This might be the most important episode I’ve ever shared.

It’s about a cupboard — but really, it’s about care, action, and what it means to truly learn as a social worker.

I tell the story of a messy cupboard in my first job, how clearing it shaped the way I’ve approached learning ever since, and why I believe training isn’t something you can just “do” to people.

If you’ve ever wondered what makes good social work training work, or why I care so deeply about The Social Work Collective Academy, this episode explains everything.

👉 Join The Collective Academy for reflective, bite-sized, high-quality training for newly qualified social workers: https://www.socialworksorted.com/subscriptions

👉 For organisations seeking in-person or bespoke safeguarding training, visit https://www.socialworksorted.com/thecollective

Lets connect!

To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email [email protected]

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Join The Collective

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Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin

Instagram.com/@vickishevlin_

Youtube.com/@socialworksorted

Facebook.com/socialworksorted

Disclaimer

Thank you so much for listening.

Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

In this episode, I sit down with the Social Work Academy team at Lancashire County Council to talk about how they support newly qualified social workers during their ASYE year. We explore the induction process, the challenges new practitioners face, and the role of ongoing learning and reflective practice. I also share insights from my own contribution to their ASYE Induction Programme, where I deliver a dedicated session on communication skills — a cornerstone of effective social work practice.

Whether you’re a new social worker, an academy lead, or a team manager, this conversation gives a behind-the-scenes look at how one local authority is building confident, resilient practitioners from day one.

Lets connect!

To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email [email protected]

Sign up to my free newsletter

Join The Collective

Ebook Guides

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin

Instagram.com/@vickishevlin_

Youtube.com/@socialworksorted

Facebook.com/socialworksorted

Disclaimer

Thank you so much for listening.

Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

 Joining a new social work team can be exciting — and daunting. In this episode, I share practical tips for starting strong: how to remember you bring valuable life and learning experience, how to observe and learn from your team’s culture, and how to protect the work habits and boundaries that will help you thrive for years to come. 

Lets connect!

To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email [email protected]

Sign up to my free newsletter

Join The Collective

Ebook Guides

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin

Instagram.com/@vickishevlin_

Youtube.com/@socialworksorted

Facebook.com/socialworksorted

Disclaimer

Thank you so much for listening.

Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

 Shadowing is one of the best ways to build your confidence and skills as a new social worker — but only if you approach it the right way. In this episode, I share practical tips on how to ask to shadow without feeling like a nuisance, why being specific gets better results, how to observe actively (not passively), and why it’s essential to speak up if you’re not getting opportunities. 

Lets connect!

To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email [email protected]

Sign up to my free newsletter

Join The Collective

Ebook Guides

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin

Instagram.com/@vickishevlin_

Youtube.com/@socialworksorted

Facebook.com/socialworksorted

Disclaimer

Thank you so much for listening.

Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

 We talk a lot about skills in social work inductions — assessments, visits, meetings, communication — but there’s more to thriving in your ASYE than ticking off a skills checklist. In this episode, I share the “alternative induction”: the home-life habits, organisation tips, and support systems that will help you manage stress and set yourself up for success in your first year. 

Lets connect!

To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email [email protected]

Sign up to my free newsletter

Join The Collective

Ebook Guides

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin

Instagram.com/@vickishevlin_

Youtube.com/@socialworksorted

Facebook.com/socialworksorted

Disclaimer

Thank you so much for listening.

Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

 From postmodern art to AI, I’m exploring how technology warps our sense of speed — and why that matters in social work. In this episode, I share how unrealistic timescales harm families, shape new social workers’ expectations, and leave us feeling like we’re “not moving fast enough.” It’s a reminder that learning, change, and growth take time — and that’s okay. 

Lets connect!

To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email [email protected]

Sign up to my free newsletter

Join The Collective

Ebook Guides

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin

Instagram.com/@vickishevlin_

Youtube.com/@socialworksorted

Facebook.com/socialworksorted

Disclaimer

Thank you so much for listening.

Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

With so many books, podcasts, and resources out there for newly qualified social workers, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed before you even start. In this episode, I’m sharing the essential recommendations I’d give if we were sitting down over a cuppa — the ones worth your time, money, and headspace in your ASYE year. From anti-racist practice to child protection wisdom, and from “messy” social work memoirs to self-care reads, these are the resources that will actually help you grow in confidence, competence, and calm.

Lets connect!

To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email [email protected]

Sign up to my free newsletter

Join The Collective

Ebook Guides

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin

Instagram.com/@vickishevlin_

Youtube.com/@socialworksorted

Facebook.com/socialworksorted

Disclaimer

Thank you so much for listening.

Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

 After a two-and-a-half week break, I’m back on the podcast with an honest catch-up — and a list of my recent “failures.” From not getting shortlisted for an award to forgetting suncream, I’m sharing how reframing failure has been a game changer for me, both in social work and life. Whether you’re newly qualified or years into practice, this is your reminder that failing means you’ve tried — and that’s something to be proud of. 

Lets connect!

To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email [email protected]

Sign up to my free newsletter

Join The Collective

Ebook Guides

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin

Instagram.com/@vickishevlin_

Youtube.com/@socialworksorted

Facebook.com/socialworksorted

Disclaimer

Thank you so much for listening.

Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

If you’ve ever wondered exactly what The Social Work Collective Academy is and how it can help you as a newly qualified social worker (or someone supporting them), this episode is for you.

I’m taking you inside the Learning Hub — explaining how it works, the gaps it fills in early career training, and the practical tools that will help you feel both competent and confident from day one. Whether you’re about to start your ASYE, currently on placement, or guiding new social workers, you’ll discover how the Academy can become your go-to resource for real-world skills, confidence, and 

Lets connect!

To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email [email protected]

Sign up to my free newsletter

Join The Collective

Ebook Guides

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin

Instagram.com/@vickishevlin_

Youtube.com/@socialworksorted

Facebook.com/socialworksorted

Disclaimer

Thank you so much for listening.

Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

This is for you if you are a newly qualified social worker who has just been allocated their first family to work with. That stomach-drop moment? It's completely normal—and I'm here to walk you through it.

Inside this episode:

• What to do immediately after seeing that first family in your inbox
• How to process the nerves, self-doubt, and emotional overwhelm
• The simple but vital question to ask: what area of the law am I working under?
• Why clear supervision is essential—and how to confidently ask for it
• Steps to prepare for your first visit while staying relationship-focused
• How your emotions impact the people you’re working with (and how to use that power positively)

I am sharing a behind the scenes insight to ASYE Core Skills Training and talk about The Social Work Collective Academy—a resource-packed space to support new social workers through every step of their first year.

Lets connect!

To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email [email protected]

Sign up to my free newsletter

Join The Collective

Ebook Guides

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin

Instagram.com/@vickishevlin_

Youtube.com/@socialworksorted

Facebook.com/socialworksorted

Disclaimer

Thank you so much for listening.

Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.