Care to chat? A podcast from the Northern Ireland Social Care Council

Northern Ireland Social Care Council
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Hosted by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (the Social Care Council), and presented by broadcaster Dr Wendy Austin, this podcast series showcases conversations and interviews with people in the social work and social care community, as well as from across the health and social care system. We discuss things that matter to social workers and social care workers, inform their learning and development, address common questions, and talk about what we can do to best support the safe delivery of quality health and social care in Northern Ireland.

  1. Aug 12

    Internationally qualified social workers – Embracing our common values

    Social work is a global practice with common values and transferable skills – it is a profession that embraces cultural diversity and sees different practice experiences as being a strength for social work practice, including in the Northern Ireland context. This episode is a celebration of that, as ‘Care to chat?’ dedicates a conversation to internationally qualified social workers – both those who are thinking of coming to work in Northern Ireland, those who are already working here and those who support them on their journey to supporting communities.So, who are internationally qualified social workers’ and how come they want to practice social work in Northern Ireland? In the studio with our host Dr Wendy Austin MBE, are Tricia Devlin, Professional Adviser, Northern Ireland Social Care Council, Rosie Fleming, Social Work Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Albert Abraham, Social Worker, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust who is originally from India and Kellie Young, Probation Officer, Probation Board for Northern Ireland, who is a proud Yorta Yorta woman from Yorta Yorta Country in Victoria, Australia.Tips and hints, and things to look out for, are shared, including expert advice from those with experience of becoming registered to work in Northern Ireland.What is clear is the fulfilling work internationally qualified social workers are doing to make a difference for us all.Content warning: The episode deals with sensitive issues related to racism and other forms of discrimination. If this topic raises sensitive or triggering emotions for you, now may not be the right time for you to listen to it. Look after yourself when listening to this and ensure you seek support if you need it.

    Internationally qualified social workers – Embracing our common values

  2. Jul 29

    What social care means to us – Our family’s story

    In each series of ‘Care to chat’ we try and make sure that as part of the conversations we have, we hear the voices of people who use social care or social work services, their families and carers. Many families navigate having care at home for the first time without knowing what to expect. In this special episode we are privileged to hear about one family’s real-life experience of receiving homecare services. Our host Dr Wendy Austin MBE is joined by two daughters (Janeen Stevenson and Deena Nimick) talk about their experience of social care supporting their mum (Edna, now passed) and 91-year-old dad Jim Gordon, to remain at home together when they both needed care. Joining them is Hayley Todd, from the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust’s Home Care Team, that supported both Edna and Jim. At its heart this is a love story, which hopefully will help other families that find themselves in similar situations, ensure the right care is put in place to support a loved one. Listen to find out more!

    What social care means to us – Our family’s story

  3. Jul 15

    Talking care – understanding children’s social care

    Social care is only for older people isn’t it? Well that’s not the case – good social care can also be transformative and change the lives of children and young people. While social care is often associated with supporting older people, this conversation shines a spotlight on the dedicated professionals working within children’s services, helping young people stay safe, healthy and connected. From family support and disability services to residential care, early intervention and therapeutic work, the panel discusses the impact of children’s social care. In this episode of ‘Care to chat’, host Wendy Austin explores the vital role of social care practitioners working with children, young people and families across Northern Ireland. She talks guests from Positive Futures and the Southern Health and Social Care Trust on why they decided to work in children’s social care and they their work is so important. Tune in to be inspired.

    Talking care – understanding children’s social care

  4. Jul 1

    ‘Road to development’ – career development in social care

    In previous episodes we have followed the conception of the Care in Practice Framework (the CiP Framework), and the introduction of a brand-new level 2 qualification: Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice. Much work across the sector has meant that this area of social care workforce reform is now showing the impact of these changes. Finding a passion in social care as a career is something over 42,000 people in Northern Ireland are already doing. We welcome Paul Rooney, Professional Officer, Social Care Council, Drew Smiley, Social Care Manager, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (Belfast Trust), John Muldoon, social care practitioner and Assistant Manager, Extern, Afonso Afonso, Homecare Operational Manager, Belfast Trust and Lyndsey Collins, Reablement Support Worker, Belfast Trust – all sharing their real-life insights, best practices, and career development tips and experiences of progression.  They talk about what they have noticed has changed in the last few years in terms of career development and progression, the impact of the new Level 2 qualification for individuals and for the broader system, reinforcing that social care is a meaningful, values-based career that can be a lifelong profession.

