This episode focuses on working with ‘parental conflict’ (this is the phrase we tend to hear, though we discuss that there may be more helpful language we can use). Terminology aside, it’s clear that professional involvement in the very personal dynamics of a couple’s relationship and how it may be impacting their child or children can be extremely challenging and uncomfortable for both the parents and practitioners.

So we wanted to bring you some practical advice and guidance on doing this type of work with families. Our guest sharing some of her experience and expertise Jude Gordon. Jude has been a practitioner and service manager in local authority and voluntary sector settings, working with children, young people and families. Until earlier this year, she led the Reducing Parental Conflict programme at Relate. This included different forms of relationship support for parents and carers; training for professionals who work with families; and developing AI tools to help couples and co-parents communicate more effectively an understand how their children may be feeling Jude is now a project manager within the child poverty team at the North East Combined Authority, which covers seven local authority areas.

The discussion includes anonymised examples of working with a family, supporting families with the systemic and practical challenges that can contribute to conflict, working with separated couples and co-parents, useful resources and self-care for practitioners. Jude emphasises relational, authentic practice, and keeping in mind cultural and family structure differences.

Links to resources Jude mentions:

Relate's 'Sounding board' bot that can help parents (partners or co-parents) who are having disagreements to write texts and emails or prepare for conversations
'In the middle' bot (also from Relate) helps parents understand how their child/ren of different ages may understand their parents' relationship and how they may feel.
Tool to find local services
The Reducing Parental Conflict online community on Knowledge Hub (requires initial free registration with Knowledge Hub, a digital platform for public service professionals)
One Plus One: offers free and paid for online resources, and training packages
Race Equality Foundation parental conflict toolkit
Related resources on CC Inform




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Benefits A-Z (includes information about eligibility and how to apply for all major social security benefit in the UK)
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This episode focuses on working with ‘parental conflict’ (this is the phrase we tend to hear, though we discuss that there may be more helpful language we can use). Terminology aside, it’s clear that professional involvement in the very personal dynamics of a couple’s relationship and how it may be impacting their child or children can be extremely challenging and uncomfortable for both the parents and practitioners. So we wanted to bring you some practical advice and guidance on doing this type of work with families. Our guest sharing some of her experience and expertise Jude Gordon. Jude has been a practitioner and service manager in local authority and voluntary sector settings, working with children, young people and families. Until earlier this year, she led the Reducing Parental Conflict programme at Relate. This included different forms of relationship support for parents and carers; training for professionals who work with families; and developing AI tools to help couples and co-parents communicate more effectively an understand how their children may be feeling Jude is now a project manager within the child poverty team at the North East Combined Authority, which covers seven local authority areas. The discussion includes anonymised examples of working with a family, supporting families with the systemic and practical challenges that can contribute to conflict, working with separated couples and co-parents, useful resources and self-care for practitioners. Jude emphasises relational, authentic practice, and keeping in mind cultural and family structure differences. Links to resources Jude mentions: <ul><li><a href="https://www.relate.org.uk/reducing-parental-conflict/sounding-board-bot" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Relate's 'Sounding board' bot that can help parents (partners or co-parents) who are having disagreements to write texts and emails or prepare for conversations</a></li><li><a href="https://www.relate.org.uk/reducing-parental-conflict/in-the-middle-bot" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'In the middle' bot (also from Relate) helps parents understand how their child/ren of different ages may understand their parents' relationship and how they may feel.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.relate.org.uk/reducing-parental-conflict/find-local-services" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tool to find local services</a></li><li>The <a href="https://khub.net/web/reducing-parental-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reducing Parental Conflict online community</a> on Knowledge Hub (requires initial free registration with <a href="https://khub.net/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Knowledge Hub</a>, a digital platform for public service professionals)</li><li><a href="https://www.oneplusone.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">One Plus One:</a> offers free and paid for online resources, and training packages</li><li><a href="https://raceequalityfoundation.org.uk/parentalconflict/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Race Equality Foundation parental conflict toolkit</a></li></ul> Related resources on CC Inform <ul><li><a href="https://www.ccinform.co.uk/knowledge-hubs/podcasts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">All our podcast episodes</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ccinform.co.uk/knowledge-hubs/benefits-a-z/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benefits A-Z</a> (includes information about eligibility and how to apply for all major social security benefit in the UK)</li><li><a href="https://www.ccinform.co.uk/knowledge-hubs/housing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Housing knowledge and practice hub</a> (includes information on rights in relation to housing conditions and tenancy)</li><li></li></ul>

Learn on the go is the Community Care Inform podcast where practitioners, trainers, consultants, academics and researchers discuss practice, research, and theories and what they mean for social workers. Listening to episodes is a convenient way to learn and refresh your knowledge when you don’t have much time to read or prefer other ways of getting information and reflecting on your practice.

We’ve been recording Learn on the go on an ad hoc basis since 2017. Over these eight years our podcast audience has grown, and in 2025 we made the decision to start recording Learn on the go in seasons. We launched Season 1 Episode 1 in January 2025.

During each season, episodes are released monthly on the last Friday of the month and all episodes appear on Inform Adults and Inform Children or you can subscribe to Learn on the go through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Learn on the go is the Community Care Inform podcast where practitioners, trainers, consultants, academics and researchers discuss practice, research, and theories and what they mean for social workers. Listening to episodes is a convenient way to learn and refresh your knowledge when you don’t have much time to read or prefer other ways of getting information and reflecting on your practice.   We’ve been recording Learn on the go on an ad hoc basis since 2017. Over these eight years our podcast audience has grown, and in 2025 we made the decision to start recording Learn on the go in seasons. We launched Season 1 Episode 1 in January 2025.   During each season, episodes are released monthly on the last Friday of the month and all episodes appear on Inform Adults and Inform Children or you can <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/learn-on-the-go/id1268644821" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">subscribe to Learn on the go through Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/17Hqmsd9mouCwMfXUpf4GD" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spotify</a>, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

We discuss the latest research, theories and practice issues, and look at what they mean for social workers.

Learn on the go: the Community Care podcast

This episode focuses on working with ‘parental conflict’ (this is the phrase we tend to hear, though we discuss that there may be more helpful language we can use). Terminology aside, it’s clear that professional involvement in the very personal...