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Messy Social WorkAuthor: Messy Social Work
Welcome to the Messy Social Work podcast. The hosts are Richard Devine and Tim Fisher. Check out our website here: https://www.relationalactivism.com/ Language: en-gb Genres: Science, Social Sciences Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Rich and Tim talk to Mark Hopfenbeck about the transformative possibilities of Open Dialogue.
Friday, 20 February, 2026
In this conversation, Rich and Tim and Mark Hopfenbeck explore the concept of Open Dialogue, its origins, and its application in mental health and social work. They discuss the importance of community involvement, the need for continuity in care, and the training required to develop relational skills. Mark emphasizes the significance of peer support and the challenges faced in implementing Open Dialogue in various settings. The conversation also touches on the role of evidence in validating Open Dialogue practices and the future of this approach in mental health care.Mark's presentation at the Thrive conferencehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EAegtEWsi4&t=2sProfessor Russell Razzaque on Radio 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUVXKrFqaqE takeawaysOpen Dialogue originated from a need for better mental health support.The approach emphasizes community involvement and transparency.Continuity of care is crucial for building trust and relationships.Training in relational skills is essential for effective practice.Open Dialogue can be adapted to diverse cultural contexts.Peer support plays a vital role in the Open Dialogue framework.The approach encourages flexibility in meeting arrangements.Evidence-based practice is important for validating Open Dialogue.Radical transparency can improve client-professional relationships.Open Dialogue reflects the values of excellent social work. sound bites"It's a very human way of being.""We can do it better, and we can do it for less.""We can show that everyone seems to be better."Chapters00:00 The Origins of Open Dialogue04:21 The Evolution of Open Dialogue Practices08:47 The Role of Community and Relationships13:23 Open Dialogue in Diverse Settings17:35 Comparing Traditional and Open Dialogue Approaches26:23 Understanding Moral Injury in Healthcare Professionals28:44 The Impact of Open Dialogue Training30:25 Relational Skills in Social Work32:49 The Essence of Open Dialogue35:28 Navigating Difficult Decisions in Mental Health39:41 Radical Transparency and Compassion in Care41:38 The Need for Evidence in Compassionate Care45:21 Global Perspectives on Open DialogueRelational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programmeRich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/












