Explore every episode of the podcast Care Visions Talks
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helping Young People Navigate Pornography, Misogyny & the Manosphere with Gael Cochrane | Care Visions Family Talk | 08 Dec 2025 | 01:05:40 | |
In this episode of Family Talk, Linda de Caestecker speaks with Gael Cochrane, Learning, Development and Innovation Lead at Community Justice Scotland, about how pornography and the online manosphere are shaping young people’s attitudes, relationships and wellbeing. They explore early exposure to online pornography, the influence of misogynistic online communities and figures such as Andrew Tate, and the normalisation of violent sexual content in teenage relationships. The discussion focuses on what parents, carers and grandparents can do in response. From setting boundaries around devices and using parental controls to having open conversations about consent, respect and healthy relationships, this episode offers practical guidance for adults supporting children in a digital world. A frank but hopeful conversation about raising young people in an online culture shaped by pornography, social media and shifting ideas about masculinity. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Poverty, Phones and the Future of Childhood | Mary Glasgow | Care Visions Family Talk | 21 Nov 2025 | 01:00:58 | |
Family Talk is part of Care Visions Talks, a UK podcast exploring the real issues affecting children, young people and families. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Family Talk - Understanding Sextortion & Protecting Young People with Lyndsay McDade | 01 Aug 2025 | 00:57:13 | |
In this powerful and open conversation hosted by Care Visions Family Talk, Dr Linda de Caestecker spoke with Lyndsay McDade, Fearless Lead at Crimestoppers Scotland, about the growing threat of sextortion — a form of online blackmail increasingly targeting young people. Together, they tackled the fear, shame, and silence surrounding this issue, with the goal of equipping parents and carers to better protect the young people in their lives. Lyndsay brought over 20 years of experience in the third sector and a deep commitment to youth-led work to the discussion. Since launching Crimestoppers' youth service Fearless in Scotland in 2016, she has championed lived experience and meaningful youth co-production. Over the past year, she led the development of a nationwide campaign on sextortion, which reached millions across youth-focused platforms and provided dedicated resources for both young people and the adults who support them. This session explored:
Listeners came away with a greater understanding of how to respond to this threat with confidence and compassion, as well as insight into a vital campaign making a real impact across Scotland. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Family Talk - Understanding & Responding to Childhood Aggression with Carly Kingswood | 28 Jul 2025 | 00:56:33 | |
Why do distressed young people sometimes become aggressive or violent? In this powerful conversation, Lucy Johnston talks with Carly Kingswood – Attachment and Trauma Therapist, DDP Practitioner, former foster carer, and co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Therapeutic Parenting for Childhood Aggression and Violence – about the underlying reasons for violent behaviour and how caregivers can respond with empathy and skill. Together, they explore the complex biological, psychological, and environmental factors that can lead to aggression in children, from trauma and disrupted attachment to challenges with emotional regulation. Carly shares practical, therapeutic strategies for de-escalating difficult situations, rebuilding trust after conflict, and creating safer, more connected relationships with young people in distress. This episode offers compassionate, evidence-based guidance for foster carers, parents, and anyone raising or supporting young people, helping listeners move beyond fear and frustration to truly understand the needs driving challenging behaviours. About our Guest: About our Host: Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Professional Talk - Trauma Responsive Practice, Challenges and Opportunities with Richard Cross | 28 Jul 2025 | 01:00:54 | |
In this in-depth conversation, Humphrey Hawksley sits down with Richard Cross to explore the principles and application of trauma responsive practice — an approach that goes beyond simply being “trauma-informed” to actively embedding compassion, understanding, and responsiveness into professional care. Richard shares his insights on the lasting impact of trauma on children, families, and communities, and discusses how professionals can adapt their practice to meet people where they are. They examine the emotional demands of frontline work, the need for reflective spaces, and how organisations can create cultures that prioritise resilience, empathy, and safe, supportive relationships. This episode offers practical guidance for professionals across social care, residential care, fostering, education, and health, providing tools and reflections to help embed trauma responsive practice in everyday work. If you want to deepen your understanding of trauma, learn how to integrate trauma responsive principles into your organisation, and discover ways to sustain yourself and your team in challenging roles, this conversation is a must-listen. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Family Talk - ADHD and Trauma, Preventing Negative Cycles with Professor Helen Minnis | 07 Jul 2025 | 01:05:12 | |
Family Talk Live: ADHD, Trauma and the Young Mind Caring for a child with ADHD brings energy, individuality, and challenge - and when trauma is also part of their story, the path can feel even more complicated. If you've ever found yourself stuck in a loop, wondering how best to support a young person in your care, this episode was made for you. In this special edition of Care Visions Family Talk Live, we welcomed Professor Helen Minnis (University of Glasgow) to explore how trauma and neurodiversity intersect, and to share practical, research-informed approaches for supporting young people with complex needs. About our guest: Helen also leads behavioural genetic studies investigating the role of abuse and neglect in the context of neurodevelopment across the life-course. Her collaborative work spans institutions including King’s College London, the Universities of Aalborg and Aarhus in Denmark, and the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden. Hosted by: Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Family Talk - Navigating Online Misogyny, Influencers & Identity in Adolescence with Professor Harriet Over | 23 Jun 2025 | 00:52:05 | |
Raising children today means guiding them through an online world that changes rapidly. In this episode of Care Visions Family Talk, we explored a growing digital trend every carer should understand. Some online spaces aimed at boys and young men promise brotherhood and belonging, but also promote unhealthy and extreme ideas about gender, relationships, and identity. These spaces can be confusing and harmful, especially for teenagers who are still shaping their sense of self. Professor Harriet Over, a psychologist from the University of York, joined Dr Linda de Caestecker to unpack how carers could recognise harmful online influences and support young people in navigating them. Together, they covered:
