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We hear how and why they are working in social services, what motivates them, and the people, books and music that inspire them. They also offer some golden nuggets of advice.

To kick the series off, Michelle Drumm spoke to Iona Colvin, Chief Social Work Adviser for Scotland.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes

In this episode, Michelle from Iriss speaks to Tommy Whitelaw, who was a full-time carer for his late mother Joan who had vascular dementia. In 2011, he embarked on a walk around Scotland's towns and cities to collect hundreds of life story letters detailing the experiences of individuals caring for a loved one living with dementia.

Since then, Tommy has engaged with thousands of carers through his 'Tommy on Tour' blog and as UK Project Engagement Lead with the Alliance's Dementia Carer Voices Project. He gives talks to health and social care professionals and carer organisations across Scotland, to raise awareness of the impact of dementia on families and the importance of empowering carers in carrying out their difficult but vital role.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes

Michelle Drumm from Iriss 'squeezes' Viv Cree, Professor of Social Work Studies at the University of Edinburgh.

Viv has conducted research in a number of social work-related fields over the last 20 years, focusing mainly on qualitative research that aims to improve social work services, and hence, the lives of those who use services.

Within this, she specialised in research on social work history, feminism and gender in social work, HIV and children and young people affected by parental illness.

Before coming to the university, Viv worked for 16 years as a professional social worker and community worker in both the statutory and voluntary sectors. She is an accredited practice teacher.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes

In this episode Michelle from Iriss interviews Dr Donald Macaskill, Chief Executive of Scottish Care.

Donald worked for many years in the health and social care sectors across the United Kingdom specialising in learning disability and older people's work. A particular professional focus has been issues related to bereavement, palliative care and individual rights.

For thirteen years he ran his own equality and human rights consultancy focusing on adult protection, risk and personalisation. From 2012-2015 he managed Scottish Care's self-directed support project, People as Partners, then worked as Scottish Care's Joint National Workforce Lead. From 1st April 2016 he became the CEO of Scottish Care, the representative body for care providers in the independent sector.

We hear about the people, projects, books, music and much more that inspire him.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes

In this episode, Michelle from Iriss interviews Trisha Hall, National Director of the Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW).

Since coming to Britain from the Netherlands in 1987, Trisha has worked in residential child care in West Yorkshire. After completing a degree in social work in 1993, she then worked in statutory social work services in the North East of Scotland as social worker, Team and Area Manager, and subsequently from 2003, in the voluntary sector as Regional Director and Head of Evaluation and Research. Throughout her career Trisha's main role has been the leadership and management of workers and service managers providing services.

Trisha has been a British Association of Social Work member since 1991.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes

In this episode, Michelle Drumm speaks to Ian Welsh, Chief Executive of the Health and Social Care Alliance.

Ian has been Director of UK Services for the Rehab Group, leading charities working in care, supported employment, rehabilitation and training.

In his time as Chief Executive and Board member of Kilmarnock Football Club, he led the club through business and footballing success, building a number of innovative community programmes. He also served as a non-executive Director of Glasgow Prestwick Airport and as Executive Director of Human Resources and Public Affairs.

He has spent time in politics as an elected member leading first Kyle and Carrick District Council and then South Ayrshire Council before serving briefly as MSP for Ayr.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes

Michelle Drumm speaks to Emma Scott, who was the winner of the Bright Spark Award at the Scottish Social Services Awards in 2018. This award aims to recognise a young person who is excelling in the work they do in the sector.

Since leaving high school in 2014, Emma began an apprenticeship at Peartree Nursery in East Lothian. She has gained an SVQ Level 3 and has lots of hands-on experience with children of different ages and situations.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes

In this episode, Michelle Drumm speaks to Mairi O'Keefe, Chief Executive of Leuchie House national respite centre, based near North Berwick since 2003. The only facility of its kind in Scotland, Leuchie has specialised in providing short respite breaks for people and their families living with MS, Parkinson's and other long-term conditions.

In 2010, Mairi successfully led the Save Leuchie campaign, saving the centre from closure and setting it up as an independent charity in July 2011. In 2015, she received an MBE for services to people with disabilities.

Confirming that she will be leaving Leuchie House in November 2018 Mairi O'Keefe said:

Everyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about Leuchie House and the very special service we provide. It was always going to be difficult to step down, but I know I can do so feeling proud of everything we've achieved. I've been honoured to experience on a daily basis just how much of a difference Leuchie makes to all the hundreds of families we support every year.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes

Michelle Drumm interviews Professor Jennifer Davidson, Executive Director of Inspiring Children's Futures at the University of Strathclyde, which incorporates the Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland (CELCIS).

