tackle that, and evolving the approaches which, as you said, that's where the flexibility comes in.      My hope for the next 12 months is that we can really, now that we've got the study up and running, work a lot with the some of the regional networks, the Genomic Medicine Service alliances who are working at the regional level, and the recruiting trusts, to really explore different approaches and work out how we can support them to engage with the communities in their areas, because they're the ones who will understand who they are, and our role is to really try and provide, as Kerry highlighted, the tools of support to allow them to do that, and to try and make sure that we can make this as equitable as possible in terms of people being able to at least understand the studies here, get the information in the appropriate way, and then as we have also talked about, making their own minds up about whether this is the right thing for them to be part of.    Vivienne: So, the final question for you all is if I'm a mother-to-be, where can I find out more information. Let's start with you, Kerry.  Kerry: Well, from the Generation Study website, there's information there. Midwives, GP practices, obviously they're often going to be your first port of call, so I'm hoping that they feel equipped to be able to answer those questions and to signpost people to one of the trusts that are involved.    Vivienne: And we've also got a Genomics 101 episode where we answer some of the frequently asked questions, and I think there are at least 2 or if not 3 separate episodes from Behind the Genes, which people can look for which look at different aspects of the project. Anything else, Alice, that we need to know?  Alice: So, Kerry highlighted it, the Generation Study website is a really good starting point, but that's a good place to also find out what trusts are involved because it's also important to know that this is not available in all trusts in England at the moment. We have a network and it's growing, and it is all around England, but the first place to start is, kind of, is it in your local trust?  And then from there, it's then engaging with your trust and hospitals where there will be information, and the midwives are prepared to kind of talk to people.  So those are, kind of, the good first places to start.    Vivienne: Well, we're going to wrap up there. It's been so good talking to you all. So, thank you to our guests Alice Tuff-Lacey, Kerry Leeson-Bevers, and Dalia Kasperaviciute for joining me as we talked through how the Generation Study is continuing to evolve as it responds to emerging challenges. Now, if you would like to hear more about this, then please subscribe to Behind the Genes on your favourite podcast app and, of course, we hope that you would like to rate this.  Because, if you rate it, it allows more people to see it and more people to get enthused about Behind the Genes, which we love. It's available through your normal podcast apps. I've been your host, Vivienne Parry. The podcast was edited by Bill Griffin at Ventoux Digital, and produced by Naimah Callachand at Genomics England. Thank you so much for listening. Bye for now.  

Wondering how to make your social media efforts more profitable? Looking for ways to improve customer retention and acquisition through social platforms? To discover how to implement a social care strategy that enhances customer experience and drives business growth, I interview Brooke Sellas.Guest: Brooke Sellas | Show Notes: socialmediaexaminer.com/655Review our show on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Adam Cox is joined by Amrit Dhaliwal, the CEO of CEO of Walfinch and author of Time to Thrive: The Home Care Revolution. He argues that the sector isn't just in need of reform—it's on the brink of becoming a success story. https://walfinch.com/   

In episode 91 Andy McClenaghan is joined by Abigail Gagen, Emily Hindle and Angie Button to discuss how dementia affects people's lives and explore how social workers and social care workers can meet the needs of people with dementia and their families.Emily is Policy Manager with the Alzheimer's Society and Abi is a social worker who works as a Team Manager at North Yorkshire Council and is also a member of BASW England's Adults Social Work Thematic Group. Angie is Operational Social Work Lead at Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust and Chair of the BASW England Social Workers in Health Group. During the conversation reference is made to the Alzheimer's Society report Because we're human too and the blog Someone to Safeguard by social worker, Rob Mitchell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How is technology reshaping the way we access social services and healthcare? In this episode of American Compassion, recorded at The LBJ School of Public Affairs, we dive into the challenges and opportunities of digitizing the American safety net. Our panel of experts—leaders in healthcare, social care tech, research, and AI—break down how digital tools are impacting the way people get the support they need. From AI-powered outreach to new ways of sharing data securely, we explore what's working, what's not, and what's next. Host Rebecca McInroy joins Emily Barey from Epic, Jaffer Traish from FindHelp, Sherri Greenberg from The LBJ School of Public Affairs, and Amy McCarthy from Hippocratic AI. Together, they tackle big questions: Can AI actually make social care more personal? How do we protect privacy while improving access? And what will it take to build a safety net that truly works for everyone? Tune in for an insightful, real-world conversation on the future of social care in the digital age.