About our guest: About our host: This episode formed part of Care Visions Family Talks – a one-hour online interview series profiling expert work in child development, followed by audience Q&A. These talks aim to share valuable insights from professionals with foster carers, parents, and anyone raising young people. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Family Talk - Protecting Young People From Harmful Online Content with Professor Alexis Jay and Lyndsay McDade | 12 Jun 2025 | 01:00:40 | |
Recorded live at The Grange Manor in Grangemouth, this powerful panel discussion explored how exploitation is evolving in today’s digital world. Whether you work with young people, are raising children through uncertain times, or simply want to deepen your understanding, this conversation offered vital insight. Exploitation in 2025 isn’t always visible. It can occur through a screen, behind closed doors, or in plain sight. From exposure to pornography and online grooming, to coercion via social media and peer pressure, young people are facing risks previous generations could hardly imagine. Hosted by public health expert Dr Linda de Caestecker, the panel featured:
Together, they unpacked the current landscape of online exploitation, how it manifests, and what practical steps we can take to better support and protect the young people in our lives. What we covered:
This episode is part of Care Visions’ commitment to raising awareness and empowering communities to take action. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Professional Talk - Reflections on a Life in Child Care with John Whitwel | 11 Jun 2025 | 01:04:22 | |
In this thoughtful and reflective conversation, author and broadcaster Humphrey Hawksley spoke with John Whitwell about his remarkable career in child care and therapeutic practice. John began his work at the pioneering Cotswold Community, becoming its Principal in 1985. During his time there, he worked alongside influential figures such as Richard Balbernie, Barbara Dockar-Drysdale, and Isabel Menzies Lyth, helping to shape therapeutic residential care for children. He later became Managing Director of the UK’s first independent fostering agency, Integrated Services Programme, where he developed therapeutic approaches within family settings. A qualified Group Psychotherapist, John has also contributed as a trustee for Gloucester Counselling Service, the Planned Environment Trust, and the Mulberry Bush Organisation. This episode explored:
Listeners were also invited to reflect on John's deep experience and personal journey, offering valuable insights into how children’s wellbeing and recovery from trauma can be supported across different care contexts. Who was this for? About our host: Humphrey Hawksley Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Family Talk - Supporting Your Child Through Separation and Divorce with Sue Atkins | 09 Jun 2025 | 00:55:54 | |
Separation and divorce often felt like an emotional whirlwind, not just for parents but for children too. As parents, we tried to shield our children from hurt while helping them make sense of the changes unfolding around them. It was a delicate balance that could easily feel overwhelming. In this episode of Care Visions Family Talk, Linda de Caestecker spoke with Sue Atkins, a parenting coach, broadcaster and best-selling author, to explore how we could support children through the challenges of separation and divorce. With over 35 years of experience as a parenting coach and Deputy Headteacher, Sue had been a guiding light for countless families navigating tough times. Many recognised her from ITV’s This Morning, Good Morning Britain or BBC Radio, where she shared heartfelt, practical advice to help parents support their children in building resilience and finding stability during periods of change. Sue was also the creator of the award-winning Divorce Journal for Kids, a thoughtful resource designed to help children process their feelings around divorce. She had written several books, including Parenting Made Easy – How to Raise Happy Children, offering compassionate guidance to parents on starting difficult conversations and creating a nurturing environment. Whether you had experienced separation yourself or wanted to support someone who had, this conversation offered warmth and practical advice to help families move forward together. Tune in to listen, connect and support one another. More information on Sue and her extensive work was available via her website: Sue Atkins The Parenting Coach Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Professional Talk - What We Fear Most – A Conversation on Trauma, Psychiatry, and the Human Condition with Dr Humphrey Needham-Bennett | 09 Jun 2025 | 01:01:22 | |
Podcast Episode: What We Fear Most – A Conversation on Trauma, Psychiatry, and the Human Condition In this powerful live-recorded conversation, broadcaster and author Humphrey Hawksley spoke with Dr Humphrey Needham-Bennett, forensic psychiatrist and author of the critically acclaimed book What We Fear Most (written under the pen name Ben Cave). Together, they explored the human condition through the lens of someone who has worked closely with individuals often seen as beyond society’s understanding. The discussion offered a moving, compelling, and at times challenging insight into the world of forensic psychiatry, shaped by Dr Needham-Bennett’s decades of experience in prisons and secure hospitals. Listeners heard reflections on:
This episode was designed for anyone interested in bringing greater humanity into human services and was particularly relevant to professionals in social work, healthcare, social care, criminal justice, and community support. About our guest: Dr Humphrey Needham-Bennett About our host: Humphrey Hawksley Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Family Talk - Trauma Informed Parenting - Understanding and Applying PACE to Build Connection and Healing with Edwina Grant | 08 Jun 2025 | 01:01:50 | |
In this insightful episode of Family Talk, Independent Chartered Psychologist Edwina Grant sat down with Dr Linda de Caestecker, Public Health Doctor, and David King, Supervising Social Worker and PACE trainer, to explore how the PACE model—Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy—can transform relationships with children who have experienced stress or trauma. Designed for parents and caregivers, this online event offered a compassionate, trauma-informed approach to nurturing emotional regulation, trust, and healing. Children who face emotional challenges often carry feelings of shame and mistrust, which can shape their behaviours and relationships. PACE provides a brain-based, relational framework that supports safe and secure connections while fostering understanding and resilience. In this session, listeners learned how to:
By focusing on the child’s internal experience rather than just outward behaviours, PACE helps to reduce conflict, build trust, and promote lasting connection. About our guest: Edwina Grant is an Independent Chartered Psychologist with over 30 years of experience working with children and families across residential, therapeutic, and local authority settings. She currently provides assessments, training, consultancy, and therapeutic support through both statutory and voluntary organisations. Edwina is also a Trustee of Scottish Attachment in Action (www.scottishattachmentinaction.org), a charity dedicated to promoting secure attachment across Scotland and influencing positive change in social policy, education, and mental health. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Professional Talk - Nurturing Belonging to Enable Becoming: The Value of Social Pedagogy in Residential Child Care with Associate Professor Yvalia Febrer | 13 Nov 2025 | 01:00:18 | |
