Networks makes the dream work: the podcast. Clients and experienced staff testify about the importance of network strengthening.

The podcast aims to encourage, invite, activate, and prompt reflection among social care professionals across Europe, with the goal of promoting a context-strengthening approach in their work. Soc...

The podcast aims to encourage, invite, activate, and prompt reflection among social care professionals across Europe, with the goal of promoting a context-strengthening approach in their work. Social care organisations must fully acknowledge the high and crucial need for a supportive network around children with disabilities and their families. The natural network should be recognised as an essential partner in every process involving a child with a disability. An increased level of trust from professionals in their own potential, in the strength of the natural context, and in the collaboration between the natural and professional networks contributes to the wellbeing of all stakeholders involved. Knowledge-sharing and -expansion, providing both a framework and tools, are offered in an accessible format, notably through a podcast composed of multiple episodes. By staying close to the experiences of the professionals and network figures featured in the podcast, we arrive at practice-based evidence on what truly works.

A live kick-off event was organised in Hungary to lay the foundation for a strong, content-driven narrative for the podcast, to align on expectations, responsibilities, (sub)goals, resource allocation, and a timeline, as well as to build positive working relationships and facilitate the exchange of theoretical frameworks and good practices. In a second phase, online focus groups were held, involving field practitioners from the participating countries. The introduction and feedback were plenary and in English. The actual exchanges occurred in the participants’ native languages, using break-out rooms. The third activity consisted, in each participating country, of both a group and an in-depth interview with members of the natural network, all conducted in the respective national languages. Next, the development of the podcast became the central focus. Based on the input gathered from the focus groups, group and in-depth interviews, seven episodes were written, recorded, and mastered. As a concluding activity, the podcast was presented and launched both live in Romania and via an online livestream. This was followed by an evaluation of the final outcome and the collaboration.

These activities have resulted in the following concrete and sustainable outcome: a podcast consisting of seven episodes titled Connective Care, Beyond Limits: A European Journey on Supportive Networking. This podcast is available on various platforms. The first and most comprehensive episode is a compilation of input from around 70 professionals and members of the natural network of a child with a disability. The following five episodes are narrative in nature, each telling a story from one of the five participating countries. The final episode contains a call to “donate magic” and to share the podcast. To maximize accessibility, a link is provided to written and translated versions of the episode content. The livestream is also a tangible output. It outlined the framework of the European collaboration as well as the key results. Teasers from the episodes were used during the livestream. Finally, there were several additional positive effects: a strengthened bond between the European organizations, a deep conviction regarding the relevance and practical usefulness of the podcast’s content, and a shared desire to embed the podcast within a comprehensive training module.