A fascinating conversation about the increasing complexity of needs around drugs and alcohol, housing, social care services, and financial pressures in communities.Ruth Robin shares her thoughts and hopes for the future, and the essential need for more collaboration to improve the institutions who exist to support the people of Scotland.

Money Box Live broadcasts from Grange Crescent Residential Care Home in Sheffield for a special programme on the cost of care.Unlike NHS services, social care is not free at the point of use. It costs an average of around £60,000 per year to live in a residential care home and considerably more if you need nursing care.Last week the Department of Health and Social Care announced a new review into care costs, but the independent commission tasked with the job will not publish it's final report until 2028.We'll be speaking to residents and family members about how they're paying their care bills and hearing from the care home manager about how it all works.Joining Felicity Hannah is Claire Rintoul, CEO of the charity Sheffcare which operates Grange Crescent Residential Care Home as well as eight others in the city, Professor Vic Rayner, Chair of the Care Providers Alliance which represents independent and voluntary adult social care providers in England and from the Society of later life advisors, Independent Financial Advisor Jonathan Rowley.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Production Coordinators: Emma Smith and Molly Pipe Editor: Jess Quayle(This programme was first broadcast 3pm on Wednesday the 8th of January, 2025)

In this episode, Beans and Gaz welcome Michael Butcher, the financial director of a chain of care homes, to discuss the critical issue of social care in the UK. Michael brings his unique insider perspective to the conversation, shedding light on the challenges facing the sector, including: Funding shortages: Exploring the underfunding of social care and its impact on quality of care, staff retention, and the overall sustainability of the system. The cost of care: Discussing the rising costs of care and how individuals and families can plan for the future, including exploring options like self-funding, insurance, and government support. The human element: Highlighting the emotional and practical challenges faced by care home residents and their families, and the crucial role of compassionate and dedicated care staff. Michael offers valuable insights and practical advice for listeners, whether they are considering their own future care needs, supporting a loved one, or simply interested in understanding the complexities of the UK's social care system. Key takeaways: The social care system in the UK is facing significant challenges. Understanding the costs and options for care is crucial for individuals and families. Compassionate and dedicated care staff are essential for providing high-quality care. This episode of the Tall Boy Radio Podcast provides a much-needed and informative discussion on a vital topic that affects us all. Music provided by Andy and the Leffe Turns and Lewis PIckford. tallboyradio.com

CONTENT WARNING - This episode contains references to both suicide and homicide. If you think you will find any of these subjects difficult to listen to, please do listen to another of our episodes. We will also have a “Trauma Tap-Out' on Friday. Join Rachel and Lucy as they battle through various infections, to discuss the very important topic of parent carer suicide. They are joined by Dr Siobhan O'Dwyer, an Associate Professor of Social Care, with expertise in unpaid carers, their experiences and the increased likelihood of them having suicidal thoughts. We know this one is tricky, but we also know that when people share that they feel suicidal, they think they are the only ones to feel this way. We know they aren't alone, and we want to raise awareness of this amongst our listeners. The following resources are available for support: Samaritans TEL - 116 123 Affinity Hub NHS Urgent Mental Health MIND Urgent Help You can find more about Siobhan here. Her full article is available here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13811118.2024.2363230?src=exp-la  And her championing of the work of Leeds Carer's here. Thanks to the lovely folk at Accessoloo for sponsoring this week's episode. You can find more about them and their work here.  If you'd be interested in sponsoring an episode of The Skies We're Under, please contact us at TSWUpodcast@gmail.com.   We'd love to hear from you – we love sharing stories, we love hearing how things are going, the good, the bad, the snotty-crying ugly. You can leave a message with us in a number of ways: Firstly you can leave a message using speakpipe here: SpeakpipeTSWU  (Please note calls need to be limited to 90 seconds) You can send us a voice note from your phone to our email address at tswupodcast@gmail.com Or, if the thought of hearing your own voice gives you ‘the ick', then send us an email to tswupodcast@gmail.com Whatever way you choose to get in touch, we really want to hear your thoughts, views, musings, rants and confessions (we love a confession!) . Thanks for listening and being a part of our podcast community -It would make our day if you could like, follow and review the podcast wherever you listen.  We're so happy that The Skies We're Under is a free, independent podcast. Any sponsorship received is used to cover the costs of the production of episodes and compensate our valuable guests for their time. The hosts provide their time and efforts for free. They do, however, appreciate any offers of caffeination to keep them going – you can buy them a cuppa here…     Follow us on Instagram @BornatRightTime. Head to www.bornattherighttime.com to find a parent workshop or CPD-certified training for practitioners in communication, collaboration and personalised care with parents/carers.

