This Is Social Work

Welcome to This Is Social Work - the professional standards series

This is Social Work is a podcast from Social Work England, the specialist regulator for social work across England. Hosted by our very own regional engagement leads, we’ll be exploring the profession in more depth with a range of guests with lived and learned experiences of social work.

In our first 6 episodes, we’re unpicking the professional standards with a number of guests with experience of social work. We’ll be looking at what the professional standards are, what they mean in more detail and why they’re important.

Join us as we explore the standards on a deeper level, whilst showcasing the unique knowledge and enthusiasm for and from a profession rooted in public protection, positive change and improving people’s lives. 

Join the conversation using #ThisIsSocialWorkPod on our website and follow us on X (previously Twitter) and LinkedIn.

Professional standard 1: promote the rights, strengths and wellbeing of people, families and communities

In this episode, our head of equality, diversity and inclusion Ahmina Akhtar explores professional standard 1 alongside Isaac, a member of our National Advisory Forum, and Sharon, chair of National Independent Reviewing Officer Manager’s Partnership. They share what social justice means to them and how social workers can promote it within their practice. 

They also discuss how to recognise diversity when working with people, as well as challenging disadvantage and discrimination.

Professional standard 2: establish and maintain the trust and confidence of people

In this episode, regional engagement leads Philippa, Matthew and Catherine explore professional standard 2 – establish and maintain the trust and confidence of people. They discuss their personal experiences of building trust and confidence in their roles as social workers.

Catherine is also joined by National Advisory Forum member Ify and Derren, a young person with lived experience of social work. They share their experiences of building relationships with their social workers, and how communication plays a vital role throughout their involvement.

Join the conversation using #ThisIsSocialWorkPod on our website and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Professional standard 3: be accountable for the quality of my practice and the decisions I make

In this episode, regional engagement lead Matthew explores professional standard 3, be accountable for the quality of my practice and the decisions I make, with social workers George and Calum.

George and Calum share their unique experiences of social work practice, decision making and safeguarding in different social work settings. They also discuss the impact of COVID-19 on their practice, their teams, and the people they support.

Join the conversation using #ThisIsSocialWorkPod on our website and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Professional standard 4: maintain my continuing professional development

In this episode, regional engagement lead Matthew is joined by social workers Lisa and Louise, who share their experiences of engaging with CPD, and how they’ve involved peers and people with lived experience to reflect and inform their practice.

They discuss what CPD means to them, the importance of feedback, and the impact that CPD has had on their quality of practice as social workers.

Professional standard 5: act safely, respectfully and with professional integrity

In this episode, regional engagement leads Matthew and Philippa are joined by social worker and social media advocate Kayleigh Rose Evans as they discuss the social media aspect of professional standard 5.

Kayleigh is a regular social media user with growing audiences on multiple platforms. She shares her experience of social work and digital social spaces, including how she developed her approach as a practising social worker, how she balances her professional and personal social media use, and how social workers can protect themselves online.

Professional standard 6: promote ethical practice and report concerns

In this episode, regional engagement lead Philippa is joined by principal social worker and former chief social worker for adults, Fran Leddra and Julie Stevens, principal social worker for adults, as they discuss professional standard 6.

Philippa, Fran and Julie share their knowledge of responding to concerns raised by those who may be accessing care and support services, and the ways in which social workers and the people involved can be best supported to resolve issues at a local level.

Let’s talk diversity data part 1

In the first of our one-off episodes, our head of equality, diversity and inclusion, Ahmina Akhtar is joined by Duc Tran, co-chair of the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group for the British Association of Social Workers and Transformation Programme Manager at Brent Council. Together with Catherine Witt, regional engagement lead for the northeast and the Humber at Social Work England, they share what the collection of diversity data means to their organisations and outline its importance for the social work sector.

Let’s talk diversity data part 2

In the second episode, we speak to Andrea Stone, service director for Children's Social Care in Dudley and Emina Atic-Lee, service manager at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and a member of our National Advisory Forum. The forum provides expert advice, support and challenge to our work and how we achieve our objectives. Both have been registered social workers for over 20 years. They talk to us about why diversity data collection is key to practice and highlight its importance.

Perceptions of social work

Our latest ‘This is social work’ podcast discusses the perceptions of social work and how we want to change the script on social work. Exploring what social work means to different people, how social work as a profession is viewed by the public and what myths persist about this often misunderstood profession.