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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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).

Would you like to do something that makes a difference? Research is certainly one option you could consider. But what is social work and social care research and why is it important? In this episode in the ‘Care to chat’ 2025 podcast series, a panel of experts have a lively conversation about how social workers and social care practitioners can build and maintain an evidence base to support their work. Our host Dr Wendy Austin MBE speaks to experienced academics and professional voices, Anne McGlade, Social Care Research Lead, Northern Ireland Social Care Council, Professor Paula McFadden, Professor of Social Work, School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences, Ulster University, Maria Flannagan, Senior Social Work Practitioner, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and Lisa Morrison, Lisa Morrison Consultancy. Ideal for students, practitioners, researchers or anyone interested in social work and social care, it looks at the importance of an evidence-based approach for people who access services and how evidence plays an important role in social work and social care practice, how evidenced-based practice can improve outcomes for services and communities and the resources and opportunities available to potential students, including people with lived experience and professionals to start their research journey.

Continuous professional learning and development is crucial in social work and social care to ensure practitioners maintain competency, adapt to evolving knowledge and best practices, progress in their careers and deliver effective services and better outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. This podcast focusses on the Northern Ireland Social Care Council’s Learning Zone , which is one of the biggest things it provides to those who register with them as the regulator for social workers and social care practitioners. A panel of experts discuss the Learning Zone as host Dr Wendy Austin MBE sits down with, Laura Moffett, Manager, Mental Health and Learning Disability, Northern Health and Social Trust, Suzanne Cunningham, Assistant Director, Children’s Services, RQIA and Mairead Harkin, Workforce Development Officer who leads digital Learning for the Social Care Council. Hearing from Mairead who manages the Learning Zone, Suzanne who has been involved in using and developing resources for it and Laura who encourages her staff to access and use in to improve them practice, this discussion is an opportunity to bring depth to the conversation around why he Learning Zone as an innovative learning experience for the social work and social care workforce. The Learning Zone is packed full of tools, inspiration, stories advice, and resources for the social work and social care workforce – check it out now and continue your own learning journey: learningzone.niscc.info .

Maintaining physical, mental, and emotional health is vital for everyone, but it’s particularly important for those working in caring professions, like social workers, who are often called upon to be resilient. Developing mindfulness, accessing support and selfcare practice is essential for preventing professional burnout for social workers. Does there need to be a cultural change in the social work profession? Many in practice are used to getting into hero mode to help other people, but the question is are they looking after themselves. There are several ways they can do this, and interventions and supports available to ensure they can take care of themselves so they can take care of others. Want to hear more? In this episode Dr Wendy Austin MBE sits down with Dr Alan Maddock, Lecturer, Dept of Health Psychology, School of Population Health, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Jeananne Jackson, Senior Social Worker, Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Carolyn Ewart, National Director, BASW NI and Janine Gordon, Divisional Social Worker, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. Remember it’s okay not to feel okay. Taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.

Racism is never acceptable in any form and when we hear about it happening to those people who support the most vulnerable in our community, it seems all the more appalling. Why do we need a diverse social work and social care workforce, and how can we ensure we protect those who are part of it? These are some of the big questions guiding this episode of the Care to Chat podcast. In this captivating episode titled “Calling it out – Diversity and Racism in the Social Care and Social Work Workforce”, we welcome inspiring experts who have unique and relevant experiences and understanding of this complex issue, including why a diverse workforce is a strength and how important it is to do the work to ensure employers are able to support their staff when this happens. In the studio with our host Dr Wendy Austin MBE, are qualified nurse Beverly Simpson, Co-chair of the Black and Migrant Workers Group in UNISON NI, Ineke Houtenbos, Senior Safeguarding Training Consultant and the chair of the Black Worker Support Group, NSPCC, Aine Morrison, Chief Social Worker, Department of Health and John Patrick Clayton, Head of Bargaining and Representation, UNISON NI. 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.

Home is where the heart is. That is no truer than during this week’s podcast. Would you have associated a housing association with social care services? Dr Wendy Austin MBE guides the conversation in this episode to cover a variety of perspectives and insights into the world of supported living, disability housing and social care. She covers topics like…what is supported living? Why is it important? What is it like for those who live in supported living housing? And how come most of us don’t know that housing associations, like Triangle Housing , provide it as part of their social care services to the community – well at least until we might need them. What is clear to see is that individual housing choices, such as supported living, are a lifeline for many across Northern Ireland empowering people with a disability to plan where they live and call home. How can we help more people with disabilities live more inclusive lives in the community? Listen to find out!