Why is the social care challenge so complicated? Why can't the nation's politicians find a way forward? What is a possible solution? And what could Baroness Casey do to succeed when nobody else has managed to do so?   This week's Expert Factor sees Hannah and Paul joined by Andrew Dilnot, who chaired the Commission on Funding of Care and Support, to explore three decades of disagreement and delay, look at how social care currently works – or doesn't, and discuss what Louise Casey should do to deliver lasting change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, Emma Foran takes us on her journey of self-discovery, career transformation, and personal growth. From her early aspirations to be an actor to navigating unfulfilling corporate roles, Emma shares how she found her true calling in social care and her current role as an Employment Officer at Down Syndrome Ireland.Emma reflects on the invaluable lessons she learned growing up alongside her aunt, who has Down Syndrome, and how it shaped her compassionate outlook on life. She discusses the challenges of leaving stable corporate jobs to pursue meaningful work and the joy she now finds in empowering adults with Down Syndrome to thrive in employment.Emma also opens up about the importance of living authentically, the struggles of societal expectations, and her evolving relationship with social media. With warmth and honesty, Emma reveals how embracing her passions has brought her a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment.If you've ever questioned your career path, struggled with conformity, or sought inspiration to make a meaningful change, this episode is for you.Let me know your thoughts on this eposideWebsiteInstagram TwitterFacebook

Ben Wright and guests discuss Social Care and Elon Musk

Political news, discussions and analysis, plus a review of the Sunday papers

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, has proposed "a new National Care Service", as part of the government's plan to shake-up adult social care with increased funding and an independent commission headed by crossbench peer Baroness Louise Casey. As adult social care is a predominantly female work force - and women make up the majority of people carrying out unpaid caring responsibilities - what impact could these changes have? Kylie Pentelow was joined by Melanie Williams, President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK.On New Year's Day, Nuala McGovern explored all things women and walking in this special programme. She was joined by the comedian and author Miranda Hart to discuss how her battle with chronic illness gave her a new appreciation for getting outdoors and walking, following 10 years out of the spotlight with chronic fatigue.Many people will have visited or been visited by their adult children over the holidays. Being a parent to adult children, as well as being the adult child, can be complicated. What are the pitfalls? How can we ensure that relationship stays strong? Clare McDonnell was joined by psychotherapist Dr Julia Samuel and actor Helen Lederer to discuss.Four women from Pembrokeshire in Wales are about to set off on an Atlantic rowing challenge that's been three years in the planning. They're set to break two world records along the way. 32-year-old Sophie Pierce will be the first person with cystic fibrosis to row any ocean and 70-year-old Janine Williams will be the oldest woman to complete this challenge. She's due to set a Guinness World Record. Along with Miyah and Polly, the women will spend 60 days together in a 10-metre-long ocean rowing boat to cross 3,200 miles unaided from Lanzarote to Antigua. Sophie and Janine spoke to Kylie on the day before they left for Lanzarote.What's it like fostering in your forties? Author Beth Moran had three children in her twenties but decided to take up fostering once they flew the nest. Her new novel It Had To Be You is inspired by her experiences of fostering 13 children in five years and she joined Clare to discuss the challenges her family faced.A new Dolly Parton musical Here You Come Again is packed with the biggest and most rhinestoned hits from the country legend, and is currently playing at the Riverside Studios in London before it heads on tour across the UK next month. Actress Tricia Paoluccio joined Clare to discuss what it's like becoming Dolly in the show – and gave a live performance in the studio.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Louise Corley