Host: Humphrey Hawksley
Episode Summary: They discuss the roots of social pedagogy, its practical value for teams, and how it empowers both carers and young people to learn, grow, and flourish together. Listen to explore:
A rich, reflective conversation that reminds us: care is not just what we do — it’s how we connect. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| What Shapes Who We Are? Brain, Behaviour & Society with Iain McGilchrist | 07 Jun 2025 | 01:02:17 | |
In this episode of Care Visions Talks, journalist Humphrey Hawksley is joined by psychiatrist, neuroscientist and author Iain McGilchrist for a wide-ranging conversation on what shapes human experience, behaviour and culture. Drawing on themes from The Matter with Things, Iain explores how attention changes what we perceive, why modern life can feel disconnected, and how meaning, community and our relationship with nature influence wellbeing. In this conversation, we cover:
Guest: Iain McGilchrist Follow Care Visions Talks and listen to more episodes: Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Family Talk - Caring For Yourself As A Parent with Caroline Penney | 07 Jun 2025 | 01:00:34 | |
In this heartfelt episode of Care Visions Family Talk, Public Health Doctor Dr Linda de Caestecker spoke with renowned family therapist and author Caroline Penney, who brought both professional expertise and personal insight to the conversation on parenting. Drawing from her book The Parenting Toolkit, Caroline explored why self-care is essential—not selfish—and how caring for ourselves directly supports our children’s wellbeing. She also reflected on how our own childhood experiences shape the way we parent, often in unconscious ways, and offered gentle, practical guidance for breaking unhelpful patterns and parenting with more confidence, connection, and compassion. What Listeners Took Away from the Episode:
About Our Guest: Caroline Penney is a systemic family therapist and leading parenting expert with over 30 years’ experience. A descendant of Sigmund and Anna Freud, she has dedicated her career to supporting families through evidence-based parenting courses and therapeutic work. Caroline’s background spans nursing, teaching, and community-based parenting education, including her leadership of the Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities project at South London and Maudsley Hospital. Her programmes—such as Baby and Us, Being A Parent, and Understanding Teenagers—have reached families across the UK and internationally in countries including Australia, Nigeria, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. For more information, visit: Caroline Penney – Parenting Specialist and Family Therapist. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Family Talk - Parenting Neurodiverse Children with Dr Bettina Hohnen | 06 Jun 2025 | 00:58:42 | |
In this inspiring episode, Clinical Psychologist Dr Bettina Hohnen joined Public Health Doctor Dr Linda de Caestecker for a compassionate and insightful conversation on neurodiversity. Dr Hohnen shared her unique approach, blending cutting-edge scientific research with empathy and practical wisdom, to help listeners better understand and support neurodiverse children. What Listeners Gained from the Episode:
Whether parents, carers, educators, or professionals, listeners walked away with valuable insights to help nurture mental health, celebrate neurodiversity, and lay strong foundations for wellbeing. About Our Guest: Dr Bettina Hohnen is a Clinical Psychologist who specialises in supporting parents and families in the context of neurodiversity. With a background in academic research and teaching at UCL, she brought both depth and clarity to the conversation, translating complex scientific ideas into accessible, actionable strategies. Known for her warm, trust-building approach, Dr Hohnen is passionate about helping young people grow by supporting the adults in their lives to create the right conditions for them to flourish. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Professional Talk - Supporting Children’s Development and Recovery Through Everyday Care with Dr Laura Steckley | 05 Jun 2025 | 01:01:30 | |
Children and young people who had experienced adversity in their early years often struggled to cope with their day-to-day lives. In this live online event, Dr Laura Steckley discussed and described approaches that could help them overcome developmental injuries through care and relationships. Who was this talk for? About our guest speaker: Dr Laura Steckley Alongside Ruth Emond and Autumn Roesch-Marsh, Laura co-authored A Guide to Therapeutic Child Care. The book reflected their shared passion for making theory and research accessible and useful to practitioners supporting children in their care. About our host: Humphrey Hawksley Humphrey was also the author of the acclaimed Future History series and had published four international thrillers. His writing appeared in most major broadsheets, and he had lectured at many of the world’s most prestigious universities. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Family Talk - Mellow Parenting with Stewart McClean | 05 Jun 2025 | 00:56:26 | |
In this episode, Dr Linda de Caestecker from Care Visions Family Talk sat down for a practical and heartfelt conversation with Stewart McClean from Mellow Parenting to explore what truly makes parenting effective, compassionate, and impactful. Rooted in the belief that strong relationships are the foundation of every child’s development, Mellow Parenting brought deep insight and warmth to the discussion. What Listeners Took Away from the Episode:
About Our Guest: Stewart McClean, National Development Officer at Mellow Parenting, brought over a decade of experience as a trainer and practitioner. His role involved supporting Mellow practitioners across the UK, delivering programmes alongside families, and sharing insights from the incredible work being done to support children, young people, and carers. A father of two teenagers, Stewart also enjoyed coaching football in his spare time. About Mellow Parenting: For over 25 years, Mellow Parenting has remained committed to enhancing family relationships, mental health, and overall wellbeing. They support partner organisations in delivering evidence-based early intervention programmes through training, supervision, peer learning, and collaborative opportunities - creating lasting, meaningful change for families across the UK and beyond. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Family Talk - The Parents Compass with Dr David Reilly | 04 Jun 2025 | 01:02:08 | |
In this one-hour interview with live Q&A, hosts Linda de Caestecker, a Public Health Doctor, and Mark Nelis, Fostering Operations Manager, were joined by Dr David Reilly, a highly respected NHS Doctor with over 40 years of experience and an expert in transformative change. Together, they explored how parents and carers can stay calm, grounded, and resilient while navigating the emotional turbulence of the teenage years. Even the most patient parents can feel overwhelmed by the intensity and unpredictability of adolescent behaviour. In this insightful session, Dr Reilly offered compassionate, practical guidance drawn from his extensive clinical experience. Drawing on themes from The Parent’s Compass: Finding Balance in Your Teen’s Storm, he provided a steady framework for reclaiming emotional balance, managing reactions, and being a calming presence for teens in distress. Listeners gained valuable tools to:
This session offered thoughtful, evidence-informed advice for anyone parenting or caring for teenagers who wants to feel more confident, centred, and connected — even in the eye of the storm. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Family Talks - Anxiety Unplugged with Alicia Drummond | 03 Jun 2025 | 00:57:50 | |
In this one-hour interview with live Q&A, hosts Dr Linda de Caestecker, a Public Health Doctor, and Sarah McEnhill, Head of Fostering for Care Visions, were joined by parenting expert, author, and founder of The Wellbeing Hub, Alicia Drummond, for a powerful discussion on teenage anxiety and how parents and carers can provide effective support. Parenting or caring for a teenager today can often feel overwhelming. With the weight of academic pressure, social media, and complex friendships, many teens struggle with uncertainty about their future — and rising anxiety levels are a growing concern. In this session, Alicia offered thoughtful, evidence-based guidance on how adults can help teenagers build the resilience and confidence they need to thrive. Drawing on her extensive experience and her work with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for a Fit and Healthy Childhood, Alicia explored the root causes of teenage anxiety, challenged common misconceptions, and provided practical advice for supporting teens — including what to do when they won’t listen and when it might be time to seek professional help. Listeners came away with valuable insights and takeaways to better understand and support the young people in their lives, building stronger foundations for a more secure and positive future. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Family Talk - How To Get Your Teenager Out Of Their Bedroom with Anita Cleare | 02 Jun 2025 | 01:00:34 | |
In this one-hour interview with live Q&A, hosts Dr Linda de Caestecker, a Public Health Doctor, and Scott Kyle, an Actor and Foster Carer, were joined by renowned parenting expert Anita Cleare for an engaging and insightful conversation on parenting and caring for teenagers in today’s fast-paced, noisy world. Drawing from her latest book, How to Get Your Teenager Out of Their Bedroom, Anita shared everyday actions to build stronger connections, practical blueprints for encouraging reluctant teens to engage, effective communication tips, and strategies for handling many of the challenges parents and carers commonly face. Listeners gained a much deeper understanding of teenage dynamics, along with actionable tools and strategies to support them through this often-tricky stage. The session opened the door for greater confidence in navigating the teenage years, whether you're a parent, carer, or simply looking to support young people more effectively. About our featured guest: Anita Cleare is a parenting speaker, writer, and coach with over two decades of experience supporting families. With a background in developmental psychology, she is known for her practical, evidence-based guidance that fosters real change. Her award-nominated blog Thinking Parenting has been featured in The Sunday Times Magazine as a must-read for parents. Anita has spoken at events across the UK and internationally, and her advice has appeared in outlets including the BBC, CNBC, The Telegraph, and The Times. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Lost Boys: Why The Manosphere Is Seducing A Generation with Mark Brooks OBE | 31 Oct 2025 | 00:43:58 | |
Why are so many boys feeling angry, numb, lonely or adrift — and who’s rushing in to offer them answers? In this conversation, Lucy Johnston speaks with Mark Brooks OBE, chair of the Mankind Initiative and a leading voice on men’s wellbeing and healthy masculinity. Together they explore why some boys and young men are getting pulled towards misogynistic online influencers, and what parents, carers, schools and communities can actually do about it. We talk about:
Key message from Mark Brooks: if we don’t listen to boys, someone else will — and that “someone else” is already online, waiting. About our guest About Family Talks If you’re worried about a boy in your care
Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Why Kids Are Struggling: A Wake-Up Call for Modern Childhood with Sue Palmer | 17 Oct 2025 | 00:51:11 | |
Modern childhood is facing an unprecedented crisis — rising screen time, falling literacy, and overstimulated young minds. In this Family Talk Live event, Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood and Upstart, joined Dr Linda de Caestecker to unpack what’s really going on for children today — and how we can bring back calm, play, and connection. Sue shared insights from decades of research into early development, explaining how rapid cultural and technological change has reshaped childhood. She traced the roots of problems such as anxiety, distraction, and poor self-regulation back to a “perfect storm” of technology, consumerism, and loss of community wisdom. Together, Sue and Linda explored:
Sue also spoke about her work with Upstart Scotland, advocating for a play-based “kindergarten stage” up to age seven, inspired by Nordic models of education. Her message was clear: to support children’s wellbeing, society must prioritise development over data — and rediscover the simple power of love and play. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Professional Talk - The Human at the Heart: Rethinking Disability and Autism Care with Dr Steven Carnaby | 03 Oct 2025 | 01:02:58 | |
In this episode of the Care Visions Professional Talk series, Humphrey Hawksley is joined by Dr Steven Carnaby, a Chartered Consultant Clinical Psychologist with more than 30 years’ experience supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, and special needs. Steven discusses why it is vital to put the human at the heart of care, ensuring that individuals themselves — alongside their families and support networks — are central to decision-making about their lives. Drawing from his work across supported living, residential care, family homes, and assessment and treatment settings, Steven offers insights and practical reflections for professionals. 🎧 Whether you work in residential childcare, fostering, social work, therapy, education, or community support, this conversation will provide thought-provoking perspectives on rethinking approaches to disability and autism care. About Dr Steven Carnaby: Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Family Talk - No Child Left Behind: Protecting Young People from County Lines and School Exclusion with Baroness Anne Longfield | 25 Sep 2025 | 01:03:16 | |
Every year, thousands of children across the UK are groomed into county lines gangs, while growing numbers of school exclusions leave vulnerable teenagers without the structure and support they need. In this episode of Care Visions Family Talk, host Lucy Johnston speaks with Baroness Anne Longfield, Chair of the Commission on Young Lives and former Children’s Commissioner for England. Together, they explore why children in care and those excluded from school are at greater risk of exploitation — and what carers, foster carers and parents can do to keep them safe. Baroness Longfield shares practical advice on:
If you’re a foster carer, parent, kinship carer or professional working with young people, this is a must-listen conversation on how we can all play a part in safeguarding children. 🔔 Subscribe to Care Visions Family Talk for more discussions with leading voices in children’s welfare. About the Host Lucy Johnston is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster with a long-standing commitment to social affairs, health, and children’s welfare. She is currently Health and Social Affairs Editor at The Sunday Express. About the Guest Baroness Anne Longfield is Executive Chair and Founder of the Centre for Young Lives, and former Children’s Commissioner for England. She is a passionate advocate for children, with four decades of experience shaping policy to protect the most vulnerable. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Family Talk - Behind the Headlines: Tackling Youth Violence Together with Karyn McCluskey | 10 Sep 2025 | 01:13:44 | |
Knife crime and youth violence: moving beyond headlines Knife crime and youth violence are not just about crime statistics — they’re rooted in poverty, trauma, exclusion and lack of opportunity. So how do we respond in ways that make a real difference? In this Care Visions Family Talk, Dr Linda de Caestecker is joined by Karyn McCluskey, Chief Executive of Community Justice Scotland, TEDx speaker and co-founder of Scotland’s Violence Reduction Unit. Together, they explore:
Karyn shares powerful insights from her career — from shaping Scotland’s public health approach to violence, to building community-led initiatives that foster empathy, opportunity and hope. Whether you’re a parent, carer, educator, youth worker, or simply someone who cares about safer futures for young people, this conversation offers both understanding and practical inspiration. This talk was recorded live at Falkirk Stadium as part of our Care Visions Family Talks series. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Professional Talk - Therapeutic Care Beyond the Therapy Room: Everyday Moments That Heal with Professor Ruth Emond | 29 Aug 2025 | 01:02:51 | |
Therapeutic Care Beyond the Therapy Room: Everyday Moments That Heal In this Family Talk conversation, Dr Linda de Caestecker speaks with Ruth Emond, senior lecturer at the University of Stirling, social worker and play therapist. Ruth shares how everyday experiences — from routines and friendships to food and shared meals — can play a vital role in the recovery and development of children looked after away from home. She draws on her research, her co-authored book A Guide to Therapeutic Child Care, and her direct work with children through Family Change to show why small, ordinary interactions often matter as much as formal therapy. This episode offers fresh insight and practical ideas for foster carers, kinship carers, parents, and professionals supporting children who have experienced adversity. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Family Talk - Raising Steady Kids in an Unsteady World with George Hoskin OBE | 25 Aug 2025 | 01:14:44 | |
Care Visions Family Talk | Raising Steady Kids in an Unsteady World How do we raise steady kids in an unsteady world? In this Family Talk conversation, Dr Linda de Caestecker is joined by George Hosking OBE, founder of the WAVE Trust and leading expert on childhood trauma, alongside Danny Henderson, Service Manager at Care Visions Residential. Together, they explore how the last few years have shaped the way young people connect, behave and cope — and what families can do to respond with confidence and clarity. We discuss:
About our guests
About the host Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Family Finding & Kinship Care: Why Relationships Matter | Kevin Campbell | Care Visions Professional Talk | 12 Aug 2026 | 00:43:39 | |
What happens when a child or young person in care is described as having “nobody”? For Kevin Campbell, that question became the starting point for research that would ultimately challenge some deeply established assumptions within child welfare. In this episode of Care Visions Professional Talk, Humphrey Hawksley speaks with Kevin Campbell of Pale Blue and Family Finding about family connection, kinship care, child development and what happens when children become separated from the relationships around which their lives have developed. Kevin explains that the origins of Family Finding go back around two decades, when he and colleagues began looking at some of the longest-waiting young people within out-of-home care systems in the United States. They wanted to test a fundamental claim: did these young people genuinely have nobody? Kevin describes research involving around 50,000 young people across the United States and British Columbia. For young people who had often been characterised as having no family available to them, the research found approximately 100–300 living adult relatives on average. From those networks, Kevin says an average of five to eight adults came forward wanting a lifelong relationship with the young person — producing a rate of 94%. That result changed the direction of his work. The conversation goes much further than the practical process of locating relatives. Humphrey asks Kevin what family connection actually means and why biological and pre-existing relationships can be so important to children. Kevin discusses emerging understanding from neuroscience, genomics and biological science and argues that the connection between a child and the people around whom they have developed cannot simply be understood as a social preference. Even where separation takes place for legitimate reasons, he argues, separation itself has consequences. Kevin reflects on his own experience as a foster parent to teenagers and how research into the outcomes of young people leaving care forced him to question some of the assumptions on which care systems had been built. The conversation also looks at the often-repeated idea that a child needs only one stable adult. Kevin agrees that the evidence supporting the importance of a consistent adult relationship is powerful, but argues that another question now needs to be considered: who is that adult? Children do not develop independently of parents, family, culture and community. Their relationships are part of the environment in which their brains, bodies and regulatory systems develop. This leads into a wider discussion about family separation. Kevin draws on the history of the Red Cross and international family tracing following war, disaster and civil unrest. He discusses the international recognition of families' right to know the fate of separated relatives and asks what lessons that history might hold for modern child welfare systems. The distinction becomes particularly important when considering children. Unlike adults, children are still developing. Kevin describes children's extraordinary ability to adapt to their environments as a human “superpower”. But those adaptations can also reflect the adversity, uncertainty and disruption they experience. The discussion examines what happens when early adversity is followed by removal from family, placement instability, changing caregivers and broken relationships. Kevin describes this as “compositional adversity”: different experiences accumulating and interacting across childhood rather than adversity being treated as a single isolated event. This has significant implications for how behaviour is understood. Instead of seeing a young person's behaviour simply as a psychiatric or psychological problem requiring treatment, Kevin argues that professionals should also consider the adaptations the young person has made in order to survive what has happened to them. If children can adapt in response to adversity, they also retain the capacity to adapt to new experiences. For Kevin, that makes the environment of relationships and support surrounding a child critically important. The conversation also considers whether systems are beginning to change. Kevin