The Social Work Community Podcast

Two practitioners discuss cases that led to them facing intimidation and verbal abuse, undermining their mental health and ultimately causing them to leave their previous roles

Separately, Anne, who was a frontline children’s social worker, decided to leave the profession because she felt unprotected after dealing with a safeguarding case where she experienced verbal abuse, intimidation from the parents and unexplained incidents. She is now a children's home manager.

In this episode of The Social Work Community Podcast, the practitioners share their stories of how incidents that they could not explain left them feeling scared, dismissed and too embarrassed to seek help. They talk about the impact these experiences had on their health and what support should be available to social work practitioners in similar situations.

A complex and sensitive topic

Community Care recognises that these are complex and sensitive issues. We approached a number of organisations for contextual comment in relation to the issues discussed in the episode, but none was able to respond.

This episode reflects the experiences and perspectives of the two practitioners featured, based on cases they encountered in their professional roles. It is not intended to make generalisations about any culture, faith, nationality or community in the UK, nor should it be interpreted as wider comment on any community as a whole.

If you're a social worker who has had similar experiences to Alisha or Anne or you offer support to practitioners who have, get in touch via: [email protected] 

Article from Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/feb/01/fgm-mother-of-three-year-old-first-person-convicted-in-uk

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How do you measure contentment? This is one of the many questions practitioners from Gloucester County Council's (GCC) adult social care team sought to answer in part two of the podcast episode Adult social care - the difference that matters.

The conversation continues after the first episode, where Jo Sutherland, the principal social worker, Merryn Tate, assistant director and strategic lead for short term services, and Jen Simms, integrated social care manager, talk to Sharmeen Ziauddin, one of the editors at Community Care, about their work in adult services.

They share stories from the people they support as well as the ambition behind the Target operating model (TOM) which they refer to in part one. 

Read the transcript.

You can find out more about Jo Sutherland and adult social care by following her on LinkedIn. Find out about careers at GCC's adults' services here.

About the Social Work Community Podcast

The Social Work Community Podcast explores the issues that matter to social work practitioners in their working lives. Editors Kirsty Ayakwah and Sharmeen Ziauddin interview experienced and inspiring guests, including frontline social workers who speak from the heart about their jobs, the sector and society. 

It was nominated, alongside Community Care Inform’s Learn on the go podcast, in the audio content category at the 2026 Professional Publishers Association Awards.

Click ‘follow’ or ‘subscribe’ on your podcast app so you know when a new episode is published. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram or on TikTok to keep up-to-date with the latest news and sign up for the Social Work Community to join the conversation on all things social work.

Produced by Sharmeen Ziauddin

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode discusses the challenges faced by adult social care in Gloucestershire County Council (GCC), including increasing demand, complex needs, and pressure on health and social care services.

In response to these challenges, the team at GCC have developed a new strategy called the Target Operating Model (TOM). You will hear Jo Sutherland, the principal social worker, Merryn Tate, assistant director and strategic lead for Short Term Services and Jen Simms - integrated social care manager talk about their vision. They also talk about what excites them about the TOM.

Look out for part two which will be coming out a week later!

If you're interested in working for Gloucestershire adult social care then check out the latest vacancies.

The Social Work Community Podcast explores the issues that matter to social work practitioners in their working lives.our podcast app so you know when a new episode is published. 

Follow us on Instagram  and TikTok to keep up-to-date with the latest news and sign up for the Social Work Community to join the conversation on all things social work.

Produced by Sharmeen Ziauddin

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the final in a three-part series from North East Lincolnshire Council,  social workers from children's services explore some of the changes that contributed to a significant improvement in the authority's Ofsted rating.

In this episode Emily, who recently turned 18, explains how she has been supported and equipped to make the transition into adulthood.

And Ben highlights how through North East Lincolnshire's transformation journey the local authority has been able to introduce frameworks such as Staying Put to ensure that young adults can continue to live with their foster carers beyond the age of 18. 

Access the transcript here.

The Social Work Community podcast is where social workers come to discuss the key issues affecting their profession. Whether you are a student or an experienced social worker - whether you are frontline or management, this podcast is for you. You will hear direct from social workers in your community about their successes and their challenges.

Follow us on Instagram to keep up-to-date with the latest news and join the Social Work Community for all things social work.

If you missed the previous episodes, check them out here:

Part 1: Achieving transformation (part 1) - how direct work is shaping support for children

Part 2: Achieving transformation (part 2): how digitising work in the integrated front door team has improved workforce efficiencies

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Moving from agency to permanent was not initially part of the not initially part of the plan for three social workers at South Gloucestershire, when rules limiting English councils’ use of locums came into force.

But when the rules were implemented in October 2025, the option to go permanent revealed a range of opportunities that they may not otherwise have known existed.

Tom, Jariatu and Charliejo explain more.

Listen below and read the transcript.

About the Social Work Community Podcast

The Social Work Community Podcast explores the issues that matter to social work practitioners in their working lives. Senior commercial editors Kirsty Ayakwah and Sharmeen Ziauddin interview experienced and inspiring guests, including frontline social workers who speak from the heart about their jobs, the sector and society. 

It was nominated, alongside Community Care Inform’s Learn on the go podcast, in the audio content category at the 2026 Professional Publishers Association Awards.

It can be found on all major podcasting platforms including:

• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts

Click ‘follow’ or ‘subscribe’ on your podcast app so you know when a new episode is published. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram to keep up-to-date with the latest news and sign up for the Social Work Community to join the conversation on all things social work.

Read more here:

Councils using fewer agency social workers on back of rules - Community Care

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In collaboration with Wokingham Borough Council adult social care, social workers from the hospital discharge team team tell us why they love working there. Josh, Noku and principal social worker Vicky describe what it is like working in this market town west of London.

