PodcastsEducationMessy Social Work

Messy Social Work

Messy Social Work
Messy Social Work
Latest episode

94 episodes

  • Messy Social Work

    Rich and Tim speak to Ethan St Pierre about growing up in care, addiction and being reborn in a cemetery

    27/02/2026 | 1h 5 mins.
    Connect with Ethan here: 
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-st-pierre-bb58403ab/
    Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

    Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

    Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

    Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/
  • Messy Social Work

    Rich and Tim talk to Mark Hopfenbeck about the transformative possibilities of Open Dialogue.

    20/02/2026 | 1h 2 mins.
    In this conversation, Rich and Tim and Mark Hopfenbeck explore the concept of Open Dialogue, its origins, and its application in mental health and social work. They discuss the importance of community involvement, the need for continuity in care, and the training required to develop relational skills. Mark emphasizes the significance of peer support and the challenges faced in implementing Open Dialogue in various settings. The conversation also touches on the role of evidence in validating Open Dialogue practices and the future of this approach in mental health care.

    Mark's presentation at the Thrive conference
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EAegtEWsi4&t=2s
    Professor Russell Razzaque on Radio 4 
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUVXKrFqaqE

     takeaways

    Open Dialogue originated from a need for better mental health support.
    The approach emphasizes community involvement and transparency.
    Continuity of care is crucial for building trust and relationships.
    Training in relational skills is essential for effective practice.
    Open Dialogue can be adapted to diverse cultural contexts.
    Peer support plays a vital role in the Open Dialogue framework.
    The approach encourages flexibility in meeting arrangements.
    Evidence-based practice is important for validating Open Dialogue.
    Radical transparency can improve client-professional relationships.
    Open Dialogue reflects the values of excellent social work.

     sound bites

    "It's a very human way of being."
    "We can do it better, and we can do it for less."
    "We can show that everyone seems to be better."

    Chapters

    00:00 The Origins of Open Dialogue
    04:21 The Evolution of Open Dialogue Practices
    08:47 The Role of Community and Relationships
    13:23 Open Dialogue in Diverse Settings
    17:35 Comparing Traditional and Open Dialogue Approaches
    26:23 Understanding Moral Injury in Healthcare Professionals
    28:44 The Impact of Open Dialogue Training
    30:25 Relational Skills in Social Work
    32:49 The Essence of Open Dialogue
    35:28 Navigating Difficult Decisions in Mental Health
    39:41 Radical Transparency and Compassion in Care
    41:38 The Need for Evidence in Compassionate Care
    45:21 Global Perspectives on Open Dialogue

    Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

    Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

    Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

    Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/
  • Messy Social Work

    Connecting Research: Why young people don't access mental health support

    11/02/2026 | 33 mins.
    In this episode, we speak with Dr Mina Fazel, a British psychiatrist who is Professor and Chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford. Her research considers the mental health of children and young people, and how to design effective mental health interventions.

    We talk to her about a recent paper: Adolescent consent and Generation Alpha: bridging policy, practice and empirical evidence in healthcare, you can download it here: 
    https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/adolescent-consent-and-generation-alpha-bridging-policy-practice-and-empirical-evidence-in-healthcare/1773C8B49A361BB55747FF7BD80F0730
    Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

    Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

    Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

    Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/
  • Messy Social Work

    BONUS Episode: Rich and Tim reflect on what its like to be silent for 6 days

    30/01/2026 | 52 mins.
    Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

    Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

    Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

    Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/
  • Messy Social Work

    Rich and Tim talk to Seana McDermott (Social Worker for Children in Care) about relational practice, moral injury and making a difference

    30/01/2026 | 47 mins.
    This week, we speak to Seana, a social worker in a Child in Care Team. 
    We explore what her role involves, how she builds relationships with young people, carers, and families, and the challenges she faces—as well as what helps her keep going. 
    We’re really grateful to Seana for taking the time to talk with us, especially given how busy the role is. We hope you enjoy her passion, child‑centred practice, and commitment to the work as much as we did.
    Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/

    Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme

    Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/

    Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/

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About Messy Social Work

Welcome to the Messy Social Work podcast. The hosts are Richard Devine and Tim Fisher. Check out our website here: https://www.relationalactivism.com/
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