Nellie on the Sofa: Free Health, Social Care and Legal Webinars

In this episode of Nellie on the Sofa, Ben sits down with Sam Baron from the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) for a wide-ranging conversation on what it means to practise social work in 2026 and what needs to change. We discuss why rights-based practice matters more than ever, the pressures social workers face (workload, burnout and caseload allocation), and what needs to change to support safe, ethical, evidence-informed practice. The conversation also explores workplace discrimination and racism, the value of CPD and peer learning, how social work can rebuild trust through community-based practice, and how BASW is responding to emerging issues such as AI. In this recording we cover: 1. Why human rights remain central to social work and what a rights-based approach looks like in practice 2. Workplace realities: workload, burnout, and the lack of national caseload allocation standards 3. Findings on bullying, harassment and racism in the profession and why this often originates in workplaces 4. Community-based and relational practice (“walking the patch”) as a preventive approach that reduces risk 5. CPD and professional development: making learning routine even when time is pressured 6. Professional identity, status and public perception: making good practice visible Whether you're a social worker, team manager, or work alongside social care professionals, this one's worth your time. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of social work, law, and professional practice. www.nelliesupports.com

This month we're joined by Kirsty Findlay — independent social worker, former NHS senior safeguarding practitioner, and co-founder of Beyond the File. With a background spanning law, forensic social work, youth justice, Court of Protection, and domestic homicide reviews, Kirsty brings a rare and powerful mix of legal and social care knowledge to the sofa. We cover a huge amount of ground in this one — from what safeguarding actually means for professional deputies and solicitors, to how the Mental Capacity Act can (and can't) be used when vulnerable people are at risk. In this episode we discuss: - Kirsty's journey from law to social work - How MARAC works and why it doesn't yet have a statutory footing - Domestic homicide reviews, safeguarding adult reviews, and why "lessons will be learned" isn't always the eye-roll moment the media makes it. - Care leavers, domestic abuse, and the Government's new review into their deaths - Safeguarding responsibilities for professional deputies and solicitors — including the Care Act, the SRA, and the OPG - What to do when you have a gut feeling (or "professional ick") about financial exploitation but no evidence - The difference between capacity concerns and safeguarding thresholds — and why the MCA cannot be used as a workaround - The recently published Court of Protection case JW 2026 — and the complex intersection of domestic abuse, coercive control, and mental capacity assessment - The child safeguarding continuum: universal services → early help → child in need → child protection Whether you're a deputy, solicitor, social worker, or anyone who works with vulnerable adults and children — this one is essential listening. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode of Nellie on the Sofa. Kirsty Findlay | Beyond the File: www.beyondthefile.com Nellie Supports: www.nelliesupports.com Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome & introducing Kirsty ~02:00 – Kirsty's background: law, America, and retraining as a social worker ~03:00 – Forensic social work explained ~04:00 – Beyond the File: what they do ~06:00 – MARAC: what it is and how it works ~12:00 – Domestic homicide reviews and safeguarding adult reviews ~17:00 – "Lessons will be learned" — what really happens after tragedies ~20:00 – The Bronson Battersby case ~24:00 – Care leavers and domestic abuse ~31:00 – Safeguarding duties for deputies and solicitors ~36:00 – Data protection vs safeguarding: the myth that stops information sharing ~40:00 – Financial vulnerability, sudden inheritance, and undue influence ~42:00 – Child safeguarding: the continuum of need ~51:00 – Mental Capacity Act — what it can and can't do in safeguarding ~54:00 – JW 2026: the Court of Protection case on coercive control and capacity

In this special lived-experience episode of Nellie On the Sofa, Richard Russell joins us to explore how dementia affects real-world decision-making and why mental capacity can look “intact” in conversation while being fundamentally impaired in practice. Drawing on detailed lived experience of caring for his mum, who lives with vascular dementia and diabetes, Richard and Ben unpack the “perception gap” that often appears in capacity work: where someone can describe individual steps (medication, blood glucose checks, meal planning) but cannot integrate them into a safe, coherent plan of action. This session is essential viewing for solicitors, deputies, will writers, social workers and safeguarding professionals working with capacity-related decisions. Topics covered include: Diabetes management and loss of capacity: when “knowing the steps” isn’t enough Mental capacity assessment practice and why early red flags can be missed The role of carers, social workers and safeguarding in real-world evidence gathering Documentation and communication: how families and professionals can evidence concerns clearly Key takeaways: In dementia cases, standardised questions alone can be misleading without collateral input and observable evidence (missed meds, unsafe cooking, falls). Dementia-related false beliefs and accusations can trigger safeguarding processes and place emotional strain on attorneys and carers. 📌 Learn more about Nellie Supports: https://www.nelliesupports.com 📩 Contact: nellie@nelliesupports.com This recording is for general information and training. It is not legal advice. #NellieSupports #OnTheSofa #MentalCapacity

In this episode of On the Sofa with Nellie Supports, Stuart Parris explores how contentious deputyship applications arise and how the Court of Protection approaches disputes about who should act for P. We discuss the most common drivers of conflict (objections and cross-applications), what happens in practice before a matter reaches trial, and how judges weigh capacity and best interests across Property & Financial Affairs and Health & Welfare. Key Topics Covered: - How contentious deputyship applications arise and how courts resolve them - The key differences between LPAs and deputyships - When professional (panel) deputies are preferred over family members - How capacity is assessed — and what happens when someone regains it - The role of local authorities in safeguarding, and how families can push back - Health and welfare deputyships and when courts make decision-specific orders instead Who should watch: Court of Protection and private client solicitors, professional and lay deputies/attorneys, social workers, safeguarding teams, and anyone involved in deputyship disputes. Learn more about Nellie Supports: https://www.nelliesupports.com Contact: nellie@nelliesupports.com or call 03339875118 Disclaimer: *This recording is for general information only and is not legal advice*. #NellieSupports #OnTheSofa #CourtOfProtection #Deputyship #MentalCapacity #BestInterests #Safeguarding #PrivateClientLaw