Welcome to Frontline’s podcast, where I’ll be chatting to social workers and sector experts about the key topics impacting them and the children and families they support. We’ll also share reflections and takeaways along the way, so you can continue to learn from other professionals to do your best work with children and families.

My name is Hannah and I work at the social work charity Frontline as a principal practice tutor. Since qualifying as a social worker, I’ve worked both in the voluntary and statutory sector in multiple settings including hospitals, criminal justice social work and child protection teams.

For me, social work should be about social justice, and I am constantly finding inspiration from fellow social workers, service users, experts by experience and community activists - this is one of the reasons why I’m very excited to be facilitating discussion on this podcast! 

In this episode, I talk to four guests about how to drive social change through activism, policy and practice.

Hannah speaks to four guests about empowering children's voices in social work and why this is so needed. Everyone shares different insights on how social workers at all levels can listen to, capture and empower children’s voices. We hope you enjoy listening into the conversation and feel inspired to take forward any ideas you may have  in future! 

Hannah speaks to four guests about sparking change in social work and why this is so needed. Everyone shares different insight on how social workers at all levels can lead change, whether it's small or big, in order to better support children and their families. We hope you enjoy listening into the conversation and feel inspired to take forward any ideas you may have  in future! 

Alexa Robinson is working with a team in Middlesbrough and Teesside to launch the first Christmas Dinner initiative in the area, providing a positive Christmas experience for young care leavers. Tom and Alexa discuss the importance of this, recognising that this time of year can be very difficult and emotionally confusing for lots of care experienced young people, as well as reflecting on the privilege many of us have around Christmas. Alexa says that if they are able to create one happy memory for one young person, then the initiative will be a success. This festive episode will uplift and inspire you and serves as a reminder for us all to ensure we are looking after others in our communities. 

Kelly Gittens is an experienced social worker and Frontline fellow who is passionate about working with and encouraging more men into the profession. As a social work academic, his research has an emphasis on fathers and domestic violence, and he often uses film as a medium to tell stories that bring about positive systemic change in the sector. Kelly reflects on the importance of communication and representation when working with men, and also shares powerful examples that illustrate the challenges of intersectionality in social work, particularly relating to race and gender. 

Richard Smith is currently delivering the Future Pathways service, a targeted employability programme for young Londoners that supports them into sustained work, apprenticeships or education, which sits under Catch22’s employability division. Richard discusses how to develop meaningful and long-lasting relationships with disadvantaged young people in order to help them achieve what they want in life, despite the adversities they may have faced. He also refers to Catch22's '3 Ps,' and reflects on how the belief that everyone should have good People, a Purpose and a nice Place to live, is integral to the work he does every day.

Tommy Gale is a social worker and Frontline fellow who specialises in cases involving child exploitation and edge of care concerns. He is also the founder of InsideUni, a non-profit social enterprise that aims to provide all students with the information and support networks needed to successfully apply to top universities. The enterprise, founded on the values of inclusive access, has grown hugely since inception with Tommy now working part-time on the project alongside his role as a social worker. The conversation naturally leads to a critical reflection of the influence social workers can have in helping children and young people overcome educational barriers that continue to persist due to wider structural inequalities. 

Basheba Baptiste is a 25-year-old creative producer and the founder of Care to Culture - a non-for-profit that uses the creative arts to support children and young people in the social care and youth justice systems. As a care leaver herself, Basheba’s vision is to provide a safe, sustainable community and space where young people can accept their anger and lived experience in a healing way that creates positive change. Drawing on her own story of being in care, Basheba talks to Tom about why her initiative is so needed and the important role Care to Culture plays in helping young people accept emotions and discover their identity.