In episode 5, Mark Cherrington opens up about his work supporting families navigating challenges with children's services. Drawing on over 35 years of experience, Mark shares his "three golden rules"—respect, trust, and a non-judgmental approach.

He brings these principles to life with real-world examples of advocacy, shedding light on the emotional toll and the bureaucratic hurdles families face.

Mark also examines systemic inefficiencies, the struggle to access resources, and the importance of fair court representation. Throughout the conversation, he highlights how compassionate, personalized support can truly make a difference for families in difficult situations.

If you'd like to listen to the extended version of this episode, please support Mark on Patreon.

00:00 Introduction to his Three Golden Rules

01:58 Advocate for Families

02:21 Challenges with Children's Services

04:19 Podcast expectations

08:05 Systematic Challenges and Bureaucratic Roadblocks

25:21 Emotional Impact on Families

32:51 Advocacy and Humanizing the Process

43:30 Praising Child Welfare Workers

46:45 Challenges in Accessing Support and Resources

47:26 Integrating Children's Services

53:33 Advocacy in Court

01:04:28 Common Misunderstandings About Children's Services

01:24:09 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Please follow Mark on Bluesky

Please donate to support Mark's work

All of his links can be found here