Hospital discharge teams aren't often spoken about but the work social workers do is of immense importance to adults who require care after a stint at hospital.

Listen to the support they get, and why they continue to choose Wokingham.

If you're interested in a career at Wokingham check out current vacancies or take a look at the employer profile.

The Social Work Community podcast is where social workers come to discuss the key issues affecting their profession. Whether you are a student or an experienced social worker - whether you are frontline or management, this podcast is for you. You will hear direct from social workers in your community about their successes and their challenges.

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok to keep up-to-date with the latest news and join the Social Work Community for all things social work. For all news stories and features visit Community Care.

Produced by Sharmeen Ziauddin for Community Care

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the final instalment of the Neurodiversity belongs in social work campaign podcast miniseries, Sharmeen speaks to 26-year-old Elizabeth Glandfield about being dyslexic. 

Elizabeth, diagnosed in primary school, talks about growing up with dyslexia and how she navigated the world around her. 

Having been told by a teacher at school that social work may not be the best career for her, she set out to prove people wrong.

As an advanced social worker who works in a serious youth violence, missing, and exploitation team within a local authority, Elizabeth shares the challenges she faces being neurodivergent.

Elizabeth talks about the tools that have helped at work, and the strengths and skills she brings to the job she does.

Listen to this frank and open conversation with a Gen Z social worker.

The Social Work Community podcast is where social workers come to discuss the key issues affecting their profession. Whether you are a student or an experienced social worker - whether you are frontline or management, this podcast is for you. You will hear direct from social workers in your community about their successes and their challenges.

Follow us on Instagram or on TikTok to keep up-to-date with the latest news and join the Social Work Community for all things social work. For all news stories and features visit Community Care.

Produced by Sharmeen Ziauddin

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Social Work Community Podcast, part of the Neurodiversity belongs in social work campaign miniseries, Sharmeen speaks to 'Stacey' (not her real name) talking about her experience of being diagnosed with autism and ADHD (AuADHD) in her forties. 

Stacey, a social worker, has not yet disclosed her diagnosis to her colleagues. She explains why she feels unsafe to do this in her current workplace.

She also describes how she always felt she was 'different' and now understands why that was. Stacey explains how having a strong sense of social justice is one of the traits many neurodiverse people have. She also talks about 'masking' which is described as a strategy used by some autistic people, consciously or unconsciously, to appear non-autistic. While this strategy can help them get by at school, work and in social situations, it can have a devastating impact on mental health, sense of self and access to an autism diagnosis (Autism.org.uk, 2026).

The Social Work Community podcast is where social workers come to discuss the key issues affecting their profession. Whether you are a student or an experienced social worker - whether you are frontline or management, this podcast is for you. You will hear direct from social workers in your community about their successes and their challenges.

Follow us on Instagram or on TikTok to keep up-to-date with the latest news and join the Social Work Community for all things social work. For all news stories and features visit Community Care.

Produced by Sharmeen Ziauddin

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special miniseries tied to Community Care's 'Neurodiversity belongs in social work' campaign, Sharmeen Ziauddin interviews Dr Arlene Weekes, social work professor and academic.

Dr Weekes has over 35 years experience in the sector and was diagnosed with dyslexia later on in life, while writing her PhD.

She has recently completed research which will form part of a new book coming out this year called The Palgrave Handbook of Neuroinclusive Social Work   - it's based on her own reflections of being dyslexic and the responses of five black female dyslexic social workers who she interviewed for this research.

Listen to this insightful interview with Dr Weekes where she talks about dyslexia and social work.

The Social Work Community podcast is where social workers come to discuss the key issues affecting their profession. Whether you are a student or an experienced social worker - whether you are frontline or management, this podcast is for you. You will hear direct from social workers in your community about their successes and their challenges.

Follow us on Instagram or on TikTok to keep up-to-date with the latest news and join the Social Work Community for all things social work. For all news stories and features visit Community Care.

Produced by Sharmeen Ziauddin

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the first episode of Season five of the Social Work Community Podcast!

This podcast episode, especially recorded for World Social Work month/week/day, features an interview with Nadine KL Boyne, an experienced social worker and author of the book Social Work is Not Self-Harm. 

Trigger warning: in this episode there are references to self-harm when discussing Nadine’s book ‘Social work is not self-harm’. We'd encourage you to look after yourself while listening and use supervision and peer support if it brings up anything difficult for you.

During the conversation, hosted by Sharmeen Ziauddin from Community Care, Nadine reflects on the pressures of the profession, arguing that systemic issues like high case loads and productivity targets can often lead to burnout and emotional exhaustion.

She introduces her "SAVY" model, which stands for Self-aware, Authentic, Valuing, and Intentional, as a framework to help practitioners reclaim their well-being and personal identity.

The theme of 2026's World Social Work Day is, 'Co-Building Hope and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society'. The Kenyan concept of 'Harambee' is a Swahili word that means let's pull together or let's unite. Harambee highlights the importance of collective responsibility and community support.

Drawing from her own experience, Nadine encourages social workers to set healthy boundaries and navigate their careers on their own terms to ensure they can thrive, thus ensuring they are helping their families and children in the best way possible.

The Black and Asian Leadership Initiative (BALI) that Sharmeen and Nadine mention, focuses on fostering inclusive leadership and equity within the social care and education sector. It was designed and initiated by Patrick Scott, Rosemary Campbell-Stephens MBE and Meera Spillett.

The Social Work Community podcast is where social workers come to discuss the key issues affecting their profession. Whether you are a student or an experienced social worker - whether you are frontline or management, this podcast is for you. You will hear direct from social workers in your community about their successes and their challenges.

Follow us on Instagram to keep up-to-date with the latest news and join the Social Work Community for all things social work.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.