Care to chat? A podcast from the Northern Ireland Social Care Council – Details, episodes & analysis

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

Northern Ireland Social Care Council

Government

Frequency: 1 episode/29d. Total Eps: 47

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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Data updated on 15/09/2026

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Score global : 37%

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Guiding them home - Relationships in social work and social care

Season 4 · Episode 8

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 • Duration 39:26

Talking about death and dying isn’t easy, however it’s an important conversation to have that can make all the difference for individuals and families.

As part of Palliative Care Week (6-12 September 2026) we are releasing the latest episode of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council’s ‘Care to Chat?’ podcast. The theme of ‘It’s Not What You Think’ fits well with the discussion.

Our host Dr Wendy Austin MBE explores one of the most sensitive yet important conversations in health and social care – focussing on palliative care, death and dying.

Joined by Professor Audrey Roulston, Queen’s University Belfast, Aislinn Delaney, Northern Ireland Hospice, Rosena Robinson, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and Fiona Somers from Voices for Care, they discuss how honest communication, compassionate care and person-centred planning can help people live as well as possible following a life-limiting diagnosis.

The episode offers valuable insight for social work and social care professionals, while also providing reassurance and practical guidance for anyone supporting someone with a life-limiting illness or planning for future care.

Want to learn more? Listen to the episode now.

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Violence against women and girls – Conversations that count

Season 4 · Episode 7

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 • Duration 41:18

How do you start to break down the complexities of what violence against women and girls means in Northern Ireland, in particular for the social work and social care workforce?

In this podcast, Dr Wendy Austin MBE talks to experts to unpack what violence against women and girls looks like, its impacts and what can be done to address it, starting with the basics – and hopefully by the end listeners will know a little more about how to play a part by starting ‘Conversations that count.’

Influential voices sharing their perspectives include Anne Marks, Independent Chair of Domestic Homicide Reviews, Sheila Simons, Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI), Tracy Reid, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland and Social Care Council and Sonya McMullan, Regional Services Manager, Women's Aid Northern Ireland.

Through a thoughtful conversation for each of us, this episode explores ideas, insights and their hopes for a safer future through cross-sector approach to prevention, response and recovery.

For those who can see where violence is happening, including social workers and social care practitioners, whether they work with adults, older people or children and young people, it’s important to know what to do or say back to someone who they see is being harmed, and also what to do if they themselves are a victim.

Want to find out more? Listen to this podcast where it is clear we all have a collective responsibility to do better and provide across sector services to tackle this as one.

Content warning: The Care to chat podcast offers a safe space where we can discuss important topics with experts and those with lived experience. This podcast episode contains discussions about violence against women and girls and domestic violence and we advise listener discretion as this can be a sensitive discussion to listen to for some. We will be listing a number of resources at the end of the episode if you or someone you know requires support. For support please call the domestic and sexual abuse helpline is open 24/7 every day. Call 0808 802 1414 and in an emergency dial 999.

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Internationally qualified social workers – Embracing our common values

Season 4 · Episode 6

Wednesday, August 12, 2026 • Duration 39:39

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.

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

Season 4 · Episode 5

Wednesday, July 29, 2026 • Duration 33:01

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!

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Talking care – understanding children’s social care

Season 4 · Episode 4

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 • Duration 36:17

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.

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‘Road to development’ – career development in social care

Season 4 · Episode 3

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 • Duration 45:32

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.

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The future of homecare

Season 4 · Episode 2

Wednesday, June 10, 2026 • Duration 43:54

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.

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Why becoming a trauma informed organisation matters

Season 4 · Episode 1

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 • Duration 35:03

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.

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How social work is supporting diverse communities in Northern Ireland

Season 3 · Episode 11

Wednesday, October 8, 2025 • Duration 31:26

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 , or by searching ‘Care to chat’ in your podcast player.

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

Season 3 · Episode 10

Wednesday, September 24, 2025 • Duration 30:41

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).

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Care to chat? A podcast from the Northern Ireland Social Care Council – Details, episodes & analysis

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Care to chat? A podcast from the Northern Ireland Social Care Council – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other14

UK government2

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other14

UK government2

Apple Podcasts

Spotify