The professionals who work in social care come from a wide range of backgrounds and work in a range of different settings which can be challenging and demanding. It is also true to say that there is an increasing complexity in the needs of the people they support. This means ensuring there is a well-led, skilled and valued social care workforce in place, is even more important. In this week’s ‘Care to chat?’ podcast we hear about what is happening to support this right now in Northern Ireland with significant developments underway, including the Department for Health’s (DoH) new Social Care Workforce Strategy and the Care in Practice (CiP) Framework . Dr Wendy Austin MBE hears from Ricy D’Cruz, a Care Assistant with Macklin Care Homes, Norah Christie, Head of Operations at Praxis Care, Mervyn Bothwell, a Professional Adviser with the Social Care Council and Jane McMillan, who is a Professional Social Work Officer, Office of Social Services at the Department of Health. They talk about their experiences and understanding of the new Care in Practice Framework (first of its kind) which has been designed to support social care practitioners to develop professionally by providing two interlinked pathways and the creation of a brand-new level 2 qualification . These reforms are a good news story of transformation taking place across health and social care.

No two carers are the same or are the needs of any one person receiving care the same. Following on from the launch of the ‘Social Care – Making a difference’ campaign launch last week during Carers week (9-15 June) , on the latest episode of the ‘Care to chat?’ podcast, we are privileged to have an authentic conversation piecing together the experience of carers and social care. We welcome Gerard McWilliams, from the Social Care Council’s Participation Partnership, Liam Dorrian a social care practitioner Positive Futures and a carer for this family, Áine Magee, Stratagem NI (formerly of Carers NI) and Agnes Lunny, Chief Executive, Positive Futures. They sit down with our host Dr Wendy Austin MBE, to talk about the role, challenges and experiences of Northern Ireland’s 220,000 unpaid carers, according to 2021 Census, as part of social care. They explore the incredible diversity of carers across Northern Ireland. Carers come from all walks of life, and though their carer role and challenges may differ, they share a common theme of resilience, dedication, and compassion.

How can a social work student gain a rich learning experience? And what role do social workers play in training tomorrow's social work professionals? In this week’s ‘Care to chat?’ podcast we hear about this from Dr Denise McDermott, Subject Lead in Social Work, Ulster University, Sarah McCarthy Practice Teacher and social worker with Extern, Ellen Neill a social worker with the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and a student Practice Teacher, and social work student Emily Hill. So, what is practice teaching and what are the benefits it brings to those who are practice teachers and those who are getting support form a Practice Teacher as part of their learning journey? In this week’s ‘Care to chat?’ podcast we hear about this from Dr Denise McDermott, Subject Lead in Social Work, Ulster University, Sarah McCarthy Practice Teacher and social worker with Extern, Ellen Neill a social worker with the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and a student Practice Teacher, and social work student Emily Hill. Interested in becoming a practice teacher? If you are a social worker or organisation who employs social workers, practice teaching could be something worth considering.

Tune in on Wednesday 21 May 2025 for the launch of the third 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. Ever feel a bit forgetful? In our first episode of 2025, we delve into the world of dementia care and memory services and involves input from social workers and those with lived experience, all experts in the impact of dementia and how to support people and their families. This episode features social workers from the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Jenny Magee, Lead Social Worker for Memory services, Lisa Marley, Memory Clinic Manager, Amy Morgan, Newry and Mourne Memory Service and Roisin Donnelly, who is a carer for her mum who lives with dementia. Despite the challenges, this episode offers a heartfelt glimpse into the daily efforts of social workers dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those affected by dementia.

Helping children and young people thrive – as they say it can take a village. In this final episode in the ‘Care to chat’ 2024 podcast series we are talking childhood development and sharing practical advice and ideas for supporting children and young people to improve outcomes for them and their families. In particular a number of resources available on the Northern Ireland Social Care Council’s Learning Zone which aim to support and build knowledge, skills and confidence for those social work professionals and others navigating the early childhood and adolescence development landscape. Our host hosted by Dr Wendy Austin MBE speaks to experienced social work professional and academic Mary McColgan, Emerita Professor of Social Work at Ulster, and Laura Durkan, Social Work Student who is entering her final year at Belfast Met, who has had experience working with children and young people before she started to study social work. This episode focusses on what are some of the resources available to support social work practice in child development and how they can be used in their practice, with a new resource now available. Are you interested in child development? Whether you are a social worker, social work student, a professional working in education, youth and community work, early years/childcare, health and social care or a parent/care giver, or a young person yourself, you can access a number of resources about this on the Social Care Council’s Learning Zone . ‘Care to chat?’ will return with lots more important conversations in social care and social work in 2024. Have an idea for a future episode? Contact us on comms@niscc.hscni.net with your suggestions