Do Do Social Work

By Paul Shuttleworth & Sarah Flagg

A podcast by social workers for social workers and anyone with an interest in social work issues in the UK. Sarah Flagg and Paul Shuttleworth have a chat about their social work lives, and break down ... more

· Society & Culture

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FAQs about Do Do Social Work:

How many episodes does Do Do Social Work have?

The podcast currently has 20 episodes available.

Do Do Social Work episodes:

December 23, 2025 Shaking the Ladder: Sarah and Paul Do Do Experts By Experience with Debs Pawley
In this episode Paul and Sarah have a chat about Experts by Experience, co-production and participation and are joined by Debs Pawley, Coordinator of the Experts by Experience Network at the University of Sussex.
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Show Notes:
Fox, J. (2020). Perspectives of experts-by-experience: an exploration of lived experience involvement in social work education. Social Work Education, 41(4), 587–604. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2020.1861244
Roger Hart's Ladder of Children’s Participation Model:
Hart, R. A. (1992). Children’s participation: From tokenism to citizenship. Florence, Italy: United Nations Children’s Fund International Child Development Centre.
Laura Lundy Model:
Lundy, L. (2007). ‘Voice’ is not enough: conceptualising Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. British Educational Research Association, 33(6), 927–942.
Children Act 1989: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/contents

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52min
December 23, 2025 Happy Endings: Sarah and Paul Do Do Group Dynamics
Do you like being in a group, or are you a lone wolf, or somewhere in-between? In this festive episode, Sarah and Paul chat about group dynamics, reflecting on not only what it means in social work, but also their own lives.

The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.

Further Resources:

Tuckman's stages of group development: Tuckman, B.(1965) 'Developmental sequence in small groups', Psychological Bulletin, vol.63, pp.384–99.

Fisher, C.M (2025) 'The Collective Edge', Simon & Shuster.

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40min
November 17, 2025 Beyond the Buzzword: Sarah and Paul Do Do Trauma-Informed Practice with Prof. Kristi Langhoff
What does trauma-informed practice really mean? Is it just another buzzword, another thing we have to do—or something that can genuinely change how we work with people every day?
In this episode, Sarah and Paul chat with Professor Kristi Langhoff, a leading voice in trauma-informed practice. Together, they break it down into everyday language—exploring what it is, what it isn’t, its key principles, and how curiosity can help us understand the complexity of people’s lives, feelings, and values.
If you’ve ever wondered how trauma-informed thinking can shape real-world practice (without jargon or theory overload), this is your starting point. It’s practical, reflective, and full of ideas you can use right away.
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Further Resources:

The Innovate Project – https://theinnovateproject.co.uk/resources/
Trauma-Informed Practice Padlet curated by Prof. Kristi Langhoff – https://padlet.com/k_langhoff/trauma-informed-practice-resources-6d9prs7r5bfr
Research in Practice Guide: Embedding Trauma-Informed Approaches in Adult Social Care –https://www.researchinpractice.org.uk/media/hj0k0021/ripfa_embedding_trauma-informed_approaches_frontline_briefing_web.pdf

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51min
August 31, 2025 DASH It All: Sarah and Paul Do Do the DASH Assessment
Sarah and Paul discuss the current concerns about the effectiveness of the Domestic, Abuse, Stalking, Harassment and Honour-Based Violence (DASH) assessment. Is it still fit for purpose, and what can this mean for other social work approaches and tools?

The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.

Show notes:

BBC news article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr4e7yrxkgvo
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44min
June 23, 2025 Smashing It: Sarah and Paul Do Do Interviews
Be prepared to smash it at interviews. Sarah and Paul discuss the do dos and no nos of interviews. It's a serious matter, but we enjoyed talking about it with a few giggles on the way. Although tailored for social work, these tips can be applied to all types of interview experiences, including being accepted onto a course or module.

Some more tips are available on the Social Work Portal: https://www.socialworkportal.com/social-work-interview-questions-answers/

Explanations about the Johari Window and unlocking the unknown unknown: Bergquist, W., 2009. The Johari Window: Exploring the unconscious processes of interpersonal relationships and the coaching engagement. International Journal of Coaching in Organizations, 7(3), p.73.

