How connected is practice and research in children’s social work?

22nd December 2025

In the first of the Centre’s planned series of podcasts, Dr Vicky Sharley, Co-Director of the Centre, poses six central questions which require panellists to reflect upon their knowledge, past and current practices. The discussion includes experiential successes from panellists’ roles in practice, policy and academia, who were each selected from a diverse range of career stages. The conversation includes a question about whether or not panellists feel there is a disconnect between the contexts of children’s social work research and practice, and if so, what factors and challenges are most commonly encountered in these spaces.

In the episode we hear from:

• Hayley Clark Head of Development and Implementation (NSPCC,)
• May Gresdahl a PhD Scholar at the Department of Social Work, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
• Jo Coles, Principal Social Worker, Children and Families Services, Bristol City Council
• Dr Didier Reynaert  Lecturer in Social Work, and Senior Researcher at the EQUALITY//ResearchCollective of HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Belgium. 

The panel discussion was recorded at the International Child & Family Conference 2025, Bristol, UK.

Play time: 59 minutes