The Unseen Work: Relational Principles in Child Protection
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So much of child protection work goes unseen: the doubt a practitioner carries into a visit; the ground-level practice wisdom that never makes it into a report; the hidden strengths of a parent; and the fragile relationship that actually made the difference.
Too often, we are asked to prioritise compliance over connection. In this webinar, Richard Devine and Tim Fisher draw on their combined frontline experience – and the learning and leadership that followed – to explore how we can put relationships back at the centre of practice, both individually and systemically.
We will offer real‑world principles and examples of relational practice, showing how recognising the unseen aspects of our work can transform what becomes possible. We will also consider how to sustain motivation: to keep improving our practice, the systems we work within, and the experiences of children and families.
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Name the core principles of relational practice and what they look like in child protection
- Hold complexity—about families, risk, and their own role—without retreating into certainty or risk‑averse practice
- Identify what goes unseen in their own work, and use that awareness to work more effectively with children and families
- Apply practical ideas and tools that support meaningful change in their day‑to‑day practice
Bio
Richard Devine is Head of Systemic Practice in Solihull Council with over 15 years’ experience in child protection. He holds a Master’s in Attachment Studies from the University of Roehampton and is a Visiting Researcher at the University of Cambridge. Richard is the author of Messy Social Work: Learning from Frontline Practice with Children and Families (JKP, 2025), and co-host of the Messy Social Work podcast. His work focuses on practice wisdom, relational approaches, and the complexities of frontline decision-making.
Tim Fisher FRSA is a social work leader and Practice Lead for England and Wales at Kinship, with over 20 years’ experience in child and family services. He is the founder of Relational Activism, a platform bringing together lived and learned experience to foster belonging and drive change across human services. Tim has extensive experience in local authority leadership, including over a decade as a service manager, and is a leading advocate for participatory practice, including Family Group Conferencing. He co-hosts the Messy Social Work podcast.
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