SoWhoCaresAnyway

Whose Shoes? Bringing my creativity to work

What happens when creativity meets courage, and co-production becomes a colourful invitation to think differently?In this episode, I’m joined by Gill Phillips, whose journey spans social care, poetry, podcasting, and the creation of the Whose Shoes? co-production tool. Gill brings a rich tapestry of lived experience, from frontline practice to strategic roles in local government, woven with personal resilience and creative defiance. A cancer diagnosis became a turning point, sharpening her resolve to challenge jargon and tokenism in public services. What emerged wasn’t just a board game, but a vibrant tool for change: Whose Shoes? A playful yet profound invitation to walk in someone else’s reality, sparking empathy, dialogue, and systemic shift.Together, we explore the power of poetry, the metaphor of the beach ball, and the joy of seeing people truly listen to one another. Gill reflects on workshops that changed lives, from maternity services in Buckinghamshire to SEND roadshows and a neonatal unit in Liverpool. She reminds us that co-production isn’t a tick box, it’s a culture shift.This is an episode about colour, courage, and the quiet magic that happens when people feel truly heard.
 
🔗 References and Resources
Whose Shoes? – Jill’s co-production tool and facilitation method🌐 whose-shoes.co.uk
Wild Card – Whose Shoes? Podcast🎙️ Listen on Podbean
Coventry University TechnoCentre – supported early development🌐 Coventry University Enterprises
NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme (GMTS)🌐 GMTS NHS Careers
Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust – Jill’s collaboration with Lisa Edwards🌐 MPFT
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital – site of co-production leading to neonatal unit🌐 Alder Hey NHS Foundation Trust
Liverpool Women’s Hospital – referenced in neonatal transport challenges🌐 Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust
Yvonne Newbold MBE – SEND advocate and collaborator🌐 yvonnenewbold.com
Liberating Structures – creative facilitation methods🌐 liberatingstructures.com

So Who Cares Anyway E30 With Passion & Purpose

In this episode of So Who Cares Anyway? I’m joined by Dr Jihad Malasi  GP, educator, mental health lead, and global health strategist. Jihad shares how early experiences of complexity and conflict became a driving force behind his leadership, and how passion and purpose continue to shape his clinical, community, and systems work.Jihads story unfolds into a career shaped by systems thinking, relational leadership, and a deep commitment to equity. We explore the NHS as a cultural institution, the invisible architecture of care, and the layered interplay between medicine, economics, and the humanities.Jihad reflects on how community assets are reshaping mental health care in Kent and Medway, and why continuity in general practice is more than a model it’s a mindset. From catalytic converters to crisis houses, this conversation moves from the personal to the planetary, from policy to poetry, and back again.Whoever you are, however you lead, this episode invites you to stay passionate, stay persistent, and keep banging on about what matters.
Resources
Mental Health Leadership in Kent & Medway
Dr Jihad serves as Clinical Lead for Mental Health at NHS Kent and Medway. His work includes strategic development of crisis pathways, safe havens, and community-based care.
Kent & Medway Primary Care Training Hub – Meet the Team
Crisis & Recovery Houses
A partnership between NHS Kent & Medway, Pears Foundation, and Hestia  offering 24/7 community-based support for people in mental health crisis.KMPT News: Crisis House Opens in Kent and MedwayHestia: Medway Crisis & Recovery House
Social Enterprise Kent – SE Kitchen
Dr Jihad is a Non-Executive Director at Social Enterprise Kent, which runs social supermarkets in Ashford and Margate offering affordable food, wraparound support, and community connection.SE Kitchen – Social SupermarketsSodexo Stop Hunger Funding for SE Kitchen

