Imogen Blood - Change Talk

About Imogen Blood - Change Talk

Change Talk explores the complex dynamics of social change through insightful conversations with experts, practitioners, and thought leaders. Hosted by Imogen Blood, a social research consultant and MSC training specialist, this podcast delves into practical approaches for creating meaningful change in society. Imogen runs a social research company: https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/

Publisher

Imogen Blood

Category

science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 Jul 2025

Latest episode

20 Nov 2025

Latest episodes

10 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Nov 2025

   Andrew Redfern. Save our Supported Housing!

2. 

   23 Oct 2025

   Lived Experience Voices

   Please subscribed to the channel, like and/or leave a commentIn this episode of ChangeTalk, I'm joined by representatives from three different lived experience groups working in different parts of England to improve services for people experiencing homelessness, multiple & compound needs, addiction, and poverty. Monica from LEAF in Oxford, Astrid from Lived Insights in York and Nicky & Cindy from Common Ambition in Brighton & Hove. We reflect on the benefits of lived experience involvement/ co-production, what it takes to do this well, what changes have come about as a result of their work and what needs to happen next. 'It needs to be in the core of how things are done'. Common Ambition: https://www.bhcommonambition.orgLived Insights: https://livedinsights.org/LEAF: https://oxfordgatehouse.org/services-activities/leaf/Imogen runs a social research consultancy Imogen Blood & Associates (IBA):https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/IBA is proud to have worked with each of these three groups: With LEAF on the Housing-led Feasibility Study for Oxfordshire: https://www.crisis.org.uk/ending-homelessness/homelessness-knowledge-hub/housing-models-and-access/oxfordshire-feasibility-study/With Lived Insights on the York Drug & Alcohol StrategyWith Common Ambition on the Evaluation of the Changing Futures Multi-disciplinary Team: https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-04/IBA%20CF%20MDT%20Evaluation%20Final%20Report%2003032025.pdfand recently in looking at Oasis Project's women-only drug and alcohol support services. Chapters1:08 - Introductions7:07 - Why co-produce?15:50 - What does good look like?35:25 - Impact and change48:45 - What else needs to happen?

3. 

   9 Oct 2025

   Jane Farrell on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

   Please subscribe to the channel, like and/or leave a comment!!In this episode, I'm speaking to Jane Farrell (former co-founder and CEO of Equality Works/ EW Group) who has spent over 30 years improving diversity and equity in workplaces . We talk about unconscious bias, institutional discrimination, equality monitoring, building a business case, what it means to take a strategic approach to Diversity, Equity Inclusion (and how you can do this on a tight budget). Jane Farrell Consultancy: https://www.janefarrellconsultancy.com Imogen runs a social research consultancy Imogen Blood & Associates:https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/Imogen specialises in Equality Impact Assessment, and the analysis of equality monitoring data. Discussed in the podcast: 1999: Report of the Stephen Lawrence inquiryhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-stephen-lawrence-inquiry On racial inequalities in UK maternity services https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmselect/cmwomeq/94/report.html Evidence for business case for DEI: McKinsey: Diversity matters even more (2023): https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/diversity-matters-even-more-the-case-for-holistic-impactDeloitte: Missing out: The business case for customer diversity: https://www.deloitte.com/au/en/services/consulting/perspectives/business-case-customer-diversity.html Chapters1:09 - Introduction2:13 - Finding hope in tough times07:35 - Social class11:39 - Doing DEI on a shoestring 16:24 - Access, Experience, Outcome17:55 - Unconscious bias23:26 - Institutional Discrimination 27:39 - Monitoring data 32:24 - DEI is life or death 35:09 - Strategic approach in a criminal justice setting42:39 - Workforce and/or service provision45:44 - Building a business case50:53 - DEI in the care sector 53:39 - Advice for those working on DEI

4. 

