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© 2025 Dr Sylvia B Smith
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Welcome to Social Workers Matter with Dr Sylvia Smith, where we explore the realities and celebrate the successes of social work practice, management and education.
A few words from Dr. Sylvia on her background and Social Workers Matter
I began my social work career at 16yrs old when I embarked on my first training course in social care. I now have over 35yrs of experience in social work; practice, leadership/management and education. Bringing a wealth of knowledge, skills and passion to my work and I want to convey these attributes in my Social Workers Matter podcast.
I am passionate about 'reclaiming social work' and will be exploring the realities and celebrating the successes in this profession.
I invite you to join my guests and me for insightful discussions, sharing of professional experiences and much, much wisdom in all things social work. If you're thinking about joining the profession, are newly qualified practitioners or a seasoned professional, this podcast is for you.
102 Episodes
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Welcome to this new episode of Social Workers Matter, my guest today is Antonia Amja Lee where creativity meets resilience and empowerment! Join us as we dive into Amja’s inspiring journey —a self-taught artist and motivational speaker who has transformed her life through art after overcoming the shadows of domestic abuse. In today’s episode, Amja introduces her innovative framework, the Self-Soothing Creative Steps, and shares how creativity can be a powerful catalyst for personal grow...
In Conversation with Professor Prospera Tedam SFHEA Join me for an inspiring conversation with the remarkable Professor Prospera Tedam, from the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice at University College Dublin. Professor Tedam takes us on a journey through her career spanning both academia and frontline practice, sharing insights which are sure to resonate with social work professionals, students, and those passionate about social justice. Professor T...
In conversation with Dr Andrea J. Boudreaux, a seasoned physician with a wealth of experience, she shares her insights on the pressing challenges within the U.S. healthcare system. In this thought-provoking episode, we dive into themes like trust, resilience, and the urgent need for change. Dr Boudreaux doesn’t shy away from discussing the stark realities of a broken system that often fails marginalised communities. Yet, amidst the challenges, she remains hopeful, embodying the spirit of a p...
This is episode 101 of SWM, and Psychotherapist Hugh Mayers is our special guest. In our conversation, Hugh shares details about his career, and we take a deeper dive into his interesting work with young men at HM Prison Feltham following a difficult period, as well as his work with several school Pupil Referral Units and his meaningful therapeutic work with young Black boys. Hugh can be found on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and X, he hosts his own community radio talk show @https:/...
Celebrating 100 episodes of SWM, whoop whoop! 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽🎤 Here is the interview my friend and colleague, the lovely Sharon Jennings, did with me when the 5th Anniversary arrived. Do share your feedback at: adosylv@gmail.com Follow us on social media: https://www.facebook.com/groups/412169436067530 Subscribe and leave a review to help us reach more listeners! Join us and remember—social workers matter! Website: www.inclinetrainingconsultants.co See omnystudio.c...
'We are giving Back' - Safeguarding in the Caribbean D. Aleski Brandy-Williams and his Team D. Aleski Brandy-Williams is a qualified Social worker and the CEO of Brandy-Williams Ltd. He is the author of the book 'My Journey to Becoming a Black Male Social Worker.' In this podcast, we discuss his career, how he found social work, the value he places on contextual safeguarding practice and, importantly, a colossal undertaking he and his team have embarked upon in St Kitts and Nevis. ...
In this insightful episode of "Social Workers Matter," Dr. Sylvia B. Smith engages with Denise Harvey and Arlene P. Weekes as they share their recent collaboration on the book "Effective Personal and Professional Judgment in Social Work." Throughout the episode, the authors explore the complexities of decision-making in social work and the broader application of the concepts in other sectors. Listeners will learn about the significance of Arlene’s decision-making t...
Welcome to Episode 97 of "Social Workers Matter"! Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with two remarkable colleagues, Shabnam Ahmed and Jo Williams, who are not only dear friends but also passionate advocates for transformative supervision practice. They bring with them a wealth of experience and insight, having contributed to the newly released second edition of "The Anti-Racist Social Worker in Practice," edited by Nimal, Jude, Tanya Moore, and Glory Simango. In this episode, we'll dive...