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54min
April 23, 2025 Oh my it's AI: Sarah and Paul Do Do AI
Sarah and Paul discuss what’s happening with AI, ChatGPT, and using big data to inform risk. Will AI be a help or a hindrance? They also discuss how to be part of the change and ensure that professional and lived experiences are not lost. Oh, and Paul does his famous Sir Keir Starmer impression.
Ferguson, H. (2018) ‘Making home visits: Creativity and the embodied practices of home visiting in social work and child protection’, Qualitative Social Work, 17(1), pp. 65–80.
IMPORTANT - Have your say about AI with Research in Practice
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48min
December 16, 2024 Let’s Get Critical: Sarah and Paul Do Do Critical Thinking
In this episode, Sarah and Paul provide tips on one of the most necessary but often confusing parts of social work practice – critical reflection and critical thinking. What is it? Why do we need to do it? Is Bowlby all he’s cracked up to be? How do you fend off comments that you are too descriptive in your writing and not critical enough?

Maclean, S. (2016) A new model for social work reaction: whatever the weather Professional Social Work, March, pp28-9
Moon, J.A. (2006) Learning Journals: A Handbook for Reflective Practice and Professional Development. 2nd edition. Florence: Routledge.
Munro, E. (2011) The Munro review of child protection: final report, a child-centred system. Vol. 8062. London: The Stationery Office.
Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D., Jasper, M. (2001) Critical reflection in nursing and the helping professions: a user’s guide. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
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47min
May 13, 2024 Three’s Company: Sarah and Paul Do Do Relationship Based Practice
In this episode Sarah and Paul discuss Relationship Based Practice with children. After a few months away they felt a bit rusty so roped in experienced Social Work Manager and all round good egg Laura Lacey to help.
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Show Notes:
Gillian Ruch, Danielle Turney, Adrian Ward, 2010, Relationship-based Social Work: Getting to the Heart of Practice, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2010
Harry Ferguson et al, 2019, Relationship-based practice and the creation of therapeutic change in long-term work: social work as a holding relationship, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02615479.2020.1837105
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53min
December 21, 2023 (Not) Festive: Sarah and Paul Do Do Communication and Egan
In this episode Sarah and Paul discuss good communication skills, the challenges and what it means in practice. Paul tries out Egan’s Skilled Helper Model on an unsuspecting Sarah.
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Show Notes:
Egan, G, 2012, The Skilled Helper, 10th Ed, Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning https://nibmehub.com/opac-service/pdf/read/The%20Skilled%20Helper%20A%20Problem-Management%20and%20Opportunity%20-%20Gerard%20Egan.pdf
Lishman, J. (2020) ‘Communication in Social Work’, pp. 1–240.
Richards, S., Ruch, G. and Trevithick, P. (2005) ‘Communication Skills Training for Practice: the Ethical Dilemma for Social Work Education’, Social Work Education, 24(4), pp. 409–422. Available at:https://doi.org/10.1080/02615470500096928.

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45min
October 24, 2023 Gay School: Sarah and Paul Do Do LGBTQIA+ issues
In this episode Sarah and Paul discuss LGBTQIA+ issues. They talk about marginalisation, discrimination, intersectionality and how to work in an inclusive way. Paul also discusses his queerdom and his time bunking off from Gay School.
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Shownotes:
Kinsey (2004). Film directed by Bill Conlon and starring Liam Neeson, Laura Linney and John Lithgow.
Community Care: Career tips on what social workers should consider when working with LGBTQIA+ people. https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2022/02/01/what-social-workers-should-consider-when-working-with-lgtbq-people/
LYPSA: Improving LGTBTQ+ Young People's Experiences of Social Care resources available at https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/departments/social-work-social-care/research/gender-and-sexualities/young-people-in-social-care.aspx?msclkid=aa23b773cfa111ec8fec04708ffbb457

LGBTQIA+ services:
Switchboard provides a one-stop listening service for LGBT+ people on the phone, by email and through Instant Messaging. www.switchboard.lgbt
Across Rainbows aim to redefine queer identity, by celebrating and embracing the diverse stories and experiences of individuals. www.acrossrainbows.com
MindOut is a mental health service run by and for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) people. www.mindout.org.uk
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44min

FAQs about Do Do Social Work:

How many episodes does Do Do Social Work have?

The podcast currently has 20 episodes available.