DiscoverSocial Work Sorted with Vicki ShevlinWhat I told a stranger in the park and why it matters for your practice
What I told a stranger in the park and why it matters for your practice

What I told a stranger in the park and why it matters for your practice

Update: 2025-11-12
Share

Description

In this week’s episode, I’m sharing a story that unfolded in my local park — one of those moments where instinct, practice experience, and humanity collided.

After intervening in what appeared to be a domestically abusive situation, I walked away thinking about the one message every child, every adult, and every social worker needs to hear more often:
“It’s not your fault.”

In this episode, I talk about:
 • Why this message matters more than we realise
 • How systems, culture and upbringing shape our silence
 • The tension between speaking up vs staying quiet
 • The role social work skills play when things unfold in real time
 • How we help children (and ourselves) disconnect shame from experience
 • The importance of naming abuse with clarity, confidence and compassion

Inside the Social Work Collective Academy, we’re exploring confidence, regulation and reflective practice through our 12-week Confidence in Practice Journey — and this episode connects deeply to that work.

If you want weekly guidance, bitesize practice support, domestic abuse training, court skills, child protection process refreshers and access to our December Masterclass on OFSTED, you can join the Academy anytime here. 

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

Join The Collective

Ebook Guides

Email: vicki@socialworksorted.com

LinkedIn: Vicki Shevlin

Instagram.com/@vickishevlin_

Youtube.com/@socialworksorted

Facebook.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.

Comments 
In Channel
loading
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

What I told a stranger in the park and why it matters for your practice

What I told a stranger in the park and why it matters for your practice