So Who Cares Anyway E 29 Inclusive Future in Your Pocket

What happens when digital dignity meets lived experience, and co-production becomes a tool for trust, autonomy, and health creation?In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Naveed Iqbal, GP, humanitarian, and founder of Triton Health, a platform shaped by and for people with learning disabilities. From refugee camps to frontline care, Naveed shares how fear became realism, neutrality became survival, and persistence became a way to work with the impossible.We explore gamification as a therapeutic tool, Kiki the AI companion, and why learning disability nurses are quiet heroes whose value is recognised abroad but underplayed at home. Naveed reflects on trust as infrastructure, community as clinical frontier, and how tweets became partnerships, and partnerships became funding.Together, we ask what it means to build health rather than prevent illness, and how digital tools might help people create their own wellbeing. This is an episode about emotional realism, systems thinking, and the quiet courage it takes to keep banging on about what matters.Whoever you are, however you care, this episode invites you to reimagine what health could feel like, and who gets to shape it.
Here are some relevant links and resources to accompany your episode with Dr Naveed Iqbal:
Resources
Tritone Health — A co-produced digital health platform designed for people with learning disabilities, blending mental, physical, and social health into one accessible space. Visit Tritone Health
Interview with Dr Naveed Iqbal📖 Read the interview on Lancashire Digital Hub
Medii App in practice Henley Standard article on Medii App

SoWhoCaresAnyway E28 Creativity is like a compas

What happens when trauma meets creativity and poetry becomes a way to survive, teach, and transform?
In this episode, I am joined by Thomas Delahunt, also known as The Hobo Poet, a neurodiverse A&E nurse, educator, and writer whose work spans trauma care, narrative teaching, and poetic reflection. From chaotic classrooms to Canterbury theatres, Thomas shares how creativity became his compass, guiding him through personal healing and professional transformation.
Together, we explore the concept of creative therapeutics, the emotional labour of nursing, and the power of art to deconstruct trauma, alter egos and rebuild identity. Thomas reflects on his Poetic Nursing Heart Blog, his Whispers in the Waiting Room, and his PhD research challenging organisational bias around resilience and mindfulness. He also shares the Butterfly Farmer Project, now active in Kent schools and care homes, and the legacy of love, trust, and transformation it’s cultivating.
Whoever you are, however you care, this episode invites you to ask why and to consider how creativity might help you find your way?
Resources; 
Thomas's reflective blog
https://thomasdelahunt.substack.com/p/creativity-really-is-a-compass 
CCCU School of Nursing, Midwifery, Allied and Public Health
School of Nursing, Midwifery, Allied and Public Health - Canterbury Christ Church University
 

SoWhoCaresAnyway E27 The Penalty of Ignorance

What happens when knowledge is out there, but inaccessible, unshared, or simply not embedded where it matters most?In this episode, I am joined by Sue Lacey Bryant, former Chief Knowledge Officer for the NHS in England and Visiting Professor at Manchester Metropolitan University. From childhood stories of missed bus routes to national strategy on knowledge mobilisation, Sue reflects on the emotional, ethical, and systemic costs of not knowing, and what it takes to turn information into action.Together, they explore how knowledge mobilisation can move from theory to practice: through relationships, workflow design, and tools that make learning stick. They unpack Sue’s ABCD framework (Apply, Build, Continue, Drive), her six-stage mobilisation model, and the roles needed to make knowledge flow, from curators and brokers to adopters and managers.From commissioning handbooks to clinical decision support, this conversation opens up the real work of embedding knowledge: not just publishing it, but making it usable, trusted, and sustained. Whether you’re leading change, working in care, or trying to bridge the gap between research and reality, there’s something here for you.
Show resources
Why does knowledge mobilisation matter?
Braithwaite, J., Glasziou, P. & Westbrook, J. The three numbers you need to know about healthcare: the 60-30-10 Challenge. BMC Med 18, 102 (2020).
Densen, P. Challenges and opportunities facing medical education. Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association, 2011.
Balas EA, Boren SA. Managing Clinical Knowledge for Health Care Improvement. Yearb Med Inform. 2000;(1):65-70. PMID: 27699347.
Khan S, Chambers D, Neta G. Revisiting time to translation: implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in cancer control. Cancer Causes Control. 2021 Mar;32(3):221-230. doi: 10.1007/s10552-020-01376-z. Epub 2021 Jan 4. PMID: 33392908.
 
