science

Messy Social Work

Hosted by Rich and Tim · science · EN-GB · 125 episodes

Audience: 5

About this Podcast:

Messy Social Work is a podcast for social workers, leaders, students and anyone interested in helping people navigate life's toughest challenges. Hosted by Rich Devine and Tim Fisher, the podcast explores child protection, systemic practice, relationships, leadership, trauma, family support and the realities of frontline social work. Each week, we speak with leading thinkers, practitioners, researchers and people with lived experience to explore what helps, what harms and what social work can learn from both success and failure. Expect honest conversations, practical ideas, challenging questions and occasional disagreement, all grounded in a belief that meaningful change happens through relationships. Because social work isn't neat. It's messy.

Pitch Analysis

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Contact path

Verified email

Booking probability

34%

Guest openness

Selective

Verified email on file

80/100

Required Score

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Questions about Messy Social Work

What is Messy Social Work about?

Who hosts Messy Social Work?

Messy Social Work is hosted by Rich and Tim. The show has published 125 episodes to date.

What has Messy Social Work covered recently?

Recent episodes include "What social workers need to know about working with fathers" (16 October 2026, 56 minutes), "Dr Beverly Barnett-Jones MBE on power, community and the purpose of social work" (13 October 2026, 51 minutes), and "Episode 100: One hundred episodes of Messy Social Work" (4 October 2026, 55 minutes).

How often does Messy Social Work publish?

Messy Social Work publishes roughly weekly, with episodes averaging 59 minutes across 125 episodes.

How hard is it to get booked on Messy Social Work?

Booking probability for Messy Social Work is 34%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. Messy Social Work requires a Pod Score of 80 or higher. Messy Social Work's contact route on record: verified email.

Who should pitch Messy Social Work?

The strongest fits for Messy Social Work are Family & Social Services. Messy Social Work has a science audience.

About the host

Rich and Tim hosts Messy Social Work, a science show with 125 episodes published.

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Recent episodes

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

Messy Social Work
What social workers need to know about working with fathers
Oct 16, 202656 min
In this episode of Messy Social Work , Tim and Rich begin with a conversation about shame, connection, and the ways we "make our own social worlds". Reflecting on Margaret Wheatley's work, they explore how small acts of...
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
Dr Beverly Barnett-Jones MBE on power, community and the purpose of social work
Oct 13, 202651 min
What is social work really for? In this special episode, Rich and Tim sit down with Dr Beverly Barnett-Jones MBE , one of the most influential voices in British social work, for a conversation that spans personal...
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
Episode 100: One hundred episodes of Messy Social Work
Oct 4, 202655 min
In this special 100th episode of The Messy Social Work Podcast , Rich Devine and Tim Fisher hit pause to reflect on the journey so far. Armed with a list of 100 AI-generated questions inspired by their previous...
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
Terri-Anne on care experience, loneliness, identity, parenting, and the courage to challenge patterns passed down through generations
Sep 28, 20261h 6m
In this episode of This Is Messy Social Work , Rich and Tim are joined once again by care-experienced advocate, project worker and Churchill Fellow, Terri-Anne Hamer. Terri-Anne shares insights from her Churchill...
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
"I call her my second mum" The extraordinary relationship between care leaver Shakira and her Personal Advisor, Sarah.
Sep 18, 20261 hour
What difference can one consistent relationship make in a young person's life? In this moving and deeply honest episode, Rich and Tim are joined by care leaver Shakira Peart and her Personal Advisor Sarah Fisher...
Show Notes

