Social Work Spotlight

In this episode I speak with Dr Eymen Ekmen, an academic in Türkiye who completed his PhD in 2026, and whose research primarily focuses on migration, refugee studies, and Syrian refugees in Türkiye. Eymen places great emphasis on working with diverse cultures and conducting fieldwork in participants' native languages, and he himself speaks Arabic, English, Turkish, and Serbo-Croatian.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Istanbul Arel University’s Social Work Department - https://arel.edu.tr/en/faculty-of-health-sciences-social-work/

• Eymen’s Google Scholar page - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=_4wrMQoAAAAJ&hl=fr

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GtU6RDI94YmQ81tKkV7NNfA5DXh5LVT8gCi-bK9n5R0/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Vesna from North Macedonia, with more than 20 years of professional experience beginning with volunteering in civil society organisations supporting people at social risk, where she discovered her passion for this profession. Throughout her career, she has worked with different groups, currently focusing on early childhood care, while also actively involved in international projects, non-formal education, and professional training as a lecturer and educator. 

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• The Streets Smart Model - https://streetsmarts.blogs.auckland.ac.nz/home/thestreetsmartsmodel/

• Mellow Parenting program - https://www.mellowparenting.org/

• eTwinning projects - https://school-education.ec.europa.eu/en/etwinning/projects

• Erasmus+ program - https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/

• “Life Story Work: A Practical Guide To Helping Children Understand Their Past” (the English book related to Vesna’s approach when writing her own book) -  https://dokumen.pub/life-story-work-a-practical-guide-to-helping-children-understand-their-past-9781905664023.html

• Professor Ranko Rajovic’s work - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxbskgKBLFs

• Nikola Tesla Learning Centre Learning System - https://ntclearning.com/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wY4d2-IBCVeDtIivj514o8IPI3l9VsOk_89hl-hH2TA/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Gülcan, a social worker from Türkiye, currently living in Serbia. Gülcan has worked in migration and refugee support, child protection, and emergency and crisis settings, with field experience in humanitarian responses during the COVID-19 period, the Syrian refugee crisis, and the 2023 earthquake response in Türkiye. She has also worked with vulnerable children and women living in camps and other protection settings in both Türkiye and Serbia.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Gülcan’s LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gülcan-güzel-171739196/

• Sphere Standards training, especially for humanitarian and emergency response work - https://spherestandards.org/online-courses/

• UNICEF’s online learning platform *Agora* (free and certified online courses, including training on child protection, migration, and emergency response) - https://agora.unicef.org/

• European Solidarity Corps European Union humanitarian volunteering program - https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/young-people/volunteering-humanitarian-aid_en

• “The Swimmers” film, based on the true story of two Syrian sisters and their journey from war and displacement to finding a safe life in Europe - https://youtu.be/ObN4krVV20Y?si=YU5bMInrUMMMie_j

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KjPSYnopk5ApjKDNYn2YvGi09NLnGlfy_eB2bVHpe_E/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Elizabeth, a first-year PhD student at the University of Bucharest and early career practitioner. Elizabeth has participated in several exchange programs under the Erasmus+ framework, broadening her perspective on social work practices and international collaboration. She has worked in diverse roles supporting older adults and children with autism, allowing her to develop a diverse set of skills and a deeper understanding of different vulnerable populations. Elizabeth is particularly interested in initiatives that promote innovation, inclusion, community development, and evidence-based practice within the social services sector.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Elizabeth’s YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@elizabethfarca%C8%99 

• Elizabeth’s WordPress page - https://elizabethfarcas.wordpress.com/ 

• https://ro.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-farcas-1909aa225 

• Elizabeth’s TikTok account - http://tiktok.com/@elizabethfarcas 

• Elizabeth’s Pinterest page - https://ro.pinterest.com/elizabethfarcas/_profile/ 

• The Romanian Ministry of Labor, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity - https://mmuncii.gov.ro/

• Bucharest’s social services agency - https://www.dgas.ro/ 

• Romania’s National Agency for Payments and Social Inspection - https://www.mmanpis.ro/ 

• Romania’s National Authority for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - https://anpd.gov.ro/web/ 

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BURBqURLK8nHM_EaemK7_quQaogNVJaUaBs72vIzs0M/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Sophia, a social worker, sexologist, and relationship counsellor from Germany. She has worked in child protection and youth services in both Germany and Australia, including child and family welfare services, therapeutic residential crisis care for children and young people, and specialised crisis support for girls who have experienced sexual violence and abuse. Sophia has worked as a lecturer in sexology, and is the founder of Sexology Hub, where she offers sexuality and relationship counselling, individual coaching, as well as educational programs, workshops, and professional training for diverse audiences.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

Trauma-informed work and recovery

• Sanctuary Institute - https://www.thesanctuaryinstitute.org/

• Creating Sanctuary by Sandra Bloom - https://sandrabloom.com/book/creating-sanctuary-toward-the-evolution-of-sane-societies/

• Trauma and Recovery by Judith Herman - https://openlibrary.org/books/OL1563764M/Trauma_and_Recovery

• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk - https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score

Practical resources and research on sexual violence

• RAINN - https://rainn.org/

Caste-based discriminination

• International Dalit Solidarity Network - https://idsn.org/

International Cooperation Work

• Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire - https://fsi-ebcao.princeton.edu/sites/g/files/toruqf1411/files/media/freire.pdf