   25 Sept 2025

   Penelope Green on Mental Health Supported Housing

   Please subscribe to the channel, like and/or leave a comment!!In this episode, we hear from Penelope Green, who left the civil service (after 18 years, holding senior roles at the Department of Health & Social Care and the Cabinet Office) to work for Look Ahead, a supported housing provider. We talk about the benefits of supported housing for people with mental health conditions and for the NHS, and reflect on opportunities to better integrate housing into Neighbourhood Health initiatives. Penelope Green: https://www.linkedin.com/in/penelope-green-83a78985/Imogen runs a social research consultancy Imogen Blood & Associates:https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/IBA's report for the Greater London Authority on Mental Health Supported Housing is due to be published in late 2025. Discussed in the podcast: Look Ahead: https://www.lookahead.org.uk Wates Family Enterprise Trust: https://www.wfet.org.uk Nat Fed #SOSHousing: https://www.housing.org.uk/our-work/supported-housing/save-our-supported-housing/ Penelope's report: The future of supported housing – how can we deliver more, faster: Scaling capital funding https://www.lookahead.org.uk/we-have-the-capital-now-lets-build-the-homes-say-experts/ HACT – Housing and health services: https://hact.org.uk/tools-and-services/housing-services/ Oaklands St Kilda’s Community Rehabilitation Supported Living Service for young people: https://www.lookahead.org.uk/app/uploads/2025/03/Oaklands-brochure.pdf Sussex MH and housing strategy: https://hact.org.uk/publications/mental-health-and-housing-a-strategic-plan-for-integrating-housing-and-mental-health-across-sussex/ NHS England: Neighbourhood health guidelines 2025/6: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/neighbourhood-health-guidelines-2025-26/ Chapters0:00 - Intro1:23 - Look Ahead's supported housing3:20 - Role in Neighbourhood Health 6:40 - Securing NHS funding for housing support14:35 - Scaling up in a complex system?19:15 - Asks of central government: raising profile23:26 - Barriers to central government action32:38 - Asks of central government: Housing Benefit39:10 - Ideal size of mental health schemes 42:23 - Profile and skills of workforce50:12 - How to change local systems55:12 - Integrating Housing in Neighbourhood Health

5. 

   21 Aug 2025

   Mark John-Williams on Circles Of Support

   In this episode, we hear from Mark John-Williams who has over 40 years experience in the care and support sector about the Circles of Support model and how it can mobilise family, friends, neighbours and acquaintances to provide support for an individual. Mark John-Williams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-john-williams-99519289/His short video on Circles of Support: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2ybw3DFVEQImogen runs a social research consultancy Imogen Blood & Associates:https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/She provides training on positive risk-taking in care and support. She also provides MSC training:https://www.seralliance.org/Discussed in the podcast: Supported Decision-Making: https://paradigm-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Print-copy-2023-MASTER-Supported-Decisions-Making-booklet-27-September-A5_Wiro_Bound_SEB.pdf.pdf Judith Snow: https://www.community-circles.co.uk/judith-snow-a-pioneer-woman/The Harvard Longitudinal Study: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/01/harvard-happiness-study-relationships/672753/ Gather My Crew: https://www.gathermycrew.org.auHere 2 There/ For Mi: https://www.here2there.me.ukHilary Cottam: Radical Help: https://www.hilarycottam.com/radical-help/Chapters0:00 - Intro1:50 - What is a 'circle of support'?5:05 - Steps involved in setting up a circle11:05 - What if there's no one to invite?14:55 - How fits with paid services19:14 - Importance of relationships22:44 - Positive risk-taking and safeguarding33:15 - Relevance to homelessness/ addiction 36:13 - Learning from the pandemic41:22 - Using apps to facilitate47:53 - Knowing how to help50:30 - Spreading the model1:02:00 - Reducing demand for health & care

6. 

