The importance of care

An audio interview with Jenny Molloy, aka Hackney Child. Jenny is a care leaver who now acts as a lecturer, adviser and trainer in social care and social work. Jenny is also the first Patron of the British Association of Social Workers.

Jenny co-authored her first two books ‘Hackney Child: A true story of surviving poverty and the care system’ and ‘Tainted Love: a true story of kids of who survive neglect’ under the pseudonym Hope Daniels to great critical acclaim and has published her third book, ‘Neglected: true stories of children’s search for love in and out of the care system’. Further details of Jenny and her work can be found on her Twitter account.

In this interview Jenny reflects upon her experience of being looked after and cared for within the formal care system, and identifies the importance of feeling loved and claimed by the adults looking after her. She also reflects upon some of the challenges that may exist for adults attempting to practice in this way within the current climate of risk aversion and notions of appropriate professional boundaries.