• Decolonizing Methodologies by Linda Tuhiwai Smith - https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/decolonizing-methodologies-9781786998125/

Social Work Crisis in Berlin

• AG Weiße Fahnen, DBSH Berlin, GEW BERLIN "Die Berliner Jugendhilfe befindet sich im Kollaps" | GEW - Berlin - https://www.gew-berlin.de/presse/detailseite/ag-weisse-fahnen-dbsh-berlin-gew-berlin-die-berliner-jugendhilfe-befindet-sich-im-kollaps

Sexuality and relationship counselling/therapy

• A Clinician's Guide to Systemic Sex Therapy by Gerald Weeks et al. - https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781315817392/clinician-guide-systemic-sex-therapy-gerald-weeks-katherine-hertlein-nancy-gambescia

• Principles and Practice of Sex Therapy by Hall & Binik - https://www.guilford.com/books/Principles-and-Practice-of-Sex-Therapy/Hall-Binik/9781462543397

Personal / Professional Resources

• Sophia’s open-access publication on Problematic Porn Consumption among Men: Males’ Lived Experience with Self-Perceived Pornography Addiction: A Qualitative Study of Problematic Porn Use - https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/2/1497

• Sophia’s website - https://sexologyhub.com/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vmORcM52JnAuYjakfttLbPmLQHqEH2JH5fOPG8AmOC8/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Theo in Greece, with experience in refugee settings and now supporting people with disabilities. Theo is passionate and motivated to work with people in need, believing strongly in the power of community, working next to people and for the people.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) - https://pecs.com/picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bFHrk9IdTg26k0HiGobKdEJqyffptQQQ9ZRaQ37OgPE/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Susana, with over fifteen years working in frontline social care, as a social worker in children's and adults' services, and now as a Registered Manager for an independent fostering agency in England. Susana is also the creator of MyTappyPlace, a wellbeing platform designed specifically for frontline professionals.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Frontline’s national fast-track social work training programme - https://thefrontline.org.uk/

• My Tappy Place - https://mytappyplace.co.uk/

• EFT Universe (High Energy Health Podcast) - https://eftuniverse.com/podcast/

• Lika Family Fostering - https://likafamilyfostering.co.uk/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YQU3DZV1lzdsKh6t_LIDzF3REDwTJe5A4a-P5FnOwI0/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Emmanuel, an early-career social work researcher from Nigeria, at the intersection of migration and mental health, with a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master's degree in migration, and a strong interest in research.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Emmanuel’s published works on ORCID - https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2029-5857

• Emmanuel’s ResearchGate profile - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Emmanuel-Onyemaechi-Ugwu?ev=hdr_xprf 

• Dibia Akwukwo Social Solutions Research Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/social-solutions-research-group-ssrg/posts/?feedView=all

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HRYWc2xZMFknYIGZyjpCJZ3iFGRbiSEMLjn6J_kDHRE/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Paul, who has over 45 years experience managing child welfare and protection services in the statutory sector at local, regional and national level in Ireland. He currently operates as an independent consultant, specialising in serious case reviews, expert witness and policy development for state bodies and voluntary organisations.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Paul’s podcast ‘Life After Stalin - A Dubliner’s Diary’ - https://open.spotify.com/show/6kbfVumc19v9FgseoL17oC?si=771ba39bec374a22

• Abstract for Paul’s article, ‘No Smoke Without Fire: The Presumption of Guilt in Child Abuse Assessments’ - https://www.nagalro.com/_userfiles/pages/files/paul_harrison_no_smoke_without_fire_article_g.pdf

• Daughters of Charity Child and Family Service - https://www.docchildandfamily.ie/

• Dublin Simon Community - https://www.dubsimon.ie/

• Paul’s memoir, ‘Hanged If You Do…: Reflections from a Career in Child Protection’ - https://www.orpenpress.com/books/hanged-if-you-do-reflections-from-a-career-in-child-protection/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12DE2NhpOm7bMi0KS1OJHhABB_cCEuIGWRa4sJbRi4Uw/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Peter, a lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University and qualified social worker with particular experience of working with children and young people who have displayed harmful sexual behaviour. He has undertaken research and written extensively about abusive sexual behaviour between siblings.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse - https://www.csacentre.org.uk/

• Sibling sexual behaviour: A guide to responding to inappropriate, problematic and abusive behaviour and Sibling sexual abuse: A knowledge and practice overview (articles written by Peter and Stuart Allardyce) - https://www.csacentre.org.uk/research-resources/practice-resources/sibling-sexual-abuse/

• Sibling sexual abuse: What do we know? What do we need to know? Stage 1 analysis of a 2-stage scoping review (article written by Peter and colleagues) - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.107076

• The Sibling Sexual Behaviour Mapping Tool (SSBMT): Supporting practitioner confidence, planning and competency when responding to sexual behaviours between siblings (article written by King-Hill and Gilsenan) - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.107080

• Understanding and responding to sibling sexual harm and abuse (article written by Elly Hanson) - Understanding and responding to sibling sexual harm and abuse | NSPCC Learning

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ks5u5Jrr7mUelIGA__2FKjHXskJXGcbneh-X6DwihnQ/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.