   7 Aug 2025

   Most Significant Change part 2 - A deep dive with Nick Andrews

   Imogen runs a social research consultancy Imogen Blood & Associates:https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/She also provides MSC training:https://www.seralliance.org/Nick Andrews is based at the University of Swansea: He delivers the DEEP project, funded by Social Care Wales: https://insightcollective.socialcare.wales/developing-evidence-enriched-practice-deep-2Further resources from DEEP on MSC: A Storytelling Framework for Social Care in Wales: https://insightcollective.socialcare.wales/a-storytelling-framework-for-social-care-in-walesMSC blog: https://insightcollective.socialcare.wales/whats-on/news-and-blogs/from-metrics-to-meaning-most-significant-change-as-a-learning-focused-approach-to-evaluation-in-walesMSC film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey0pk1clewIDiscussed in the podcast: Rick Davies and Jess Dart: The Most Significant Change Technique - a guide to its use: https://mande.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/MSCGuide.pdfNeil Mercer on Oracy/ Exploratory Talk: https://oracycambridge.org/talk-rules/Glen Robert: Experience-based Co-production: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXG0G1LrK3IRupert Higham on Dialogue Learning: https://sms.cam.ac.uk/media/2158639/Anne Edwards on Common Knowledge: https://www.education.ox.ac.uk/person/anne-edwards/Iain McGilchrist: The Matter with Things, podcast with Rebel Wisdom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U99dQrZdVTgChangeTalk Podcast on Deep Democracy: https://youtu.be/1R_MMiCz6QE?si=pTxOPhqanhVH6o_lImogen Blood for Joseph Rowntree Foundation - A Better Life: Valuing our Later Years: https://www.housinglin.org.uk/_assets/Resources/Housing/OtherOrganisation/older-people-support-full.pdfChapters0:00 - Introduction1:22 - What is MSC?3:18 - How to collect stories9:04 - Neither life story nor case study12:35 - What caused the change?15:46 - Titles, editing, individuals v groups20:22 - Panels: story selection26:27 - When and why to use MSC?38:48 - Limitations/ health warnings45:45 - How to argue nicely57:00 - MSC process creates change01:10:00 - How we met/ Nick's work

7. 

   18 Jul 2025

   Housing First with Nicholas Pleace

   Nicholas and I first worked together on the Housing First Feasibility Study for the Liverpool City Region (Crisis, 2017): full report; summary version. Housing First Guide Europe (2016), Nicholas Pleace for FEANTSA https://www.feantsa.org/download/hfg_full_digital1907983494259831639.pdf Imogen runs a social research consultancy Imogen Blood & Associates:https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/She also provides MSC training:https://www.seralliance.org/Discussed in the podcast:US sociologist, Teresa Gowan identified 3 caricatures of homelessness: ‘sin-talk’, ‘sick-talk’ and ‘system-talk’, as described here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334047769_Street_Talk_Homeless_Discourses_and_the_Politics_of_Service_Provision Malcolm Gladwell: Million-Dollar Murray: The New Yorker, 02/05/2006: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/02/13/million-dollar-murray Blood, Birchall & Pleace (2021) Reducing, Changing, or Ending Housing First support, Homeless Link: https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/197890/1/Reducing_changing_or_ending_Housing_First_support_2021_full_report.pdf Sam Tsemberis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_TsemberisIn ‘A Traumatised System’ for Riverside, Nicholas and I describe the commissioning context for UK homelessness services: https://www.riverside.org.uk/care-and-support/homelessness-research-and-reports/a-traumatised-system/ Supporting People programme: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/rp12-40/ Housing First Fidelity Framework: we’ve recently published the framework Nicholas, Anita Birchall and I produced in 2019 here: https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/_files/ugd/775f77_2ccae7cd607e433da5c553c59081cd31.pdf Chapters00:00 - Nicholas’s research background3:15 - Adapting Housing First into the European context 5:15 - What is Housing First?9:45 - Why does it work for individuals?13:15 - Systems change and Housing First 15:52 - Evidence-based intervention in homelessness19:00 - Housing First’s origins in the US23:28 - Finland’s Housing First strategy26:02 - How Housing First developed in the UK34:00 - Comparison to Housing First in Italy35:30 - Impact of housing, health and care shortages on Housing First 39:00 - Too thinly spread to have strategic impact43:50 - Preventing future demand48:27 - Lack of join up 51:02 - Lack of step-up/ step-down options 56:06 - What is needed?1:00:35 - The narrative gets in the way1:06:50 - Housing First as part of mental health pathway?1:12:50 - Fidelity to the model 1:21:03 - End

8. 

