A podcast by social workers for social workers and anyone with an interest in social work issues in the UK. Sarah Flagg and Paul Shuttleworth have a chat about their social work lives, and break down complex policy, theory and practice into a discussion that is relatable and (sometimes) humorous. The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Good Vibes Only: Sarah and Paul Do Do Strengths-based Approaches
Sarah and Paul do do a deep dive into the power but also the often-hidden dark side of strengths-based social work. In this episode, they break down why this beloved textbook framework can turn into a toxic-positivity tool for budget rationing under austerity. Pulling apart the statutory definitions of the UK Care Act 2014, they weaponise Bourdieu’s (not a wine!) theories on social and economical capital, and James Caiels’ empirical reality check. (And they also discuss foxes, spiders, and General Zorro…oh my).
The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
You can get in touch with us by emailing: dodosocialwork@gmail.com
Caiels, J. et al. (2024) ‘Strengths-based Approaches—Perspectives from Practitioners’, The British Journal of Social Work, 54(1), pp. 168–188. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcad186.
Caiels, J., Milne, A. and Beadle-Brown, J. (2021) ‘Strengths-Based Approaches in Social Work and Social Care: Reviewing the Evidence’, Journal of Long-Term Care, 0(2021). Available at: https://doi.org/10.31389/jltc.102.
‘Strengths-based approaches’ SCIE. Available at: https://www.scie.org.uk/strengths-based-approaches/(Accessed: 10 October 2026).
25 Jul 2026
Championing Kinship Care: Sarah and Paul Do Do The Kinship Care Law Commission Consultation
An emergency podcast to break down the challenges of kinship care, and encourage you...yes you...to provide your ideas to help shape new legislation. Sarah and Paul discuss the new and exciting ideas laid out for kinship care in the Law Commission consultation report. Are proposals for Kinship Care Orders, and Kinship Guardians going to reshape future history!?! Or will they make little difference to the lives of children and their families?
The views represented are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
You can get in touch with us by emailing: dodosocialwork@gmail.com
Links:
Shuttleworth, P. (2025) Listening to Children about Kinship Care, Child Welfare and Permanence: A Child-Centred Approach to Navigating Relational Spaces. London: Policy Press.
Shuttleworth, P., (2023). 'Kinship care for England and Wales in the 2020s: assumptions, challenges and opportunities' in R. Sen and C. Kerr (eds) The Future of Children’s Care: Critical Perspectives on Children’s Services Reform, p.122.
Law Commission consultation on kinship care (full consultation paper)Law Commission consultation on kinship care (summary)
Law Commission consultation on kinship care (easy read)
16 Jun 2026
Bond...The Human Animal Bond: Sarah and Paul Do Do Veterinary Social Work with Rebecca Stephens
In this episode Paul and Sarah team up with Veterinary Social Work expert Rebecca Stephens to chat about the link between human and veterinary services.
We deep dive into why companion animals matter in our lives, and how social workers can actually bring an animal inclusive perspective into their everyday practice.
A link to Rebecca's CPD module
The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 25 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
23
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
68
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