points to Los Angeles County as a major example. He describes a system that had around 60,000 children in care in the early 1990s and says that figure is now below 12,000. He explains how dedicated family-engagement workers have been introduced alongside social workers, creating additional capacity specifically to find, engage and build relationships with family and other people already connected to a child. Kevin says some Los Angeles offices now average around 80% kinship placements, including extended relatives, non-offending parents and people who already had a meaningful relationship with the child. He then discusses efforts to replicate Family Finding approaches internationally, including work in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom. Kevin says he has been involved in Britain for more than a decade, particularly through work in North Yorkshire and the City of York, and believes there is now a stronger national conversation around kinship than there has been previously. Danny Henderson then joins Humphrey and Kevin to explore what these arguments mean for residential and institutional care. Their discussion considers treatment programmes, behavioural interventions, trauma, adversity and whether institutions can provide the kind of relationships and environments children require. Kevin is careful to distinguish between the quality of individual organisations and the wider question of what children biologically and developmentally need. He argues that there are organisations working extremely hard to provide the best care possible within residential settings, while also questioning whether institutional structures themselves can fully replicate the relationships required for healthy development. This leads Kevin to suggest that child welfare should increasingly be viewed through a health lens as well as a child-protection lens. If stable human relationships are fundamental to long-term health and development, then the consequences of disrupting those relationships extend far beyond the immediate question of where a child lives. Despite the challenging subject matter, Kevin ends on an optimistic note. He argues that there has never been a more hopeful time to improve these systems because our understanding of human development, relationships, health and adversity is greater than it has ever been. The problem, he suggests, is no longer simply a lack of knowledge. The challenge is closing the gap between what we know and what we do. Featuring Kevin Campbell with Humphrey Hawksley and Danny Henderson on Care Visions Professional Talk. You can download: A Practice Brief For Child Welfare And Children’s Mental Health Practitioners. 'The Reform You Have Been Waiting Your Whole Career for Isn’t Coming. Ten Concepts from Science to Reform Your Practice Instead'. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Are We Medicalising Childhood? | Dave Clements on Special Educational Needs | Care Visions Family Talk | 29 Jul 2026 | 01:04:10 | |
Why are so many children struggling? One in five children is now identified as having a special educational need — a significant increase over the past decade. Are children who were previously overlooked finally being recognised, or are ordinary childhood difficulties increasingly being understood as medical conditions? In this episode of Care Visions Family Talk, Lucy speaks with Dave Clements, author of The Crisis in the Classroom, a former school governor and the father of a son diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Dave argues that several different issues have become entangled within the special educational needs system. Some children have profound and complex needs but remain stuck on waiting lists, without an appropriate school place or without the specialist support they require. At the same time, he believes other behavioural, educational, social and cultural difficulties may be too quickly understood through diagnostic labels. The conversation explores whether diagnoses have become a way for parents and schools to unlock scarce resources, and whether that has contributed to an overwhelmed and increasingly unaffordable system. Lucy and Dave discuss: • Why more children are struggling with behaviour, anxiety, attendance and learning Dave’s central argument is that children themselves have not fundamentally changed, but the world around them has. He believes reduced independence, weaker communities, uncertainty among adults, pressure on schools and an increasing reliance on labels have all shaped the difficulties children now face. The conversation also recognises that some children genuinely require specialist assessment, provision and external support. Dave argues that the challenge is distinguishing those needs more clearly, while helping parents, teachers and communities address other difficulties without automatically handing responsibility to a diagnosis or an expert. The Crisis in the Classroom by Dave Clements is available now. Subscribe to Care Visions Family Talk for honest conversations about parenting, childhood, education, mental health and the challenges facing families today. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Are Smartphones Harming Children? The Truth About Screen Time | Mary Glasgow - Care Visions Family Talk | 03 Apr 2026 | 01:02:47 | |
Children are growing up on screens earlier than ever — but what is it doing to their development, wellbeing and safety? Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| From Care to Confidence: Mental Health, Trauma & Resilience | Tina Copp | Care Visions Professional Talk | 20 Mar 2026 | 00:40:41 | |
What does it take to rebuild your life after a difficult childhood? Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Children’s Rights, Child Poverty and Online Safety with Bruce Adamson | Care Visions Family Talk | 06 Mar 2026 | 00:57:34 | |
In this episode of Family Talk, Lucy Johnston speaks with Bruce Adamson, human rights lawyer and former Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland. Bruce shares insights from his international work advising governments and organisations on children’s rights. Together they explore the pressures facing children today — including poverty, mental health challenges, online safety and the rapid pace of technological change. The conversation highlights why children’s voices must be heard in decisions that affect them and how communities, carers and policymakers can better support young people. A thoughtful discussion about building a society where every child is respected, supported and able to thrive. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Male Identity in a Changing World | Dr Andrew G. Thomas | Care Visions Professional Talk | 20 Feb 2026 | 00:58:27 | |
In this episode of Care Visions Talks: Professional Talk, host Humphrey Hawksley is joined by Dr Andrew G. Thomas, PhD for a thoughtful conversation exploring male identity in a rapidly changing social world. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Fostering Reform in the UK with Children’s Minister Josh MacAlister | Care Visions Family Talk | 06 Feb 2026 | 00:34:13 | |