Jennifer is driven by a commitment to ensuring children's rights have an impact on children's day-to-day lived experiences, and on the reality of international rights improving local children's services throughout the world. Her range of leadership positions in child and youth care, social work and professional education spans Canada, the United States and the UK. She has served on national and international committees related to children's services, and was a founding member of the US National Campaign for the Ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes

Michelle Drumm interviews Lynn Williams, an unpaid carer and activist, providing practical care and support to her husband Derek. Derek has a high level spinal injury and other linked, complex needs.

Lynn is on the board of Engender, a national woman's organisation and on the board of her local Carers Centre. She also works on a part-time basis in health and social care policy with Glasgow Centre for Voluntary Services.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes

Michelle Drumm interviews Ben Farrugia, Director of Social Work Scotland.

Ben held a variety of policy roles down in London (with a particular interest in education and children's services). In 2009, he moved up to Scotland to work in the government’s Looked After Children team and in 2011 moved to the University of Strathclyde to join the team that would soon after become CELCIS.

In his own words, he is 'now very proud to be leading Social Work Scotland’s small Edinburgh based team, which provides support to various committees and groups, and represents members in discussions with Parliament, Government and other partners'.

Freshly Squeezed is an Iriss podcast which aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes

On World Social Work Day, Michelle Drumm interviews David Williams, Chief Officer of Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership.

David qualified as a social worker in 1988 and worked for two years in Easterhouse and then for seven years in Drumchapel as a social worker and senior social worker.

He subsequently held various roles in charities over the years and was appointed formally to the chief officer position by Glasgow City Integration Joint Board at its first meeting on 8 February 2016

Freshly Squeezed is an Iriss podcast which aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes

Michelle Drumm interviews Jackie Irvine, Chief Social Work Officer and Head of Safer and Stronger Communities in the City of Edinburgh Council. Jackie was appointed as the President of Social Work Scotland in May 2018 and her tenure as president comes to an end in May 2019. However, as Past President Jackie will stay on as a key member of the Executive Group at Social Work Scotland.

Jackie’s previous positions were predominantly in children’s services, but not exclusively, as she has been lead for criminal justice, community based health services, and adult hospital-based social work teams.

Freshly Squeezed is an Iriss podcast which aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes

Michelle Drumm interviews Calum Glasgow. Calum is currently studying social work at the University of Strathclyde and received an award for Student Social Worker of the Year at the SASW Social Work Awards 2019.

Calum's placement was with the British Red Cross, based in their psychosocial team, which provides holistic support for refugees and asylum seekers. The work ranged from completing initial assessments, providing emotional support, accompanying people to legal (and other) appointments and helping alleviate their levels of destitution. In his words, he describes the experience as 'a real eye-opener'.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Michelle Drumm interviews Kathryn Lindsay, who is the Director of Children, Families and Justice / Chief Social Work Officer for Angus Council. She is also the President of Social Work Scotland.

Since qualifying as a social worker in 2000, Kathryn worked as a practitioner across Angus and Dundee City Council justice services and in residential services at Rossie Young People’s Trust. She held senior posts in Dundee City and Angus Council in both Children’s and Justice Services before becoming Chief Social Work Officer in 2016. Kathryn has experience leading services that serve more than one local authority area and has an interest in collaborative service design.

She has a longstanding commitment to post qualifying learning, most recently achieving the Chief Social Work Officer Post Graduate Diploma at Glasgow Caledonian University. She has Masters in both practice and leadership based subjects and a particular interest in developing the workforce, promoting relationship-based practice and public protection.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

An interview with Viv Clelland, winner of the ’The untold story’ award at the Scottish Social Services Awards 2019. She is a support worker for looked after young people and families in East Ayrshire. 

Viv lived in a Kilmarnock children’s home from the age of 11 years until she was 17. She began her career doing a bit of everything: cleaning, working in bars, as well as volunteering for a horse riding school for disabled young people.

In 2000, she became a volunteer parent coach with Kilmarnock Harriers, which led to her being approached to volunteer with East Ayrshire Council. By 2006, she was employed as Sports Motivator – working in a variety of community coaching & children’s house sessions for the council.

