An excellent interview with Bridget Robb – Chief Executive at the British Association of Social Workers. We discuss the state of social work in the UK and globally, the political and environmental factors of social work and the role of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW).

As a Former Chair of BASW I value it as the largest professional association for social work in the UK, with offices in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They promote the best possible social work services for all people who may need them, while also securing the well being of social workers.

Included is also my BBC Radio Bristol Radio interview discussing cyber bullying and the profound damage it has on young people. The traumas can lead to suicide and social exclusion. I offer advice on how to support the person involved for parents and carers.

My closing thoughts are on the Northern Ireland Historic Abuse Inquiry.

This weeks podcast focuses on communities, their importance and their erosion over the years and the knock on damage to society in general. I look at this nationally through the work of Shelter, new towns, homelessness and the changes high-rise buildings have made to communities.

Internationally I look at changes caused by man and by nature, culminating in the interview with Salaash Morompi a Maasai tour guide at the Maasia Mara reserve about the changes in his community interviewed by my guest reporter in Kenya.

John Devaney Director of Education, Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Queens University Belfast  and Chair of British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (BASPCAN) discusses child protection and early childhood development.  BASPSCAN  and D.Niven Associates are jointly hosting a conference on Early Childhood Development in Bristol on 4th April 2014.  The keynote speaker is Dame Tessa Jowell.  Further details and early bird booking is available here.

In this weeks episode I  also reflect upon my own thoughts on two emerging situations, one in the Central African Republic and one in Switzerland.

Shirley Ayres is my guest this week, she is a well established social media consultant, social worker, innovator and in her own words a care maverick and a ‘super connector’. A social media enthusiast with a large following across digital media platforms including a video podcast.  She reflects on her work and networking in the social care sector. She talks of why nurturing social media is so important and how digital and social media can deliver services differently.

Followed by reflections on Christmas.

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Have a very happy and merry Christmas to you all.

A fascinating interview with a young film maker who talks of her time in the Pacific rim. Her interviews  and also some short documentary films she made.

Also something that will make a real difference to sexual abuse – new sentencing guidelines for sex offenders.

So two main themes today, both different but both fascinating and important in their own right.

Thanks to all of you, the Social World Podcast  is now listened to in 16 countries and 13 US states. Please keep your comments coming, it’s really appreciated.