Renata (Newly Qualified Social Work in Child Protection, East Sussex) on small acts that make a big difference as a social worker

Messy Social Work

Tim Fisher and Rich Devine kick off with reflections on culture and connection, inspired by recent experiences, including Rich’s first trip to the theatre to watch Les Misérables. They discuss the profound impact of stories and how creative expressions like theatre offer fresh perspectives on justice, empathy, and the challenges of human connection.
The episode’s highlight is a conversation with Renata, a dedicated social worker in East Sussex and the first storyteller in the Friday Story initiative. She shares her approach to relationship-based practice and describes a memorable experience supporting a young boy with autism, Henry, who faced bullying at school. Renata’s gentle, persistent help in teaching Henry daily routines led to improved confidence for him and his family—a powerful example of social work’s impact.

The discussion also touches on the importance of self-care, empathy, and resilience. Inspired by Vikki Reynolds’ ideas on solidarity teams, Tim and Rich emphasise the need for supportive relationships to sustain social workers in their roles.

This week’s episode encourages listeners to celebrate the small acts of kindness that make a big difference and reminds us that in social work, sometimes “to love is to act.”
We hope you enjoyed this episode, please do contact us and share your reflections. If you have any questions or topics you would like us to explore, do get in touch:
Links:
Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/
Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/
Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/
Rich Devine LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-devine-181763177/