In this episode of Care Visions Talks: Family Talk, host Lucy Johnston is joined by Children’s Minister Josh MacAlister OBE MP for a timely and in-depth conversation on fostering reform in the UK. Drawing on his leadership of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, the Minister outlines a vision to transform a system he believes has become too focused on process rather than people. From the urgent need to recruit 10,000 new foster carers, to removing unnecessary barriers preventing families from stepping forward, this discussion explores what meaningful reform could look like — and why change is needed now. In this episode, we discuss: • The foster carer shortage in the UK If you care about the future of fostering, children’s social care, and creating stable, loving homes, this is an essential conversation. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| What Are We Really Trying to Fix in Care? | Social Pedagogy with Claire Cameron | 30 Jan 2026 | 00:49:05 | |
In this episode of Care Visions Talks: Professional Talk, host Humphrey Hawksley is joined by Professor Claire Cameron, the UK’s first Professor of Social Pedagogy, for a reflective and practice-focused conversation about care, relationships and professional culture. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Care Visions Familly Talk: Your Brain On Porn with Mary Sharpe | 16 Jan 2026 | 00:53:17 | |
In this episode of Care Visions Family Talk, host Lucy Johnston is joined by Mary Sharpe, Chief Executive of The Reward Foundation, for an open and informative conversation about the impact of online pornography on young people’s brains, wellbeing, relationships, and development. Together they explore why children are being exposed at increasingly young ages, how the adolescent brain responds to highly stimulating online content, and what families, carers, and professionals can do to support young people with understanding rather than fear or judgement. The discussion draws on neuroscience, health research, and real-world experience, offering reassurance and practical insight for anyone navigating this sensitive topic. This episode is not about blame. It’s about awareness, compassion, and helping young people grow up informed, safe, and supported in a digital world. 🎧 Available now as part of Care Visions Talks on all major podcast platforms. Resources & Links Mentioned The Reward Foundation Your Brain on Porn Reward Foundation – Parent’s Guide Reward Foundation – Healthcare Professionals Course Reward Foundation – Schools & Lesson Plans Naked Truth Project Stop It Now! World Health Organization – ICD-11 Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Family Finding and the Power of Connection | Elizabeth Wendel | Care Visions Professional Talk | 15 Jul 2026 | 00:42:59 | |
What happens when a child is moved away from danger but, in the process, also loses the network of relationships connecting them to their family, community, history and identity? In this episode of Professional Talk, Humphrey Hawksley speaks with Elizabeth Wendel, President and Co-founder of Pale Blue and an internationally recognised expert in Family Finding™ and Family Seeing™. Elizabeth explains the principle at the heart of Family Finding: everybody has somebody, and they can be found if we are willing to try. She challenges professionals to think beyond placement and physical safety alone, asking what may also be lost when children are separated from their original relationships. Removal may sometimes be necessary, but Elizabeth argues that foster care, adoption and residential care should not automatically require the disappearance of a young person’s family, community or “original soil”. The conversation explores how relationships help regulate the body’s response to stress. Elizabeth describes this process as buffering: the experience of having a stable person who can say, “I know this is difficult, but I am not going anywhere. We can manage it together.” She also explains the difference between Family Finding and Family Seeing. Finding involves identifying and reconnecting people within a young person’s network. Seeing begins once those people have been found: bringing complex family networks together, acknowledging generations of separation and pain, and helping families rediscover their own knowledge and capacity. Elizabeth shares the deeply personal story of Marella, a young woman she first met at 16 following two disrupted adoptions. Marella had become, in Elizabeth’s words, “lethally lonely” and had built an understanding of her life around the belief that nobody wanted her. Through Family Finding, Elizabeth and her colleagues located Marella’s mother, father and ten siblings across Romania. The process could not remove everything Marella had experienced, but it allowed her to learn her real history rather than continuing to fill the unanswered spaces herself. Their relationship later developed into what Elizabeth describes as a moral adoption, when Marella asked Elizabeth to become her mother. The discussion also considers truth-telling within child welfare. Elizabeth speaks candidly about the harm that professionals and systems can cause, even when they are acting with good intentions, and why acknowledging that harm is essential to improving practice. Danny Henderson of Care Visions joins the conversation to reflect on safeguarding, bureaucracy, moral injury and the danger of reducing complex human relationships to administrative processes. Together, they consider how professionals can protect children while still making space for family, identity, contradiction and belonging. Elizabeth Wendel, MSW, LSW, is President and Co-founder of Pale Blue. She has helped reconnect more than 10,000 young people with over 26,000 family and supportive relationships, influencing child-welfare practice internationally. She also advises governments and major healthcare organisations and writes on trauma-informed practice, organisational culture, economic justice and lifelong family connections. This is the first of two Professional Talk conversations exploring Family Finding and Family Seeing. The second features Pale Blue co-founder and Family Finding author Kevin Campbell. Content note: This episode includes discussion of disrupted adoption, family separation and suicidal distress. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Behaviour Is Communication | Sarah Naish on Therapeutic Parenting | Care Visions Family Talk | 01 Jul 2026 | 01:04:07 | |
What is a child really trying to say through difficult behaviour? Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| What Happens If Children Stop Believing They Belong? | Steve Chalke | Care Visions Professional Talk | 17 Jun 2026 | 00:45:42 | |
For more than four decades, Steve Chalke has been working to improve the lives of vulnerable children, young people and families across the UK. As founder of Oasis, Steve has helped establish schools, housing projects, youth services and community initiatives in some of Britain's most disadvantaged neighbourhoods. His work has consistently focused on one central belief: people flourish when they belong. In this episode of Care Visions Professional Talk, Humphrey Hawksley sits down with Steve to explore why so many children continue to fall through the cracks despite significant investment in services, programmes and interventions. Steve argues that while funding is important, meaningful change happens when local communities are empowered, trusted and supported to create solutions themselves. He discusses the growing challenges facing children today, including poverty, school exclusion, criminal exploitation, gang involvement and social isolation. A central part of the discussion is the story of "Billy", a young person whose experience of loss, loneliness and grooming illustrates how vulnerable children can become trapped in cycles of exploitation and offending. Steve explains why many young people involved in crime are not simply offenders, but children who have never experienced the safety, belonging and support they need. The conversation also explores: • Why child poverty and inequality continue to grow in the UK Later in the episode, Danny Henderson from Care Visions joins the discussion to reflect on therapeutic care, residential childcare and how trusting relationships help young people recover from adversity. This conversation offers valuable insights for social workers, residential childcare practitioners, foster carers, teachers, youth workers, policy makers and anyone interested in creating better outcomes for children and young people. As Steve says, there is no "A-Team" coming to solve these challenges for us. Change happens when communities, organisations and individuals work together to create places where children can belong, feel safe and build hope for the future. Guest: Steve Chalke To learn more about Steve Chalke and Oasis, visit: Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| How Love Literally Shapes a Child's Brain | Dr Anna Machin | Family Talk | 03 Jun 2026 | 00:52:03 | |
