Do Do Social Work

Paul Shuttleworth & Sarah Flagg

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.

  1. 17 MAR

    We dopa-mean it: Sarah & Paul Do Do ADHD

    To celebrate Neurodiversity Awareness Week, Sarah and Paul unpack what ADHD really is—and Paul nervously, (over)shares that he joins the 1 in 7 people with his ADHD diagnosis. They cover the three ADHD presentations, whether VAST is a better description, a plain English look at dopamine, time blindness and hyperfocus, and they myth-bust the classics: “everyone’s got ADHD now,” “everyone forgets things,” and “it’s just social media.”  You’ll get practical tips for supporting experts by experience, colleagues, friends and family living with ADHD, plus a short, honest section on safety and life expectancy. It’s psychoeducation with questionable humour. Come for the learning, stay for the highly caffeinated squirrels that keep trying to take over the show. References Barkley, R.A. & Fischer, M. 2018, ‘Hyperactive Child Syndrome and Estimated Life Expectancy at Young Adult FollowUp: The Role of ADHD Persistence and Other Potential Predictors’, Journal of Attention Disorders, 23(9), pp. 907–923.  Community Care 2026, ‘ADHD in social work: the hidden strengths and costs’, Community Care, 10 March.  Frye, D. 2020, ‘Children with ADHD Avoid Failure and Punishment More Than Others, Study Says’, ADDitude Magazine, 6 November.  MacDonald, H.J., Kleppe, R., Szigetvari, P.D. & Haavik, J. 2024, ‘The dopamine hypothesis for ADHD: An evaluation of evidence accumulated from human studies and animal models’, Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, article 1492126.  NHS England Digital 2025, Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, England, 2023/4 — Chapter 9: Attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), 27 November.  Partridge, A. 2025, Now It All Makes Sense: How an ADHD Diagnosis Brought Clarity to My Life, London: Sheldon Press.  RowneySmith, A., Sutton, B., Quadt, L. & Eccles, J.A. 2026, ‘The lived experience of rejection sensitivity in ADHD – A qualitative exploration’, PLOS ONE, 21(1), e0314669

    43 min

  2. 23/12/2025

    Shaking the Ladder: Sarah and Paul Do Do Experts By Experience with Debs Pawley

    In this episode Paul and Sarah have a chat about Experts by Experience, co-production and participation and are joined by Debs Pawley, Coordinator of the Experts by Experience Network at the University of Sussex. The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for. Show Notes: Fox, J. (2020). Perspectives of experts-by-experience: an exploration of lived experience involvement in social work education. Social Work Education, 41(4), 587–604. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2020.1861244 Roger Hart's Ladder of Children’s Participation Model: Hart, R. A. (1992). Children’s participation: From tokenism to citizenship. Florence, Italy: United Nations Children’s Fund International Child Development Centre. Laura Lundy Model: Lundy, L. (2007). ‘Voice’ is not enough: conceptualising Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. British Educational Research Association, 33(6), 927–942. Children Act 1989: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/contents

    52 min

  3. 23/12/2025

    Happy Endings: Sarah and Paul Do Do Group Dynamics

    Do you like being in a group, or are you a lone wolf, or somewhere in-between? In this festive episode, Sarah and Paul chat about group dynamics, reflecting on not only what it means in social work, but also their own lives.   The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.   Further Resources:   Tuckman's stages of group development: Tuckman, B.(1965) 'Developmental sequence in small groups', Psychological Bulletin, vol.63, pp.384–99.   Fisher, C.M (2025) 'The Collective Edge', Simon & Shuster.

    40 min

  4. 17/11/2025

    Beyond the Buzzword: Sarah and Paul Do Do Trauma-Informed Practice with Prof. Kristi Langhoff

    What does trauma-informed practice really mean? Is it just another buzzword, another thing we have to do—or something that can genuinely change how we work with people every day? In this episode, Sarah and Paul chat with Professor Kristi Langhoff, a leading voice in trauma-informed practice. Together, they break it down into everyday language—exploring what it is, what it isn’t, its key principles, and how curiosity can help us understand the complexity of people’s lives, feelings, and values. If you’ve ever wondered how trauma-informed thinking can shape real-world practice (without jargon or theory overload), this is your starting point. It’s practical, reflective, and full of ideas you can use right away. The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for. Further Resources:   The Innovate Project – https://theinnovateproject.co.uk/resources/ Trauma-Informed Practice Padlet curated by Prof. Kristi Langhoff – https://padlet.com/k_langhoff/trauma-informed-practice-resources-6d9prs7r5bfr Research in Practice Guide: Embedding Trauma-Informed Approaches in Adult Social Care –https://www.researchinpractice.org.uk/media/hj0k0021/ripfa_embedding_trauma-informed_approaches_frontline_briefing_web.pdf

    51 min

  5. 31/08/2025

    DASH It All: Sarah and Paul Do Do the DASH Assessment

    Sarah and Paul discuss the current concerns about the effectiveness of the Domestic, Abuse, Stalking, Harassment and Honour-Based Violence (DASH) assessment. Is it still fit for purpose, and what can this mean for other social work approaches and tools?   The views represented at time of recording are our own and do not reflect any organisations we work for or have worked for.   Show notes:   BBC news article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr4e7yrxkgvo

    44 min

  6. 23/06/2025

    Smashing It: Sarah and Paul Do Do Interviews

    Be prepared to smash it at interviews. Sarah and Paul discuss the do dos and no nos of interviews. It's a serious matter, but we enjoyed talking about it with a few giggles on the way. Although tailored for social work, these tips can be applied to all types of interview experiences, including being accepted onto a course or module.   Some more tips are available on the Social Work Portal: https://www.socialworkportal.com/social-work-interview-questions-answers/   Explanations about the Johari Window and unlocking the unknown unknown: Bergquist, W., 2009. The Johari Window: Exploring the unconscious processes of interpersonal relationships and the coaching engagement. International Journal of Coaching in Organizations, 7(3), p.73.

    53 min

  7. 23/04/2025

    Oh my it's AI: Sarah and Paul Do Do AI

    Sarah and Paul discuss what’s happening with AI, ChatGPT, and using big data to inform risk. Will AI be a help or a hindrance? They also discuss how to be part of the change and ensure that professional and lived experiences are not lost. Oh, and Paul does his famous Sir Keir Starmer impression. Ferguson, H. (2018) ‘Making home visits: Creativity and the embodied practices of home visiting in social work and child protection’, Qualitative Social Work, 17(1), pp. 65–80. IMPORTANT - Have your say about AI with Research in Practice

    48 min

  8. 16/12/2024

    Let’s Get Critical: Sarah and Paul Do Do Critical Thinking

    In this episode, Sarah and Paul provide tips on one of the most necessary but often confusing parts of social work practice – critical reflection and critical thinking. What is it? Why do we need to do it? Is Bowlby all he’s cracked up to be? How do you fend off comments that you are too descriptive in your writing and not critical enough?   Maclean, S. (2016) A new model for social work reaction: whatever the weather Professional Social Work, March, pp28-9 Moon, J.A. (2006) Learning Journals: A Handbook for Reflective Practice and Professional Development. 2nd edition. Florence: Routledge. Munro, E. (2011) The Munro review of child protection: final report, a child-centred system. Vol. 8062. London: The Stationery Office. Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D., Jasper, M. (2001) Critical reflection in nursing and the helping professions: a user’s guide. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    47 min
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4.4
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Shuttleworth & Sarah Flagg
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Do Do Social Work