Today, we look at the government's plans for a new independent commission on the future of adult social care in England. It's due to start this April, but the final proposals are unlikely to be delivered before 2028. Adam is joined by Vicki Young, BBC's deputy political editor, and Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group, the association for all care providers in York and North Yorkshire.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Teodora Agarici. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Happy New Year and – of course – happy new long-term social care plan. Not only has Labour announced a ‘longer-term' solution to a problem the party itself has acknowledged is urgent by setting up a commission that won't report until 2028, but it has also taken steps to make that reform even harder to realise by saying it is looking for a ‘cross-party solution'. Should we interpret this as Labour kicking the can down the road? And is Labour developing a reputation for shirking its responsibility when it comes to the most vulnerable in society? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Isabel Hardman and James Heale. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

This morning the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, has proposed "a new National Care Service", as part of the government's plan to shake-up adult social care with increased funding and an independent commission headed by crossbench peer Baroness Louise Casey. As adult social care is a predominantly female work force - and women make up the majority of people carrying out unpaid caring responsibilities - what impact could these changes have? Kylie Pentelow is joined by Melanie Williams, President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK.The Women's Rugby World Cup is being held later this year in England. Whilst Scotland and Wales will be competing, England currently sit at the top of the world rankings – with many hoping this could be women's rugby's ‘Lionesses moment'. To discuss whether this is likely and how best to ensure the tournament has a positive legacy, Kylie Pentelow is joined by Fi Tomas, women's sport reporter at the Telegraph, and Christina Philippou, an associate professor in accounting and sport finance at the University of Portsmouth. Comedian Amy Gledhill is about to start a new residency at Soho Theatre in London with her award-winning solo show, Make Me Look Fit On The Poster. She joins Kylie to talk about writing autobiographical comedy, romance, bin bags... and why she is hoping her work will make people think as well as laugh.Juhea Kim's first novel Beasts of a Little Land was set in Korea and covered the conflicts of the 20th Century. Her second novel, City of Night Birds, explores a wildly different subject, modern Russian ballet, and follows the story of talented ballerina Natalia as she finds fame and struggles to cope with the demands of international stardom. Juhea joins Kylie to discuss how her own experiences as a dancer inspired her novel.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Rebecca Myatt

The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has defended the timeline.

Keir Starmer is preparing to give his big reset speech on Thursday. But the more interesting address is perhaps the one he gave last night at the annual Lord Mayor's Banquet, where the Prime Minister gave his first major speech on foreign policy. The most interesting passage saw Starmer reject the notion that Britain will need to pick sides between the US and the EU under the looming Trump presidency – particularly in the event of a trade war. How long can No. 10 afford to keep their foreign policy preferences ambiguous?  Also on the podcast, Sir Chris Wormald has been announced as the successor to Simon Case as Cabinet Secretary, in another example of Labour prizing experience when it comes to senior civil service roles. Is he a smart pick, given the questions about his performance at the Department of Health and Social Care and his frequent appearances at the Covid inquiry? Oscar Edmondson speaks to James Heale and Jill Rutter, senior research fellow at UK in a Changing Europe and a former civil servant. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

Jo Joyner speaks to Education Expert Tina Coope from the UK charity about helping children at school. She has good tips about how to speak to schools and help teachers understand how to help these children. If you have any ideas about other educational aspects you would like covered please let us know in the comments. Also please review if you can - it helps others find our podcasts more easily. For more info PANS PANDAS UK also have a range of educational resources available, including free online CPD-accredited teacher training (donations are optional but appreciated). Check them out here: https://panspandasuk.org/support-resources/for-educational-professionals/  A wealth of information for allied professionals, families, adults, young people and children is also available here- https://panspandasuk.org  A PANS, PANDAS Education, Social Care and Health Group (ESCHG) is also working on putting together a position statement and some helpful guidance for Local Authorities. You can find more information here: https://panspandasuk.org/post/efforts-underway-to-support-families-and-professionals-across-education-social-care-and-health-to-develop-a-position-statement-on-pans-and-pandas/    

Why does Rivals' high-camp, warts-and-all frolic through the 80s make Zoe Williams feel so nostalgic? Is it wrong for Elon Musk to offer voters $1m to get Trump elected? ‘I was blown away by how meaningful and interesting it is: one woman's ‘love story' to the caring profession. And Philippa Perry advises a reader to be more forgiving to a friend who is a perpetual liar