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. 

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Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin

Instagram.com/@vickishevlin_

Youtube.com/@socialworksorted

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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]

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Join The Collective


Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin

Instagram.com/@vickishevlin_

Youtube.com/@socialworksorted

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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]

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Join The Collective


Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin

Instagram.com/@vickishevlin_

Youtube.com/@socialworksorted

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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]

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Join The Collective


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]

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Join The Collective


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]

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Join The Collective


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


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


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'm offering a practical, compassionate guide to help newly qualified social workers feel more confident about assessment work—especially child and family assessments.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why assessments feel overwhelming—and why that’s totally normal
• The statutory guidance you must know 
• Why local authority policies can be your secret weapon during disagreements
• The limitations of the 25-year-old assessment triangle—and how to think critically
• How to avoid “assessment robot” mode and connect meaningfully with families
• Practical steps to build confidence in planning, assessing, and recording

I'm also excited to share upcoming ASYE Core Skills Training, a two-day online course designed to offer a consistent, supportive induction for new social workers—perfect for individuals or local authorities looking to strengthen their training offer.

Resources mentioned:

• Free eBook: Getting Started with Assessments

https://www.socialworksorted.com/free-ebook

• Child and Family Assessment Guide

https://www.socialworksorted.com/product-page/childandfamilyassessmentguide

• ASYE Core Skills Training (24–25 September 2025)

https://www.socialworksorted.com/event-details/asye-core-skills-clarity-and-confidence-for-early-practice

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


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 talk about this quote by Rebekah Pierre (and do a terrible job of remembering it in the moment) but its important to reference it properly: 

"Perhaps you saw the screen in front of you as the final destination. It was not; your words, written about but without me, would not remain hidden forever."

It's from this article: https://basw.co.uk/articles/open-letter-social-worker-who-wrote-my-case-files

Boundaries:

https://www.socialworksorted.com/post/about-me-deciding-non-negotiable-boundaries-part-5

Case records: 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1926820

Child Protection Processes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZA4ZNLXnEs

12 weeks to Confidence in Practice

Available for members of The Collective Learning Hub - Join here

ASYE Core Skills Training 

Book your place

Enquire about group booking

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


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.