Messy Social Work

In this episode, Tim Fisher and Rich Devine kick off 2025 with reflections on personal and professional goals, recent events, and an inspiring conversation with guest Vicki Shevlin, creator of Social Work Sorted. The discussion explores social work practice, personal growth, and the profession’s challenges. 

 Key Highlights: 

      1.  Personal Reflections and Goals: 

        •Rich emphasizes living an ego-balanced life, inspired by James Hollis, while Tim focuses on reading and lifelong learning. 

        •They discuss balancing professional aspirations with personal well-being. 

      2.  Love Shows Up Event: 

        •A celebration of the “Love Shows Up” Valentine’s Day event and the importance of relational activism in social work. 

      3.  Guest Interview – Vicki Shevlin: 

        •Vicki shares her transition to independent practice, her mantra “Go where the love is,” and her support for newly qualified social workers (NQSWs). 

        •The discussion covers boundaries, empathy, and authentic family connections. 

      4.  The Role of Social Media: 

        •Vicki reflects on building a social work community online and balancing its opportunities and challenges. 

      5.  Final Reflections: 

        •The episode closes with a reading from Eckhart Tolle, focusing on acceptance and awareness. 

Links:
Vicki Shevlin: https://www.socialworksorted.com/aboutme

Vicki's podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1926820

Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/

Rich Devine LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-devine-181763177/ 

Links:
Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/

Rich Devine LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-devine-181763177/ 

 In this episode, Tim Fisher and Rich Devine are joined by Becca Carr-Hopkins for a powerful conversation about use of self, attachment theory, and the transformative power of relationships in social work practice.

 Becca shares her journey into social work, insights on adapting to challenging environments, and how understanding attachment can unlock deeper connections with families. Rich reflects on the profound impact of supervision that centre's emotions and relationships, while Becca explores the importance of creating space for reflection in emotionally charged work.

 Whether you’re a practitioner, student, or someone interested in the human side of social work, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical wisdom.

 🎧 Listen now to explore:

          •         How attachment and adaptation shape behaviour

          •         The role of self-awareness in relational practice

          •         Why reflective supervision is essential for growth

Check out Becca's work here:
https://iswmatters.co.uk/

Links:
Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/

Rich Devine LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-devine-181763177/ 

 Links: 
Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/

Rich Devine LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-devine-181763177/ 

The podcast focuses on two main themes: assessing capacity to change in social work and a parent’s personal journey through the child protection system.

 Part 1: Assessing Capacity to Change

 Rich Devine shares insights from his 14 years in social work, focusing on the challenges of evaluating a parent’s capacity to change within child protection contexts. 

          1.       Challenges in Assessing Change:

          2.     A Framework for Assessing Capacity to Change:         

Part 2: A Parent’s Perspective – Lee’s Story

 Lee Crouch shares his personal journey of transformation from losing custody of his children to their eventual reunification.

1.       The Initial Crisis:

          •         Struggled with substance misuse, unresolved grief, and anger, which led to the removal of his children.

          •         Court proceedings felt dismissive of his early efforts to change, compounding frustration.

 2.       The Turning Point:

          •         A program with SWIFT (a support service) helped Lee learn to process emotions, manage anger, and face his struggles directly.

          •         “Talking” became a key tool for change, allowing him to release emotions constructively and improve relationships.

3.       Rebuilding Trust and Contact:

          •         Despite resistance from the local authority, Lee and his partner advocated for increased contact with their children.

          •         Over time, consistent effort and collaboration with foster carers and social workers led to more contact and eventually reunification.

4.       Lessons Learned:

          •         Lee emphasizes the importance of addressing root causes (e.g., addiction, grief) rather than merely imposing parenting courses.

          •         He advocates for a supportive network for parents in similar situations and stresses the need for proactive interventions before crises escalate.

 The episode concludes with reflections on embracing the present moment, acknowledging the constant potential for change and growth in the “now.”

We hope you enjoyed this episode, please do contact us and share your reflections. If you have any questions or topics you would like us to explore, do get in touch: 

Links: 
Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/

Rich Devine LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-devine-181763177/ 

Tim's article: 
https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10871/138533/bernheim-et-al-2024-the-power-and-potential-of-space-and-place-in-family-group-conferencing-reimagining-the-role-of-the.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y 

We hope you enjoyed this episode, please do contact us and share your reflections. If you have any questions or topics you would like us to explore, do get in touch: 

Links: 
Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/
Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme
Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/
Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/
Rich Devine LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-devine-181763177/ 

Tim Fisher and Rich Devine kick off with reflections on culture and connection, inspired by recent experiences, including Rich’s first trip to the theatre to watch Les Misérables. They discuss the profound impact of stories and how creative expressions like theatre offer fresh perspectives on justice, empathy, and the challenges of human connection.