Definition of knowledge management
Stan Garfield: Knowledge Management: https://sites.google.com/site/stangarfield
 
Definitions of knowledge mobilisation
Sue Lacey Bryant: Knowledge Mobilisation: an ABCD
University of Ottawa: https://www.uottawa.ca/research-innovation/knowledge-mobilization
University of Calgary: https://research.ucalgary.ca/engage-research/knowledge-impact/knowledge-mobilization
NIHR: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/research-funding/application-support/plan-knowledge-mobilisation
 
Learning Health Systems
Foley, T. et al. Realising the potential of Learning Health Systems, May 2021. https://learninghealthcareproject.org/realising-the-potential-of-learning-health-systems/
 
Knowledge Mobilisation tools and techniques
Knowledge Mobilisation Framework: https://library.hee.nhs.uk/knowledge-mobilisation/nhs-knowledge-mobilisation-framework-postcards
Knowledge Mobilisation self-assessment toolkit: https://library.hee.nhs.uk/knowledge-mobilisation/self-assessment-tool

SoWhoCaresAnyWay E26 Scales Are For Fish

What happens when we stop measuring health by the number on a scale and start asking what really matters? 
In this episode, Ruth is joined by Helen James, CEO of Nutriri, whose work challenges the weight-centric culture of healthcare. From intuitive eating to trauma-informed care, Helen shares how stigma shows up in consultations, waiting rooms, and clinical pathways, and what it takes to shift the conversation.
Together, they explore how weight-neutral care, inclusive training, and behaviour-focused support can rebuild trust in healthcare. From chairs in the “naughty corner” to neighbourhood health hubs that replace slimming clubs, this is a conversation about dignity, design, and doing with.
Whether you’re working in care, shaping policy, or rethinking your own practice, there’s something here for you.
Resources; To be added

SoWhoCaresAnyway E25 So Left Shift Should Be Easy, Right?

What happens when two consultant geriatricians decide to challenge the norm, not just in clinical practice, but in how care is imagined, led, and lived?
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Anna Folwell and Dr Dan Harman , whose work in Hull and East Riding is quietly reshaping what “left shift” really means. With clinical leadership rooted in community, they reflect on how integrated teams, co-location, and relational care can move us from pilot projects to lasting change.
Together, we explore what it takes to build trust across systems, how data and digital tools can support — not replace — human connection, and why joy, dignity, and shared purpose belong at the heart of care.
From fire services responding to falls to stories of older people reclaiming agency, this conversation opens up the real work of shifting left: doing with, not doing to.
Whether you're leading change, working in care, or simply curious about how systems can become more human, there’s something here for you.
Show resources
A place to meet the needs of people living with frailty | NHS Employers
The Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre – YouTube
Ray’s story: The Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre, Hull - Ray's story
NHS England — North East and Yorkshire » Centre’s integrated services transform care for frail and elderly residents
Developing a System-Wide Urgent Community Response Service for Patients Living with Frailty
A non-randomised controlled study to assess the effectiveness of a new proactive multidisciplinary care intervention for older people living with frailty
Experiences of a Novel Integrated Service for Older Adults at Risk of Frailty: A Qualitative Study
National evidence:
BGS Joining the Dots - A blueprint for preventing and managing frailty in  older people.pdf
Be proactive: Delivering proactive care - Overview | British Geriatrics Society
Be proactive: Evidence supporting proactive care for older people with frailty | British Geriatrics Society

