Social Work Sorted with Vicki Shevlin

Vicki Shevlin
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Social Sciences
  • Updated Weekly

Social Work Sorted is the leading podcast for Newly Qualified Social Workers in the UK. Hosted and produced by Vicki Shevlin, a social worker, trainer, consultant and founder of The Social Work Collective Academy. This is a podcast for social workers and safeguarding professionals who care about skills, knowledge and practice. Fresh, relatable and realistic, Vicki brings her social work experience and unique training approach to bitesize episodes. Guest episodes feature critical conversations with experts from the sector.socialworksorted.com 

  1. 5d ago

    5 ways to simplify your Social Work practice

    It’s October, the season is changing, and I’m in full reset mode. In this episode I share five ways to simplify your practice and your working life: your workspace, your to-do list, your language, your focus and your aim. They’re small, practical shifts you can make this week, whether you’re newly qualified or years into practice. I also talk about what a heavy month of training delivery has looked like, why assessment skills are about so much more than writing things up, and why we need to be careful with AI language models when it comes to children’s records. If simplifying feels easier said than done, the Practice Pause Library inside the Social Work Sorted Membership on Patreon has guided regulation audios made for social work moments: before a home visit, during overwhelm, and after a difficult situation. Link here: https://www.patreon.com/socialworksorted/shop If you lead a team or run training, email me at vicki@socialworksorted.com If you’re interested in training for your local authority, organisation or team, I work with a range of organisations across the UK delivering skills-focused safeguarding and social work training, including assessment skills. Get in touch at vicki@socialworksorted.com or find the link to book a conversation in the show notes. This podcast is hosted by Vicki Shevlin, an independent social worker and safeguarding consultant with over ten years of experience. The content is intended to support your professional development and reflective practice. It is not a substitute for good quality supervision, statutory guidance, legislation, or your organisation’s policies and procedures. Always refer to your local authority guidance and relevant statutory frameworks when making practice decisions. Nothing in this podcast constitutes formal legal or professional advice. Lets connect! To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email vicki@socialworksorted.com Sign up to my free newsletter Listen to Social Work Sorted Membership Podcast Join the Social Work Sorted Membership on Patreon for CPD & Resources to build your confidence as an early career social worker  Email: vicki@socialworksorted.com LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin  Instagram.com/vickishevlin_ Instagram.com/socialworksorted Youtube.com/@socialworksorted Facebook.com/socialworksorted https://www.patreon.com/socialworksorted Disclaimer Thank you so much for listening.  Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

  2. Oct 13

    Independent social work is growing but are we talking about the ethics honestly?

    Independent social work is on the rise, but we don’t talk about it honestly enough. In this episode I’m sharing what it actually means, how my own route into independence looked, and why I think the narrative around it,  that it’s an easy escape or a quick route to more money,  is worth challenging.  I also get into the ethics of commissioned assessments, the lack of collective standards, and what it means for the profession when people move into training or independent practice for the wrong reasons. If you’re thinking about independence, already doing it, or just curious about where social work is heading, this one is for you. Aside from independent practice, I lead core skills training for social workers, if you lead a team or commission training, email me ,  vicki@socialworksorted.com If you are considering independent social work, here's a free checklist to help make your decision: https://www.socialworksorted.com/going-independent-download Lets connect! To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email vicki@socialworksorted.com Sign up to my free newsletter Listen to Social Work Sorted Membership Podcast Join the Social Work Sorted Membership on Patreon for CPD & Resources to build your confidence as an early career social worker  Email: vicki@socialworksorted.com LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin  Instagram.com/vickishevlin_ Instagram.com/socialworksorted Youtube.com/@socialworksorted Facebook.com/socialworksorted https://www.patreon.com/socialworksorted Disclaimer Thank you so much for listening.  Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

  3. Sep 4

    What Local Authorities Get Right for Social Workers (And Why It's Worth Protecting)

    I left local authority social work four years ago, not because I was burnt out, but because I couldn't keep building my training work alongside it. In this episode I push back on the glamorisation of independent social work and talk through five things I genuinely miss about being employed: team, learning, practice skills, benefits, and progression.  If you lead a team or a service, this is also a good listen for understanding what actually keeps social workers engaged and staying.  Sponsored by Collaborate HR Consultancy.  https://collaboratehr.co.uk/ Lets connect! To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email vicki@socialworksorted.com Sign up to my free newsletter Listen to Social Work Sorted Membership Podcast Join the Social Work Sorted Membership on Patreon for CPD & Resources to build your confidence as an early career social worker  Email: vicki@socialworksorted.com LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin  Instagram.com/vickishevlin_ Instagram.com/socialworksorted Youtube.com/@socialworksorted Facebook.com/socialworksorted https://www.patreon.com/socialworksorted Disclaimer Thank you so much for listening.  Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

