In this episode, Amy Lewis speaks with Gerard Crofton-Martin, Interim Chief Executive of SCIE, about the future of social care and the need for meaningful reform.
They explore social care inequalities, the Care Equity Evidence Hub, local government, transformation and the potential for a National Care Service.
A thought-provoking conversation about where social care is now, where it needs to go, and what good care could look like in the future.

In this episode, Amy Lewis speaks with Patrick Vernon about his career tackling inequality, challenging power and working across health, social care, government and communities.

They explore health equity, community-powered commissioning, co-production and the challenge of genuinely integrating health and social care - asking what needs to change for communities to have a greater voice in shaping the services they rely on.
A thought-provoking conversation about institutional structure, power and creating a health and care system that works for everyone.

In this episode, Amy Lewis speaks with Melanie Williams, Executive Director of Adults, Wellbeing and Organisational Change (DASS) at West Northants Council, and Former ADASS President, about her 30-year career in social care and her passion for social justice, equality and better lives for people.

They explore technology as a tool for participation, supporting working-age adults and transition pathways, safeguarding, links to neighbourhood health and the challenges facing local government - as well as what needs to change to turn ambition into meaningful action.

A thought-provoking conversation about empathy, leadership, technology and the future of care.

What does it take to create truly person-led care?

In this episode, Amy Lewis speaks with Chris Watson, Founder of Self-Directed Futures, about why choice, control and self-directed support remain central to improving adult social care.

Drawing on more than 25 years of experience across commissioning and social care, Chris shares his perspective on the challenges of traditional care models, the importance of good commissioning, and how organisations can better support people to live the lives they choose.

If you're interested in understanding the commissioning aspirations that enable people to lead their own support, this episode is for you.

Shirley Way, Midlands Head of Region at Skills for Care, joins us to highlight that good care starts with how we treat the people delivering it.This episode dissects:🔸 How values-based recruitment shapes culture🔸 Why development doesn’t always mean promotion🔸 Tension between professional boundaries and family care🔸 Professionalising social care pathways for the futureFrom children’s services to national workforce strategy, Shirley reflects on the moments, values and leadership lessons that have shaped her career in social care.Retention isn’t a recruitment problem. It’s a leadership one.

00:00 Intro03:20 Shirley's Journey Into Social Care09:08 The Impact of Children's Services12:41 Creating Care Match: A Recruitment Solution15:00 Navigating Family Caregiving17:52 The Importance of Professional Boundaries20:17 Leadership and Management in Social Care23:00 Retention Strategies in Workforce Development26:17 Understanding Value-Based Recruitment28:54 The Importance of Induction31:38 Defining Good Care33:41 Building Resilience and Trust in Care Teams35:35 Self-Care for Caregivers40:16 Recruiting for the Future of Social Care

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/just-checking-ltdYouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh0_5GKni-kl9D-Zx-N-6Ab5V1jxX_PJE&si=KGnMYYxQDD_k3qG5Blog: https://justchecking.co.uk/news/

We’re joined by Isaac Samuels OBE, who shares his lived experience of mental health services and the impact of being given a diagnostic label, alongside his work across social care and co-production.Together, we explore: 🔸What happens when care becomes overly systemised🔸The importance of managing yourself before managing others 🔸What changes when people and trust are placed at the centre of care🔸The power of listeningThis is an honest discussion about care as a human practice, not just a professional one.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustCheckingJCSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/48R4GUcKaRnqAm0tV3lWMi?si=972af4d22f1f4cab

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/just-checking-ltd/Blog: https://justchecking.co.uk/news/

In this episode, Charlie reflects on her unexpected journey through social care, from a 17-year-old kitchen assistant peering through a serving hatch to a specialist now called in when services are struggling. Drawing on her own experience of growing up in children’s services, she talks about the empathy and determination that shaped her approach to care, as well as the impact of a rare, hands-on induction that still guides her work today. She explores why real training is less about ticking boxes and more about building confidence, offering coaching, and staying connected to the human experience at the centre of every crisis. And when the “bat signal” goes up from a failing service, Charlie shares what it takes to step in with honesty, curiosity, and the belief that good care always starts, and ends, with the person.

In this special episode of 'What Does Good Care Look Like?', Amy sits down with Councillor Sharon Thompson for an open and inspiring conversation about care, community, and systemic change. Sharon reflects on her own experience of teenage homelessness and how it shaped her 11 years in local politics, including her role as Birmingham’s Deputy Leader and the West Midlands’ first female Deputy Mayor.

Together, Amy and Sharon explore what it means to design out homelessness, the importance of bringing lived experience into decision-making, and why brave leadership is essential in today’s pressured public sector. Sharon shares the story behind influencing national legislation on supported housing, leading an 81% reduction in rough sleeping, and championing partnerships that prioritise prevention over crisis.

They also discuss the future of care, how communities can be empowered to shape solutions, and what’s next for Sharon as she steps into a new chapter outside elected office.