    ‘Road to development’ – career development in social care

  5. Jun 10

    The future of homecare

    What are the next generation of homecare services going to look like and how homecare support people in communities to thrive at home? These questions and more are addressed in this episode of ‘Care to Chat’ as part of an important discussion to have right now as the population in Northern Ireland ages, requiring more complex care in the community and more families are facing the reality of a loved one requiring care. At the same time our health and social care system is transforming through the Department of Health’s Reset Plan and move to a Neighbourhood model of care. This will mean shifting services from hospitals to local communities, with social care, in particular homecare (which some people know as domiciliary care), becoming a vital vehicle for this change. Joining our host Dr Wendy Austin MBE in the studio are Paul Rooney, Professional Advisor, Social Care Council, Linda Chapman, Home Care Supervisor and Katrina Ferran, Home Care Manager, with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, and Ryan Williams Chief Executive, Connected Health. Interested in hearing more? If you are a social care practitioner, and organisation who employs social care practitioners, or a policymaker, this will be of interest to you.

    The future of homecare

  6. May 27

    Why becoming a trauma informed organisation matters

    Tune in on Wednesday 27 May 2026 for the launch of the fourth season of our popular Social Care Council ‘Care to chat’ podcast with Dr Wendy Austin MBE returning as host to help tell stories important to the social work and social care workforce. We start with a special episode focused on what it means to be a trauma-informed organisation with participants who have had different trauma-informed approach journeys, some with a lifetime of experience to share, others involved in supporting this key change across Northern Ireland and from social workers who are bringing a trauma-informed approach to life within their own organisations. For those new to the term, it may sound jargonistic or too aspirational for the realities of daily practice but the opposite is true, it is an approach that seeks in an intentional way to understand, recognise and respond to the impact of trauma, to create safe and enabling environments for those we work with. There are lots of small steps that can be taken to work in a trauma informed way, this episode of 'Care to chat' will break it all down for you.

    Why becoming a trauma informed organisation matters

  7. 10/08/2025

    How social work is supporting diverse communities in Northern Ireland

    The 2025 ‘Care to chat?’ podcast concludes with a very special story. One area of social work practice we don’t often hear about is community development.   We hear in the news about ethnic minorities, people seeking asylum and migrants in our communities – but there are real people behind these stories and it’s important to hear and really listen to what they have to say.  Host Dr Wendy Austin MBE is joined by Megan who from Iran and seeking asylum in Northern Ireland whose named has been anonymised to protect her identify, supported by interpreter Mehdi Hooshmand, Clare McGrath, Principal Practitioner for Ethnic Minorities and New Entrants, Northern Health and Social Care Trust, and Christine Dunlop, a community volunteer from the Presbyterian church, who helped to welcome Megan to Northern Ireland.  In this emotional final episode, our panel together explain how we need to greet people seeking asylum with compassion rather than fear, and the real people who together support people seeking safety, whilst challenging the misinformation and perceptions of people seeking asylum in our community – and instead see the talents and diversity they bring.  An episode not to be missed!  An end to another great season of Care to chat!   A big thank you to all the Social Care Council ‘Care to chat?’ podcast listeners for your continued support We will return with lots more important conversations in social care and social work in 2026. Have an idea for a future episode? Contact us on comms@niscc.hscni.net with your suggestions.      Download, subscribe and listen to this episode and previous Episodes today here, or by searching ‘Care to chat’ in your podcast player.

    How social work is supporting diverse communities in Northern Ireland

  8. 09/24/2025

    Embrace the stretch - Professional in Practice (PiP) - Supporting social workers to learn and develop

    The nature of social work practice is challenging and complex, therefore it is important to support professional development. So what does this look like in Northern Ireland?  One of the reasons the Care to chat podcast began was to make content that helps inform, educate and develop social workers and social care practitioners. This episode focusses on social workers and their learning and development and one core tenant of this – the Professional in Practice Framework, otherwise known as the PiP Framework.  This internationally unique Framework has been supporting post-qualifying training for social workers in Northern Ireland for over 20 years and this episode explains what it is and why it is such a major priority for the profession.  Podcast host Dr Wendy Austin MBE is joined by Gillian McAuley, Professional Advisor, Northern Ireland Social Care Council, who helps support the PiP Framework, Annie McAnallen, Probation Officer, Probation Board for Northern Ireland, who has completed a number of PiP programmes and Marita Magennis, Assistant Director, Southern Health and Social Care Trust, a senior experienced social work, and who is passionate about PiP from the employer perspective.  Guests take us through their understanding about the PiP Framework’s management, the importance of an employer’s commitment to making it work, what can support candidates through it and the overall benefits of participating in a PiP programme intended (additional skills and practice development) and not intended (friendship, networking, career long support and increasing resilience).

    Embrace the stretch - Professional in Practice (PiP) - Supporting social workers to learn and develop
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About

Hosted by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (the Social Care Council), and presented by broadcaster Dr Wendy Austin, this podcast series showcases conversations and interviews with people in the social work and social care community, as well as from across the health and social care system. We discuss things that matter to social workers and social care workers, inform their learning and development, address common questions, and talk about what we can do to best support the safe delivery of quality health and social care in Northern Ireland.

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