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. How social work is supporting diverse communities in Northern Ireland

    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.

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

    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).

    31 min
  3. Research into practice in social work and social care

    09/10/2025

    Research into practice in social work and social care

    Would you like to do something that makes a difference? Research is certainly one option you could consider. But what is social work and social care research and why is it important? In this episode in the ‘Care to chat’ 2025 podcast series, a panel of experts have a lively conversation about how social workers and social care practitioners can build and maintain an evidence base to support their work. Our host Dr Wendy Austin MBE speaks to experienced academics and professional voices, Anne McGlade, Social Care Research Lead, Northern Ireland Social Care Council, Professor Paula McFadden, Professor of Social Work, School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences, Ulster University, Maria Flannagan, Senior Social Work Practitioner, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and Lisa Morrison, Lisa Morrison Consultancy. Ideal for students, practitioners, researchers or anyone interested in social work and social care, it looks at the importance of an evidence-based approach for people who access services and how evidence plays an important role in social work and social care practice, how evidenced-based practice can improve outcomes for services and communities and the resources and opportunities available to potential students, including people with lived experience and professionals to start their research journey.

    41 min
  4. Learning and development – getting to know your Learning Zone

    08/27/2025

    Learning and development – getting to know your Learning Zone

    Continuous professional learning and development is crucial in social work and social care to ensure practitioners maintain competency, adapt to evolving knowledge and best practices, progress in their careers and deliver effective services and better outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.   This podcast focusses on the Northern Ireland Social Care Council’s Learning Zone, which is one of the biggest things it provides to those who register with them as the regulator for social workers and social care practitioners.   A panel of experts discuss the Learning Zone as host Dr Wendy Austin MBE sits down with, Laura Moffett, Manager, Mental Health and Learning Disability, Northern Health and Social Trust, Suzanne Cunningham, Assistant Director, Children’s Services, RQIA and Mairead Harkin, Workforce Development Officer who leads digital Learning for the Social Care Council.  Hearing from Mairead who manages the Learning Zone, Suzanne who has been involved in using and developing resources for it and Laura who encourages her staff to access and use in to improve them practice, this discussion is an opportunity to bring depth to the conversation around why he Learning Zone as an innovative learning experience for the social work and social care workforce.   The Learning Zone is packed full of tools, inspiration, stories advice, and resources for the social work and social care workforce – check it out now and continue your own learning journey: learningzone.niscc.info.

    32 min
  5. Wellbeing and support for social workers – Taking care of yourself, to take care of others

    08/13/2025

    Wellbeing and support for social workers – Taking care of yourself, to take care of others

    Maintaining physical, mental, and emotional health is vital for everyone, but it’s particularly important for those working in caring professions, like social workers, who are often called upon to be resilient. Developing mindfulness, accessing support and selfcare practice is essential for preventing professional burnout for social workers. Does there need to be a cultural change in the social work profession? Many in practice are used to getting into hero mode to help other people, but the question is are they looking after themselves. There are several ways they can do this, and interventions and supports available to ensure they can take care of themselves so they can take care of others. Want to hear more? In this episode Dr Wendy Austin MBE sits down with Dr Alan Maddock, Lecturer, Dept of Health Psychology, School of Population Health, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Jeananne Jackson, Senior Social Worker, Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Carolyn Ewart, National Director, BASW NI and Janine Gordon, Divisional Social Worker, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. Remember it’s okay not to feel okay. Taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.

    40 min
  6. Calling it Out – Diversity and Racism in the Social Care and Social Work Workforce

    07/30/2025

    Calling it Out – Diversity and Racism in the Social Care and Social Work Workforce

    Racism is never acceptable in any form and when we hear about it happening to those people who support the most vulnerable in our community, it seems all the more appalling. Why do we need a diverse social work and social care workforce, and how can we ensure we protect those who are part of it? These are some of the big questions guiding this episode of the Care to Chat podcast.    In this captivating episode titled “Calling it out – Diversity and Racism in the Social Care and Social Work Workforce”, we welcome inspiring experts who have unique and relevant experiences and understanding of this complex issue, including why a diverse workforce is a strength and how important it is to do the work to ensure employers are able to support their staff when this happens.      In the studio with our host Dr Wendy Austin MBE, are qualified nurse Beverly Simpson, Co-chair of the Black and Migrant Workers Group in UNISON NI, Ineke Houtenbos, Senior Safeguarding Training Consultant and  the chair of the Black Worker Support Group, NSPCC, Aine Morrison, Chief Social Worker, Department of Health and John Patrick Clayton, Head of Bargaining and Representation, UNISON NI.  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.

    53 min
  7. Social care practitioners going above and beyond – Emily and Margaret’s supported living story

    07/16/2025

    Social care practitioners going above and beyond – Emily and Margaret’s supported living story

    Home is where the heart is. That is no truer than during this week’s podcast. Would you have associated a housing association with social care services? Dr Wendy Austin MBE guides the conversation in this episode to cover a variety of perspectives and insights into the world of supported living, disability housing and social care. She covers topics like…what is supported living? Why is it important? What is it like for those who live in supported living housing? And how come most of us don’t know that housing associations, like Triangle Housing, provide it as part of their social care services to the community – well at least until we might need them. What is clear to see is that individual housing choices, such as supported living, are a lifeline for many across Northern Ireland empowering people with a disability to plan where they live and call home. How can we help more people with disabilities live more inclusive lives in the community? Listen to find out!

    29 min
  8. ‘Recognising our worth’ – new developments in social care career progression

    07/02/2025

    ‘Recognising our worth’ – new developments in social care career progression

    The professionals who work in social care come from a wide range of backgrounds and work in a range of different settings which can be challenging and demanding. It is also true to say that there is an increasing complexity in the needs of the people they support. This means ensuring there is a well-led, skilled and valued social care workforce in place, is even more important. In this week’s ‘Care to chat?’ podcast we hear about what is happening to support this right now in Northern Ireland with significant developments underway, including the Department for Health’s (DoH) new Social Care Workforce Strategy and the Care in Practice (CiP) Framework. Dr Wendy Austin MBE hears from Ricy D’Cruz, a Care Assistant with Macklin Care Homes, Norah Christie, Head of Operations at Praxis Care, Mervyn Bothwell, a Professional Adviser with the Social Care Council and Jane McMillan, who is a Professional Social Work Officer, Office of Social Services at the Department of Health. They talk about their experiences and understanding of the new Care in Practice Framework (first of its kind) which has been designed to support social care practitioners to develop professionally by providing two interlinked pathways and the creation of a brand-new level 2 qualification. These reforms are a good news story of transformation taking place across health and social care.

    39 min
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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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