Messy Social Work
Rich and Tim relational skills, networks, theory and leadership in Family Group Decision Making
Sep 3, 202656 min
In the second part of their Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) series, Richard Devine and Tim Fisher explore themes six to ten, moving beyond process and practice into the relational, cultural and leadership dimensions...
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
Rich and Tim on Family Group Decision Making: Power, participation and family leadership
Aug 30, 202653 min
In this episode, Richard Devine and Tim Fisher explore the first five themes of Family Group Decision Making (FGDM), unpacking the philosophy, values and practice wisdom behind one of the most significant relational...
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
Rich and Tim speak to Peter Block: relationships, resistance and the relevance of Flawless Consulting (a book that sold over a million copies)
Aug 19, 20261h 3m
Flawless Consulting by Peter Block has sold more than a million copies and is widely regarded as one of the most influential books ever written about consulting. But what can a business classic teach social workers...
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
Rich and Tim speak to Lee Crouch, a parent with lived experience of reunification: what social workers need to know
Jul 31, 20261h 9m
Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/ Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/ Tim Fisher LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
Rich and Tim on practice lessons from the death of Victoria Marten (Part 2)
Jul 24, 202657 min
Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/ Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/ Tim Fisher LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
Rich and Tim on practice lessons from the death of Victoria Marten
Jul 17, 202655 min
Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/ Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme Rich Devine's blog...
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
Connecting Research: Why social workers turn a blind eye and avoid mental pain in child protection
Jul 13, 202637 min
Why do experienced professionals sometimes fail to see what is right in front of them? In this episode of Connecting Research , we explore Margaret Rustin's influential analysis of the Victoria Climbié case and her...
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
Rich and Tim on uncertainty, relationships and 14 lessons from practice
Jul 2, 202656 min
In this episode of the Messy Social Work Podcast , Rich and Tim discuss Richard's recent blog, 14 Lessons from 11 Years at Bath and North East Somerset Council , written as he prepares to leave frontline children's...
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
Rich and Tim speak to foster carer Gareth K Thomas: what every social worker should know about children in care, trauma‑informed parenting and supporting carers
Jun 19, 20261h 10m
In this episode, we sit down with foster carer Gareth K Thomas to explore his experiences of caring for children who have lived through trauma, and what it really means to offer trauma-informed care in practice. Gareth...
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
Rich and Tim get headlines form Mithran Samuel’s, and speak to social worker Ellen
Jun 12, 20261h 3m
Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/ Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme Rich Devine's blog...
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
Rich and Tim speak to social worker Rose Byrne about her upbringing, caring for her sister and ADHD
Jun 5, 202655 minS0
Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/ Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme Rich Devine's blog...
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
Rich and Tim speak to Maddy McCormack (Social Worker) on the realities of Child Protection Social Work
May 22, 202656 minS0
In this episode, we speak with Maddy McCormack, a social worker early in her career, about the realities of stepping into practice with children and families.Maddy reflects on her route into the role, what...
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
Rich and Tim speak to Sharon Shoesmith about Baby P, blame and learning from tragedies
May 15, 20261h 11mS0
 In this episode, we sit down with Sharon Shoesmith to revisit one of the most defining and contentious moments in modern child protection: the case of Baby P, and the national reaction that followed.Sharon...
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
Rich and Tim introduce Systemic Ideas in Social Work with student Natasha Dube and author Liz Bosanquet
May 8, 20261h 22mS0
In this episode of the Messy Social Work podcast, we begin with a conversation with Natasha Dube, before Rich and Tim discuss Liz Bosanquet’s new book, Systemic Social Work Practice. The discussion explores how...
Show Notes
Messy Social Work
BONUS Episode: Rich and Tim discuss time management (Part 2)
May 6, 202645 minS0
In this second bonus episode, Rich, Tim and Charlotte build directly on Part 1, turning their attention to the four remaining ideas from Rich’s blog on resilience in social work and exploring how these play out in...
Show Notes

Guest Appearances

Recent guests on Messy Social Work. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Rose Byrne

Tim Fisher

service manager, Northern Arch Learning Partnership

Janet Kay

Kinship

Professor Jonathan Scourffield

Cardiff University

Best industries to pitch Messy Social Work for

PitchCentric classifies Messy Social Work under these industries. Guests from them are the closest fit, and each links to the best podcasts in that industry.

Family & Social Services

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Messy Social Work

About this Podcast:

Pitch Analysis

Questions about Messy Social Work

What is Messy Social Work about?

Who hosts Messy Social Work?

What has Messy Social Work covered recently?

How often does Messy Social Work publish?

How hard is it to get booked on Messy Social Work?

Who should pitch Messy Social Work?

About the host

Recent episodes

What social workers need to know about working with fathers

Dr Beverly Barnett-Jones MBE on power, community and the purpose of social work

Episode 100: One hundred episodes of Messy Social Work

Terri-Anne on care experience, loneliness, identity, parenting, and the courage to challenge patterns passed down through generations

"I call her my second mum" The extraordinary relationship between care leaver Shakira and her Personal Advisor, Sarah.

Rich and Tim relational skills, networks, theory and leadership in Family Group Decision Making

Rich and Tim on Family Group Decision Making: Power, participation and family leadership

Rich and Tim speak to Peter Block: relationships, resistance and the relevance of Flawless Consulting (a book that sold over a million copies)

Rich and Tim speak to Lee Crouch, a parent with lived experience of reunification: what social workers need to know

Rich and Tim on practice lessons from the death of Victoria Marten (Part 2)

Rich and Tim on practice lessons from the death of Victoria Marten

Connecting Research: Why social workers turn a blind eye and avoid mental pain in child protection

Rich and Tim on uncertainty, relationships and 14 lessons from practice

Rich and Tim speak to foster carer Gareth K Thomas: what every social worker should know about children in care, trauma‑informed parenting and supporting carers

Rich and Tim get headlines form Mithran Samuel’s, and speak to social worker Ellen

Rich and Tim speak to social worker Rose Byrne about her upbringing, caring for her sister and ADHD

Rich and Tim speak to Maddy McCormack (Social Worker) on the realities of Child Protection Social Work

Rich and Tim speak to Sharon Shoesmith about Baby P, blame and learning from tragedies

Rich and Tim introduce Systemic Ideas in Social Work with student Natasha Dube and author Liz Bosanquet

BONUS Episode: Rich and Tim discuss time management (Part 2)