The Relational Social Work Podcast is aimed at child and family social workers. Relationships are central to social work practice and this podcast focusses on the importance of connection and relationships in social work ‘with’ children, young people and their families, exploring this through meaningful conversations with inspiring leaders from across the sector. The podcast will celebrate excellent and innovative practice ‘with’ amazing children, young people and families, and have honest conversations about some of the struggles which we can face in children and family social work. There will be a minimum of one episode released every month.About the Podcast and your hosts
Matt Clayton
Matt has led and developed a number of services within Coventry primarily around children in care and care leavers. Matt has a reputation for innovative practice with young people at the center. This has included leading on the BAFTA nominated documentary Superkids and follow up Channel 4 show Kids, piloting the first automatic water bill discount to care leavers and the rollout Lifelong Links in Coventry. Matt is passionate about the importance of maintaining and promoting loving relationships for children in care and has had strategic oversight of Coventry’s reunification work as part of this. He was recently invited to write the foreword to the NSPCC and Action for Children joint national report: Home again: reunification practice in England and give evidence to the Education Select Committee. He is Chair of the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum steering group, sits on the DfE Children’s social care national practice group, is the ADCS member of the Family Justice Council and trustee of Care to Dance. After 20 years of neglecting himself, Matt has rediscovered his teenage love of being active outside, having just complete couch to 5k! When he isn’t working or running, he enjoys watching football and supports Liverpool.
Hannah Bedford
Hannah qualified as a social worker in 2013, following in her father’s footsteps. She has a passion for practice and practice leadership and has held several roles with a focus on practice development, both in practitioner and management roles. This has including being involved in the development of Coventry’s Social Work Academy, being a Child Sexual Abuse Practice Lead and most recently leading on Coventry Family Valued; a whole-system culture change programme in Coventry, which has led to the safe reduction of the number of children in care in Coventry, against rising numbers of looked after children nationally. Hannah is passionate about restorative practice and has led on the development of Coventry’s practice approach; with a focus on working ‘with’ children and their families, rather than doing ‘to’ or ‘for’ them. Apart from being a proud social worker, Hannah loves dungarees, loves cats and dogs (equally), and supports Liverpool F.C.
Producer Arin
From a young age, Arin had a passion for all things creative, especially animation, storytelling and bringing ideas to life on screen. After moving to the UK, that passion turned into a career, studying film and animation at university and going on to work with some well-known studios in the industry. Fast forward to today, and Arin has swapped film sets for the world of social work, using his creative skills within a local authority to produce videos, lead on communications and engagement, and support projects focused on strengthening the workforce across Children’s and Education services. Outside of work, you’ll find him on a tennis court, working on creative side projects, or enjoying a well-earned single malt whisky, preferably after a successful recording session…or when Wolves FC eventually win a game.