About this episode
The episode discusses the impact of upcoming elections in Scotland and Wales on social work and the profession's advocacy efforts.
Significant elections are taking place in Scotland and Wales this year. With the current political mood so unpredictable, the make-up of Holyrood in Edinburgh and the Senedd in Cardiff could be very different after May. And given that social work in Scotland and Wales is the full responsibility of these legislatures, any change is likely to have a sizeable impact on decisions taken about the profession, the workforce, and the people that social workers support. So, what does social work need to be telling the parties and individuals vying for power? The Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW) and BASW Cymru have both set out their manifestos which they want to see the next devolved governments take forward. This episode will consider what these asks are and which political levers they intend to pull to get them accepted. Host Jonny Adamson is joined by three guests who have all played a major role in developing these manifestos and the campaigning strategies around them. Caroline McDonald, Social Work Team Leader in Children’s Services at Glasgow City Council and Co-Chair of SASW, Andrew Pennington, Senior Social Work Practitioner at Powys County Council and Chair of BASW…
People in this episode
Host: Jonny Adamson
Guests: Caroline McDonald, Andrew Pennington, George Hannah
Topics covered
- elections
- social work
- politics
- Scotland
- Wales
- advocacy
Keywords
- social work
- elections
- Scotland
- Wales
- advocacy
- politics
- manifestos
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Scottish Association of Social Work, BASW Cymru
Places: Scotland, Wales, Holyrood, Edinburgh, Senedd, Cardiff
More episodes of Let's Talk Social Work
- I’m not Invisible: Supporting children living with a parent in prison · June 4, 2026 · 56 min
- Exploring the relationship between supervision and practice with children and families · May 1, 2026 · 53 min
- Centenary Episode: In Conversation with Baroness Lister CBE · April 8, 2026 · 49 min
- “I am the Safeguard, and I am Alone” - Carers, Nearest Relatives, and the Reality of the Mental Health Act · March 10, 2026 · 53 min
- What does the future hold for social work and BASW? · January 24, 2026 · 1h 9m
- The Impact of Domestic Abuse on Babies and Infants · December 8, 2025 · 1h 0m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Let's Talk Social Work podcast page.