  4. Aug 21

    Learning from the Clancy trial and reflections on court skills for New Social Workers (And Why They Start at the Front Door)

    This week I've been watching the Lindsey Clancy trial, and I couldn't stop thinking about what it reveals about giving evidence, professional credibility, and how quickly a badly placed comma or a defensive answer can unravel someone's testimony. But this episode isn't really about the trial. It's about something new social workers ask me constantly: how do I get good at court? How do I prepare for giving evidence? Here's the truth. Court skills don't start in the witness box. They start at the first knock on the door. If you can't observe, record, and analyse confidently on a home visit, you can't write an assessment that holds up in court. The skills are the same skills, just at different stages. If you're newly qualified and building those foundations, the Starting in Social Work Summer Bundle has everything you need, home visit masterclass, HR masterclass, interview skills, and the Starting in Social Work podcast series. Available until 31st August. Starting in Social Work Summer Bundle:  https://www.patreon.com/collection/2260003 Practice Pause Library (guided audios for social workers)  https://www.patreon.com/collection/2308769 Confident Meetings Collection  https://www.patreon.com/collection/2332619 Join the membership: https://www.patreon.com/15752670/join Lets connect! To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email vicki@socialworksorted.com Sign up to my free newsletter Listen to Social Work Sorted Membership Podcast Join the Social Work Sorted Membership on Patreon for CPD & Resources to build your confidence as an early career social worker  Email: vicki@socialworksorted.com LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin  Instagram.com/vickishevlin_ Instagram.com/socialworksorted Youtube.com/@socialworksorted Facebook.com/socialworksorted https://www.patreon.com/socialworksorted Disclaimer Thank you so much for listening.  Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

  5. Aug 13

    Foster Care, Residential Homes and Why We Need to Talk About Money: A Conversation with Trevor Elliot

    In this episode I'm joined by Trevor Elliott MBE, founder of Children We Care For and director of three residential children's homes in London, who became a foster carer at 24. Trevor is one of the most honest voices I've come across in this space and this conversation did not disappoint. We talk about what foster care actually requires and why a big heart and a spare room is not enough, the government's commitment to 100,000 new foster carers and why quantity without quality worries both of us, why foster carers are underpaid and why we need to stop being uncomfortable talking about money in the context of care, the difference between profit and profiteering in residential children's homes, and what needs to change to make fostering a sustainable choice for more people. Trevor also makes a comparison between foster carers and surgeons that I haven't stopped thinking about since we recorded this. If you're interested in training for your local authority, organisation or team, I work with a range of organisations across the UK delivering skills-focused safeguarding and social work training. Get in touch at vicki@socialworksorted.com or find the link to book a conversation in the show notes. Starting in Social Work Bundle:  https://www.patreon.com/collection/2260003 Get in touch with Trevor:  https://www.instagram.com/trevorelliott.mbe/ https://childrenwecarefor.co.uk/pages/our-team This podcast is hosted by Vicki Shevlin, an independent social worker and safeguarding consultant with over ten years of experience. The content is intended to support your professional development and reflective practice. It is not a substitute for good quality supervision, statutory guidance, legislation, or your organisation's policies and procedures. Always refer to your local authority guidance and relevant statutory frameworks when making practice decisions. Nothing in this podcast constitutes formal legal or professional advice. Lets connect! To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email vicki@socialworksorted.com Sign up to my free newsletter Listen to Social Work Sorted Membership Podcast Join the Social Work Sorted Membership on Patreon for CPD & Resources to build your confidence as an early career social worker  Email: vicki@socialworksorted.com LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin  Instagram.com/vickishevlin_ Instagram.com/socialworksorted Youtube.com/@socialworksorted Facebook.com/socialworksorted https://www.patreon.com/socialworksorted Disclaimer Thank you so much for listening.  Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

  6. Aug 6

    Finding Joy in Social Work: 4 Things I'm Committing to This Month

    July was heavy. Court, honest feedback on my book, and the quiet weight of watching decisions unfold in family courts. In this honest, veryyyy unfiltered episode I talk through why August needs to be about joy, and four simple, no-cost ways I'm building more of it into my days with several caveats.  If July left you feeling a bit worn down too, this one's for you. Plus a reminder about the Practice Pause Library, guided audio built for social workers, for the real moments this job actually throws at you.  Find it on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/collection/2308769 PLUS:  Starting in Social Work Summer Bundle: https://www.patreon.com/collection/2260003?view=expanded Social Work Sorted Membership:  https://www.patreon.com/socialworksorted/membership Lets connect! To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email vicki@socialworksorted.com Sign up to my free newsletter Listen to Social Work Sorted Membership Podcast Join the Social Work Sorted Membership on Patreon for CPD & Resources to build your confidence as an early career social worker  Email: vicki@socialworksorted.com LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin  Instagram.com/vickishevlin_ Instagram.com/socialworksorted Youtube.com/@socialworksorted Facebook.com/socialworksorted https://www.patreon.com/socialworksorted Disclaimer Thank you so much for listening.  Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