   10 Jul 2025

   Lydia Guthrie on Supporting People to Change

   More information on Lydia Guthrie can be found on her website 'Change Point':https://changepointlearning.com/Imogen runs a social research consultancy Imogen Blood & Associates:https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/She also provides MSC training:https://www.seralliance.org/Discussed in the podcast:Motivational Interviewing: https://motivationalinterviewing.org/understanding-motivational-interviewingShadd Maruna on Desistance from Crime and Narrative Identity: https://britsoccrim.org/volume2/003.pdf Our book: Blood, I. & Guthrie, L. (2018) Supporting Older People Using Attachment-Informed and Strengths-Based Approaches, Jessica Kingsley PublishersPat Crittenden Dynamic Maturation Model of Attachment and Adaptation: https://www.iasa-dmm.org/images/uploads/Attachment-theory-psychopaathology%20andpsychotherapyThedmm-approach.pdf Dr Chip Chimera: https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/therapist/Chip-Chimera-iAic3AACChapters0:00 - Intro1:39 - Lydia’s career and background6:42 - How to help people change8:49 - Measuring our success13:48 - Working with denial 23:45 - What is attachment theory?27:30 - Attachment, parenting and gender31:10 - Changing our attachment patterns 40:36 - Why systemic (family) therapy?43:50 - The role of the family therapist48:06: - Not making things worse48:38 - Change takes time53:24 - Implications for service design

9. 

   9 Jul 2025

   Mark Robinson on Most Significant Change

   Imogen runs a social research consultancy Imogen Blood & Associates:https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/She also provides MSC training:https://www.seralliance.org/Mark Robinson's consultancy Thinking Practice:https://www.thinkingpractice.co.uk/Discussed in the podcast:Rick Davies & Jess Dart's 2005 book 'The most significant change technique: A guide to its use':https://www.mande.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2005/MSCGuide.pdfCase Study on Ark: Stockton Arts Centre:https://arconline.co.uk/about-us/what-we-do/ MSC training with Future Arts Centres network:https://futureartscentres.org.uk Will Storr: 'The Science of Storytelling' :https://www.thescienceofstorytelling.com Failspace: How can the cultural sector better recognise and learn from failures?https://www.culturalvalue.org.uk/our-work/failspace/#intro Chapters0:00 - intro1:00 - Mark's background and career7:53 - What is Most Significant Change (MSC)?10:50 - Applying MSC in the cultural sector16:15 - Good tool for complex projects18:25 - MSC gives a structure for thinking about stories19:50 - Exploring cause and effect through stories20:06 - 'The science of storytelling' book22:49 - Particular fit between MSC and the cultural sector?24:10 - MSC countering evaluation fatigue28:17 - Limitations or considerations35:06 - Complementing MSC with 'FailSpace'38:10 - Deciding what is 'significant'41:16 - Impact of involving the board in MSC42:50 - MSC from using MSC48:45 - Writing MSC stories55:00 - A title for your story?

10. 

    9 Jul 2025

    Paul Connery on Deep Democracy

    Paul Connery: LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-connery-335708100/ Imogen runs a social research consultancy Imogen Blood & Associates:https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/She also provides MSC training:https://www.seralliance.org/Discussed in the podcast:Homeless Link: https://homeless.org.uk Lankelly Chase: 'Hard Edges' Arnold Mindell: https://www.aamindell.net/worldwork Greg & Myrna Lewis: https://www.lewisdeepdemocracy.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopEn-d_xqL6WVYFtXe-M03dpR-b7vm6oB9zwH0y9vKy_-be3LueChapters0:00 - intro 1:45 - Paul's background3:05 - Co-production with multiply disadvantaged groups8:42 - What is Deep Democracy?12:50 - Building better teams16:45 - Managers’ roles20:05 - 5 stages of Deep Democracy 29:50 - As an informal tool30:10 - Improving decision-making 30:56 - Role of the facilitator 38:52 - Purposeful inclusive meetings40:52 - Online v face-to-face43:55 - Change for groups47:00 - Potential in different settings48:45 - Personal change51:00 - The wisdom of the minority

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