SoWhoCareAnyWay E24 Pushing Doors Open to Create Safe Spaces For Learning

What happens when a GP invites the whole team, receptionists, managers, clinicians and more into a simulation room, and a few fluffy pandas make an appearance?
In this episode, I’m joined by, Dr Jane Roome  GP, educator, and Simulation Faculty Lead in West Kent. With insight and a grounded sense of care, Jane reflects on she has pushed open doors to create safe spaces for learning that shift not just clinical practice, but safe cultures for learning in teams.
Together, we explore what it means to prepare emotionally for the work we do, to rehearse the conversations that shape our teams, and to create spaces where safety is learned as a shared responsibility.
From GP waiting rooms turned into practice environments to debriefs that surface the emotional labour of care, this conversation opens up the gentle mechanics of building trust, readiness, and connection.
Whether you’re in a healthcare role or simply curious about how care can become more connected and compassionate, there’s something here for you.
For more about me and what I do, or if something from this episode has resonated and you'd like to show your support please head over to Linktree: Reflective Ruth There you'll find the podcast link, my website, and a way offer support for the show so that I can continue to invite my inspirational guests.

SoWhoCaresAnyway E23 The Harmony We Forgot in Chaotic Systems

When a consultant haematologist steps out of the system and walks into a forest, something begins to shift, in her, and in how she sees care.
In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Jane Stevens, Associate Medical Director at Darent Valley Hospital: clinical leader, organisational change-maker, and former haematologist. Jane’s journey through burnout, trauma, and rediscovery led her to Sophrology, Salutogenesis, and the creation of Out in the Fields, a retreat program quietly reshaping staff wellbeing across the NHS.
We explore what happens when we stop diagnosing dysfunction and start listening for vitality. It’s a conversation about presence, practice, and the quiet rebellion that begins when health is created, not delivered.
Whether it's a hospital boardroom at 4pm or a canopy of trees, you’ll hear how small acts of noticing might just be the beginning of something bigger.
No spoilers. This is another great episode and this is your invitation to tune in and discover......
 
Show resources
Out in the Fields Retreat Program🌐 outinthefields.org
Sophrology Academy (Kent)🌐  Sophroacademy
Viktor Frankl📖 Book: Mans search for meaning
Salutogenesis – Antonovsky📚 Book: Health stress and coping Dancing for Parkinson’s🌐 Dance for Parkinsons and English National Ballet project_Dance for Parkinsons
Brain Odyssey🌐 Stroke Odysseys
Forest Bathing / Shinrin-yoku🌐 The Forest Bathing Institute and Phytoncide and forest bathing
 

SoWhoCaresAnyWay E22 Given wings to create ripple effects

Are you ready to make ripples, be creative, and develop an environment where everyone thrives?
In this episode, I am joined by Cheryl Young, an Advanced Clinical Practitioner and Professional Nurse Advocate working in Whitstable Medical Practice, a community-based Urgent Treatment Centre on the Kent coast. With over two decades of nursing experience, Cheryl brings a rich blend of clinical expertise and human-centred leadership and a fierce passion for making workplace wellbeing more than just a tick box.
From bluebell walks to balcony huddles, gratitude journals to recruitment innovation, Cheryl shares how a culture of care has quietly reshaped her team’s practice. Through her distributed and supportive leadership, she has developed a creative, inclusive, and emotionally intelligent team that are not only equipped to look after each other, but, in an environment where everyone can ask, challenge, and receive the support they need, they provide safe, effective, and sustainable care to the people they serve.
This conversation threads beautifully through previous episodes, expanding on themes raised by Rebecca Myers who unpacked the emotional toll of health and care work, and Grace Cook from the Foundation of Nursing Studies, who explored the power and potential of clinical supervision an Heidi Edmunds compassionate distributed leadership . It also echoes the insights of James Metcalfe  from the North York Moors Trust , who spoke about the importance of outdoor spaces and wellbeing walks, ideas Cheryl has boldly brought into her practice for staff as well as her local community.
Together, we explore how creativity, inclusion, and emotional intelligence aren't “extras”, they’re essential tools for safer, stronger healthcare. And how small, purposeful actions can ripple outward into lasting change.
We discuss how giving people the support they need, space to speak and time to reflect, develops an environment of continuous professional learning, improvement, and wellbeing, all of which positively impact the communities they care for.
If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to embed wellbeing into a busy clinical setting, and how culture becomes “just how we do things around here” this one’s for you.