  7. Jul 6

    Age Assessment, the SAEF Framework and What Social Work Values Have to Do With It: A Conversation with Jo Schofield

    In this episode I'm joined by my friend and colleague Jo Schofield, Director of Immigration Social Work Services and one of the leading experts on age assessment in the UK. Jo has spent her career working with unaccompanied asylum seeking children, acting as an expert witness in court, and developing the SAFE framework - the Social Work Age Estimation Framework - which is changing the way social workers approach this area of practice. We talk about what age assessment actually is and why it's so politicised, what the SAFE framework does and why it matters, confirmation bias in assessment practice, what courts are actually looking for when they scrutinise an age assessment, and why Jo thinks social workers are overcomplicating something that is at its core just an assessment like any other. We also get into the racism and adultification that underpins so much of how age assessment has historically been approached, and why SAFE offers a framework that is genuinely aligned with social work values. Jo is also writing the first ever book on age assessment. It's a big deal and she is exactly the right person to do it. If you're interested in training for your local authority, organisation or team, I work with a range of organisations across the UK delivering skills-focused safeguarding and social work training. Get in touch at vicki@socialworksorted.com or find the link to book a conversation in the show notes. This podcast is hosted by Vicki Shevlin, an independent social worker and safeguarding consultant with over ten years of experience. The content is intended to support your professional development and reflective practice. It is not a substitute for good quality supervision, statutory guidance, legislation, or your organisation's policies and procedures. Always refer to your local authority guidance and relevant statutory frameworks when making practice decisions. Nothing in this podcast constitutes formal legal or professional advice. Lets connect! To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email vicki@socialworksorted.com Sign up to my free newsletter Listen to Social Work Sorted Membership Podcast Join the Social Work Sorted Membership on Patreon for CPD & Resources to build your confidence as an early career social worker  Email: vicki@socialworksorted.com LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin  Instagram.com/vickishevlin_ Instagram.com/socialworksorted Youtube.com/@socialworksorted Facebook.com/socialworksorted https://www.patreon.com/socialworksorted Disclaimer Thank you so much for listening.  Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

  8. Jun 29

    Research, Evidence and What We Share Online: A Conversation with Dez Holmes

    In this episode I'm joined by Dez Holmes, Director of Research in Practice for a conversation that went in more directions than either of us planned and was better for it. We talk about Dez's career and what's driven it, the role Research in Practice has played in social work over the years, what it actually means to be evidence informed in practice rather than just claiming to be, and what we owe each other when we share things online. There's a LinkedIn rant, a surfing metaphor, and some of the most useful reflections I've had in a while about what useful actually means and who it's for. If you're interested in training for your local authority, organisation or team, I work with a range of organisations across the UK delivering skills-focused safeguarding and social work training. Get in touch at vicki@socialworksorted.com or find the link to book a conversation in the show notes. This podcast is hosted by Vicki Shevlin, an independent social worker and safeguarding consultant with over ten years of experience. The content is intended to support your professional development and reflective practice. It is not a substitute for good quality supervision, statutory guidance, legislation, or your organisation's policies and procedures. Always refer to your local authority guidance and relevant statutory frameworks when making practice decisions. Nothing in this podcast constitutes formal legal or professional advice. Lets connect! To book in a free 15 minute chat with me, to talk about training, development, courses or membership email vicki@socialworksorted.com Sign up to my free newsletter Listen to Social Work Sorted Membership Podcast Join the Social Work Sorted Membership on Patreon for CPD & Resources to build your confidence as an early career social worker  Email: vicki@socialworksorted.com LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin  Instagram.com/vickishevlin_ Instagram.com/socialworksorted Youtube.com/@socialworksorted Facebook.com/socialworksorted https://www.patreon.com/socialworksorted Disclaimer Thank you so much for listening.  Please rate, review and share with one other person - it makes such a difference and I really appreciate your support.

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Social Work Sorted is the leading podcast for Newly Qualified Social Workers in the UK. Hosted and produced by Vicki Shevlin, a social worker, trainer, consultant and founder of The Social Work Collective Academy. This is a podcast for social workers and safeguarding professionals who care about skills, knowledge and practice. Fresh, relatable and realistic, Vicki brings her social work experience and unique training approach to bitesize episodes. Guest episodes feature critical conversations with experts from the sector.socialworksorted.com 

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