HOW DOES THE SOCIAL WORK? The podcast that brings the “social” back into social work Hosted by Colleen Simon & Dr. Yohai Hack NEW EPISODE Faith, Attachment, and Authenticity: Challenging Western Norms in Social Care Hosts Colleen Simon and Dr. Yohai Hack sit down with social workers Anstance Fometu and Kabeka Gondwe — both originally from Malawi, famously known as the “warm heart of Africa” — to explore the profound intersection of culture, faith, and professional practice. Together they share their journeys of moving to the UK and navigating the culture shocks of the British social care system, offering a rich, heart-centred perspective on human rights and social justice that is essential listening for social workers, students, and anyone curious about the human experience. In this episode: Faith as a Tool for Advocacy — How spiritual knowledge can educate colleagues and advocate for families whose beliefs are often misunderstood or overlooked by secular systems. Challenging Western Theories — Why Malawian concepts of multiple attachments and communal living offer a necessary critique of traditional Western social work frameworks. Professional Curiosity & Allyship — A call for practitioners to move beyond bias, embrace authenticity, and act as genuine allies within a system that still has far to go. MEET THE GUESTS Miss Kabeka Gondwe — Social Worker · Adults Safeguarding, Northampton Originally from Malawi and now based in the Midlands, Kabeka works within an Adults Safeguarding Team in Northampton, bringing a deeply personal and community-rooted perspective to one of social work’s most demanding specialisms. A member of SSWiM (Social Workers in Mind) and the Race Equality Network, she also serves as an ASYE Moderator, supporting newly qualified social workers as they find their footing in the profession. A committed advocate against domestic violence, Kabeka provides one-to-one support to women navigating the complex legal, emotional, and practical challenges that arise in this area. Her voice holds both professional rigour and compassionate lived experience — making her perspective on culture, faith, and practice particularly powerful. Anstance Fometu — Registered Manager · International Social Work Leader Qualifying as a Social Worker in 2004 with a dual qualification in Learning Disability Nursing, Anstance brings over two decades of cross-sector experience to this conversation. Her career spans secure units supporting autistic children, adult learning disability services, and Complex Case Work for Integrated Care Boards — always centred on those whose needs sit at the intersection of disability, childhood, and complexity. She currently serves as Registered Manager of a children’s home for young people with complex needs and mental health disorders. Beyond frontline practice, Anstance chairs the Children and Families International Foundation (supporting social work development in Malawi), serves as the IFSW Volunteer Elections Representative for Africa, and is Co-Vice Chair of the BASW Diaspora Special Interest Group. She is also co-founder of Diligent Women, a Christian faith community centred on women’s spiritual freedom — a role that speaks directly to this episode’s themes of faith, culture, and advocacy. Two voices from the warm heart of Africa — now shaping social work in the UK and across the world. Tune in now.