The episode’s highlight is a conversation with Renata, a dedicated social worker in East Sussex and the first storyteller in the Friday Story initiative. She shares her approach to relationship-based practice and describes a memorable experience supporting a young boy with autism, Henry, who faced bullying at school. Renata’s gentle, persistent help in teaching Henry daily routines led to improved confidence for him and his family—a powerful example of social work’s impact.

 The discussion also touches on the importance of self-care, empathy, and resilience. Inspired by Vikki Reynolds’ ideas on solidarity teams, Tim and Rich emphasise the need for supportive relationships to sustain social workers in their roles.

 This week’s episode encourages listeners to celebrate the small acts of kindness that make a big difference and reminds us that in social work, sometimes “to love is to act.”

We hope you enjoyed this episode, please do contact us and share your reflections. If you have any questions or topics you would like us to explore, do get in touch: 

Links: 
Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/
Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/
Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/
Rich Devine LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-devine-181763177/

In this week’s episode of the Relational Activism and Social Work Podcast, Tim Fisher and Rich Devine dive into strategies for social workers when feeling “stuck” in cases, especially in longstanding family dynamics where change can be elusive. Rich introduces a framework for recognizing situational and psychological denial in families, exploring the defensive mechanisms that arise in challenging times and how social workers can respond with empathy and clarity. They also discuss the balance between addressing root issues directly and strengthening a family’s support network around the child, highlighting how meaningful change can occur from various angles.

 The episode further delves into actionable techniques, like clarifying expectations and outcomes with families and understanding critical causes of both danger and change to avoid overwhelming interventions. Drawing from practice wisdom and Andrew Turnell’s academic insights, they explore the importance of “on the ground” experience as opposed to only theoretical knowledge, raising thoughtful questions on the role of frontline voices in social work discourse.

 With ideas that encourage both reflection and practical application, this episode is rich in insights for social work practitioners seeking grounded approaches to their daily challenges.

Links: 
Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/
Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/
Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/
Rich Devine LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-devine-181763177/

In this episode of Relational Activism in Social Work, hosts Tim Fisher and Rich Devine are joined by Terri-Anne Hamer, a care-experienced activist, who shares her powerful journey of overcoming intergenerational challenges and finding her voice within the care community. Terri-Anne reflects on her unique path, discussing her experiences as a third-generation care-experienced individual, her role as a kinship carer for her brother, and the emotional process of understanding her identity. She highlights the transformative power of storytelling for care leavers and discusses her work with the Care Leavers Association, particularly its commitment to connecting care leavers of all ages through initiatives like Care Leavers Connected and a new digital inclusion data bank. 

 Tim and Rich explore the impact of trauma and shame, with Rich sharing his own journey around self-worth and validation. Together, they consider how understanding one’s story can reshape identity positively. Terri-Anne emphasises the importance of systems that support care leavers beyond the age of 25 and underscores how resilience, connection, and community support empower individuals to move forward. 

 The episode closes with Tim reading an inspiring poem on identity and potential, followed by Rich’s “Eckhart Tolle roulette” reading, which encourages listeners to look beyond worldly achievements and find peace in understanding the essence of who they are. This episode blends humour and vulnerability, showcasing the resilience of care-experienced individuals and the meaningful impact of relational activism in social work. 

You can find Terri Anne on LinkedIn and Twitter: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/terri-anne-hamer-82b850304/
https://x.com/tahamer80

And learn more about The Care Leavers Association here: 
https://www.google.com/search?q=the+care+leavers+association&rlz=1C1GCEA_enGB973GB973&oq=the+care+leavers+association&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCggAEAAY4wIYgAQyCggAEAAY4wIYgAQyDQgBEC4YrwEYxwEYgAQyCggCEAAYgAQYogQyCggDEAAYgAQYogQyCggEEAAYgAQYogQyBggFEEUYPDIGCAYQRRg80gEINDA0OWoxajSoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

In this episode, Rich kicks things off by admitting his secret fuel: a double-double coffee (that's double strength, double shot!)—the only thing that kept him going through late nights in child protection. He then dives into his approach to direct work with children, sharing insights that go beyond caffeine-fuelled energy. 

We’re also treated to a voice note from social worker and TEDx speaker, Ian Thomas, who blends personal experience, professional wisdom, academic insight, and a dash of spiritual clarity in a way only he can. And, in honour of Black History Month, Tim reflects on the timeless teachings of Maya Angelou, adding depth and heart to the discussion.