How love literally shapes a child's brain. What if the most powerful influence on a child's future isn't education, money, technology or even genetics, but the quality of the relationships they experience? In this episode of Care Visions Family Talk, host Lucy Johnston is joined by evolutionary anthropologist, author and relationship expert Dr Anna Machin to explore the science of love, attachment and human connection. Drawing on decades of research into relationships, attachment theory, neuroscience and human behaviour, Dr Machin explains why love is far more than an emotion. It is a biological need that plays a vital role in shaping brain development, emotional wellbeing, resilience, physical health and even longevity. Together, Lucy and Anna explore how early relationships influence the developing brain, why secure attachment matters so much, and how loving, consistent care can help children recover from adversity and trauma. The conversation is particularly relevant for foster carers, adoptive parents, kinship carers, residential childcare practitioners, teachers, social workers and anyone supporting children and young people who may have experienced disrupted attachments or early life challenges. Topics covered include: • What happens inside the brain when we form attachments Throughout the discussion, Dr Machin challenges many common assumptions about parenting, attachment and relationships. She explains that children are biologically designed to form attachments with caring adults and that meaningful, secure relationships can develop regardless of biological connection. For foster carers and adoptive parents, this offers an important and hopeful message. The science suggests that loving, consistent, emotionally attuned relationships can help reshape a child's experience of the world and support healthy brain development, even after significant adversity. The episode also explores how attachment is built through everyday interactions. Not through grand gestures, but through presence, responsiveness, empathy, shared experiences and emotional availability. Dr Machin explains how seemingly small moments of connection can have profound effects on a child's developing brain and long-term wellbeing. Lucy and Anna also discuss the growing challenges facing children and families today, including social media, digital technology and increasing concerns around loneliness and disconnection. They examine what children truly need in order to thrive and why human relationships remain one of the most powerful protective factors in a child's life. Whether you're a parent navigating the challenges of family life, a foster carer supporting a child who has experienced trauma, a professional working with children and families, or simply someone interested in the science of human connection, this episode offers fascinating insights and practical reassurance. At its heart, this conversation is about hope. It is a reminder that relationships matter, that connection changes lives, and that the simple act of consistently showing up for a child can have a lasting impact on their future. About Dr Anna Machin Dr Anna Machin is an evolutionary anthropologist, author and broadcaster whose research focuses on human relationships, attachment, love and fatherhood. Her work combines neuroscience, psychology, anthropology and evolutionary biology to better understand how relationships shape our lives. She is the author of several books, including Why We Love and The Life of Dad, and is widely recognised as one of the UK's leading experts on human bonding and attachment. Keywords: attachment theory, child development, foster care, fostering, foster carers, parenting, relationships, love, attachment, childhood trauma, brain development, neuroscience, adoptive parenting, kinship care, therapeutic parenting, resilience, emotional wellbeing, child psychology, fatherhood, family relationships, secure attachment, trauma-informed care, social work, children's mental health, Care Visions Family Talk. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Family Courts, Domestic Abuse & Protecting Children | Julia Margo | 20 May 2026 | 00:39:57 | |
What happens when a parent trying to protect their children enters a family court system that doesn’t always recognise abuse? In this episode of Care Visions Professional Talk, Humphrey Hawksley speaks with Julia Margo, co-founder of Fair Hearing, about domestic abuse, coercive control, safeguarding and the realities of navigating the family justice system. Julia shares her personal experience of discovering her former partner was a convicted child sex offender and the eight-year legal battle that followed while trying to protect her children. The conversation explores:
Julia now works with survivors and legal professionals through Fair Hearing, helping improve understanding of victim experiences within the judiciary and wider justice system. Hosted by Humphrey Hawksley for Care Visions Professional Talk. Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| Scottish Education, Schools Today & Standards | Keir Bloomer | Family Talk | 06 May 2026 | 01:01:30 | |
Are standards in Scottish education falling — and what’s really behind it? Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| More Children, Fewer Homes | Professor Claudia Bernard | Care Visions Professional Talk | 17 Apr 2026 | 00:47:22 | |
What happens when more children need care — but there are fewer homes to support them? In this episode of Care Visions Professional Talk, Professor Claudia Bernard (Goldsmiths, University of London) joins Humphrey Hawksley to explore the growing pressure on the UK care system. Drawing on decades of experience in social work and research, Professor Bernard explains why the system is under strain — and what’s changed over the past 30 years. This conversation covers:
This is an honest, grounded discussion about the realities behind the system — and the difficult questions that don’t have easy answers. Final thought: Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||
| CHILDHOOD IN CRISIS | Dr Gabor Maté | Care Visions Family Talk: Spotlight | 15 Apr 2026 | 01:15:58 | |
CHILDHOOD IN CRISIS Care Visions Talks is a UK podcast sharing conversations on parenting, fostering, care experience and supporting families. Explore all episodes and resources: Listen and follow: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/care-visions-talks/id1819875561 Follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/carevisionstalks Join our mailing list for new episodes, events and updates: Subscribe to stay connected with Care Visions Talks. | |||