Anna from Florida State University (FSU) completed her final Social Work placement at Doctors of the World. She was here for four months, and I met with her regularly as her long-term supervisor. We used this episode as an end-of-placement reflection session. Anna shared what she learned about the organisation, the work, and herself. She intends to complete her Master's in Social Work upon returning to the US and feels her experience in the UK has potentially equipped her for an international...
In this episode, we sit down with Carlene Firmin, an influential sociology figure and a youth violence specialist. Carlene shares her career trajectory, highlighting the pivotal moments and experiences that shaped her as a researcher. She emphasises the significance of mentorship and strong leadership in her professional growth and development, offering valuable lessons. She discusses contextual safeguarding, which she developed from her PhD research. This innovative approach emp...
Welcome to the 94th episode of SWM! In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with the outstanding Jazz Browne, CEO of the Nubian Life Resource Day Centre, a provision for Black and Asian elders. Jazz is a passionate community activist with deep roots in her neighbourhood. She shares her journey and how she arrived at Nubian Life, where she leads a dedicated and joyful team that continues providing essential services to the community despite facing significant financial challenges. Th...
In this captivating episode of *Social Workers Matter*, we sit down with Professor Frank Keating, a prominent figure in social work and mental health. Frank, who recently retired from his role at Royal Holloway University of London, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our discussion. Key Highlights: A Pragmatist's Perspective: Frank shares his unique approach to writing and academia, emphasizing that he only writes when he has something meaningful to convey. Career Journey: Disc...
Join us for an inspiring episode as we sit down with Natalie, the dynamic founder of Social Life, on a crisp Friday morning. What began as a chilly start quickly became a heartfelt conversation that warmed us up. Natalie shares her career journey and passion for empowering newly qualified and seasoned social work practitioners. Through her consultancy, Social Life, she is dedicated to helping teams and organisations gain a profound understanding of the impact upon the self of pr...
A short episode recorded partly during my gym workout session—some final reflections for 2024. Next year is my 40th Anniversary of being a qualified social worker; what a ride! I will be marking this milestone for sure.............. Happy New Year and Peace! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In episode 90 of SWM, I talk with Andrez Harriott, the Founder and CEO of The Liminality Group. TLG's primary task is to prevent and reduce offending among children and young adults aged 10-15. They support health and well-being services within secure estates by delivering integrated models of care to children remanded or sentenced through bespoke psychologically informed programmes. TLG also provides training and leadership consultancy to organisations and professionals across health, justic...
In today’s episode, I'm in conversation with the passionate and extraordinary Meave Darroux, founder and CEO of Brilliant Parents. Brilliant Parents run parenting classes supporting families across the capital and beyond. Their work also specialises in programmes for children in their early years and young people. BP supports families by introducing new parenting techniques to help them deal with challenging behaviour in their children, from toddler to teenager. Early intervention in th...
Nimal, Arlene, and I, members of the Anti-Racism Movement subgroup, discuss the Social Work Awards 2024 and our feelings following our win. We also share information about our forthcoming conference on 22/11/24 - entitled ICU. Tickets and more information can be found here; https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/icu-or-i-see-you-annual-national-conference-from-the-anti-racist-movement-tickets-1007943996627?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discov...
**Overview:** In this episode, we conclude our insightful discussions with Dr. Agnes Bryan, focusing on Chapter 7 of her forthcoming book manuscript, which delves into the complex themes of race and racism. **Key Discussion Points:** - **Navigating Difficult Conversations:** Strategies for addressing racism and the importance of positional theory. - **Empathy and Emotional Intelligence:** The roles of compassion and understanding in challenging dialogues. - **Conflict in Relationships:** Exp...
In our last interview before the summer break, #DrAgnesBryan takes an even deeper dive into the role of the anti-racist facilitator/trainer in supporting transformation. She touches on the emotionality of the space, the feelings of the parties involved, and the need to keep moving forward through relationship-building and increasing our political savvy to promote understanding of the context in which race, racism, and discrimination are difficult to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener ...
On the 5th Anniversary of The Social Workers Matter Podcast, Dr Sylvia is interviewed by Academic, writer and coach Ms Sharon Jennings. Sylvia and Sharon discussed various aspects of Sylvia's life and career, including her interests, her approach to work, and her personal and professional journey regarding anti-racism. Additional discussion topics included Sylvia's Interests and Approach to Work, Anti-Racism Journeys and Collective Wisdom, Black African Women's Experiences and Legacy Preserv...
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