As Viv developed, the job developed and her role became more focused on working with looked after and accommodated young people, based within the play and early intervention team. Her skills have also supported work in HMP Kilmarnock and with vulnerable families. 

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

An interview with Peter Macleod, Chief Executive of the Care Inspectorate and Chair of Iriss.

Peter graduated from Robert Gordon University with a degree in social sciences and a qualification in social work and began a career as a social worker in Glasgow in 1987.

In 1996 he joined Renfrewshire council as an area manager, responsible for adult, children’s and criminal justice social work, and in early 2007 was appointed head of children’s services and criminal justice for social work and the community health partnership.

In 2015, he was appointed Renfrewshire’s first director of a new children’s services directorate, bringing together children’s social work, education and criminal justice services.

He sits on the boards of MacMillan Cancer Support TCAT Programme and Scottish Government’s Re-aligning Children’s Services programme.

In his own words, he says, "I am ambitious for social care; I want people in Scotland to experience transformational, world-class care that makes a real and positive difference to their lives."

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

An interview with Alistair Brown, National Director of the Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW). 

Alistair grew up in Falkirk and has been practising in Scotland in statutory roles and as a Mental Health Officer and independent social worker over the last 10 years. Prior to this he practised in and managed youth mental health services in New Zealand for nine years.

He has had many voluntary roles at SASW over recent years as a member/practitioner including chair of MHO Forum, Chair of SASW governance committee and SASW representative on the British Association of Social Work board of directors. He remains on shift duty occasionally as an emergency social worker and is a member of the Mental Health Tribunals for Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

PotterCast, our Harry Potter podcast, has its holiday episode online, just in time for Christmas. Our 211th episode starts off with the latest in Potter news, including a preview of the One Day in the Life of Daniel Radcliffe book from photographer Tim Hailand, and a teaser of the Harry Potter LEGO game.

Episode 211 — Never Be Afraid to Squee

Find the latest episode and explore PotterCast interviews, discussions and more at PotterCast.com

Visit the-leaky-cauldron.org for the latest and greatest from Harry Potter's Wizard World.

PotterCast, our Harry Potter podcast, has its holiday episode online, just in time for Christmas.

 Episode 211 — Never Be Afraid to Squee

Find the latest episode and explore PotterCast interviews, discussions and more at PotterCast.com

Visit the-leaky-cauldron.org for the latest and greatest from Harry Potter's Wizard World.

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/14956/Square_Enix_Eidos_Anthology/

More is taken off based on what you already own (obviously you need to be signed into steam to see that).

Old man winter has decided to take up residence in my neck of the woods and boy is he hungry! To satisfy his craving and keep him warm I decided to treat him to a pot of Craftylittlmonkey’s Black Eyed Pea and Squash Soup. I can feel good making this dish when I use vegetables […]

Haggis_30 says: "My kitten Mowgli thought my brand new mohair scarf would make a perfect blanket on a cold night. He is always burying himself in clothing and blankets. Very cute!"

Mowgli knows what every squee kitty knows, humans can't say 'no' to a warm, snuggly cat!

-Sally Squeeps

Do you have a squee pet that you want to share with the world? Send us your pet pictures and stories, and they could end up on Daily Squee!

MidnightRayne says: "This is my Hedgehog Albert all snuggled up in a towel after a pampering bath!"

What a lucky hog! Getting the full fancy spa treatment.

- Sally Squeeps

Do you have a squee pet that you want to share with the world? Send us your pet pictures and stories, and they could end up on Daily Squee!

It has been a fun, squee week full of Flying Squirrels, but it's time to give another creature a chance at squeedom. So fly away widdle Squirrel! Visit us another time!

-Sally Squeeps

This creative squirrel feeder gives a hilarious horse head to each squirrel that's in the mood for a snack!

Vikki says: "This is my bunny Rambo washing his face, or perhaps praying for more snow."

Snow snow snow snow...

Do you have a squee pet that you want to share with the world? Send us your pet pictures and stories, and they could end up on Daily Squee!

QUARANTINE TIP – Get a new plant for your home, to prove to yourself you can take care of something plastic. Yeah, get a plastic plant. Make it easy on yourself. We can all use a win right now. HI! PLEASE DISABLE YOUR ADBLOCKER OR WHITELIST US! IT MEANS A LOT! THANK YOU!!

Guest Post: Learn how to use Linux command line to investigate suspicious processes trying to masquerade as kernel threads.