Working with men in Leeds: Caring Dads

Published: 30/11/2022

This podcast examines the difference that having a dedicated service for fathers can make, with reflections from a father with lived experience of services.

Laura Bracey from Research in Practice speaks to Allan about his experience of working with the Caring Dads programme in Leeds, a project set up to support fathers. They are joined by Linda, one of the facilitators of the Caring Dads programme.

In this podcast, Allan talks about what it was like to attend the Caring Dads programme and what helped him make changes in his life. He discusses the importance of trust, empathy and listening.

This podcast is the second in a series of three podcasts about the journey that Leeds City Council is taking to develop effective work with men.

Talking Points

This podcast explores:

  • How it felt for Allan to attend the Caring Dads programme.
  • What it was about the Caring Dads programme that helped Allan, and some of the tools that he found most useful.
  • Reflections about how social workers can best support fathers and their children.

Resources that are mentioned in this podcast

Reflective questions

Here are reflective questions to stimulate conversation and support practice. 

  1. How does listening to Allan and Linda make you reflect on your own practice?
  2. What support is there in your organisation that fathers could access?
  3. Allan says at the end of the podcast, ‘if there is any dads out there who listen to this, they should give something like that a shot. It has changed my life for the better.’ Are there any fathers that you are working with who might find it helpful to listen to some of Allan’s reflections?

Professional Standards

PQS:KSS - Relationships and effective direct work | Communication | Adult mental ill health, substance misuse, domestic abuse, physical ill health and disability | Promote and govern excellent practice | Shaping and influencing the practice system | Designing a system to support effective practice | Lead and govern excellent practice

PCF - Diversity and equality | Intervention and skills