Able to Care

Live-In Care Explained – Why Families Are Choosing Home Over Care Homes

In this episode of the Able to Care Podcast, Andy is joined by Gary Derbyshire, live‑in care business owner and care advocate, for an honest and practical conversation about what live‑in care really looks like in everyday life.
Together, they unpack how live‑in care differs from domiciliary care and residential care homes, why it can be a powerful option for people living with dementia, learning difficulties, anxiety, or complex needs, and how it can dramatically reduce stress and burnout for unpaid family carers.
This episode is especially relevant for parents, teachers, and caregivers who are supporting someone vulnerable, feeling overwhelmed, or unsure what “the next step” should be. Gary shares real examples, clears up common fears, and explains how joined‑up, preventative support can protect dignity, independence, and wellbeing — for everyone involved.
🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode
What live‑in care actually is — explained in clear, human terms
How live‑in care compares to domiciliary care and residential care homes
Why familiarity, routine, and one‑to‑one support matter so much for people with dementia
How live‑in care can reduce guilt, burnout, and anxiety for unpaid carers
What families should ask before choosing any care provider
How joined‑up working with charities, NHS teams, and local services improves outcomes
⏱️ Episode Chapters (Timestamps)
00:01 – What is live‑in care? A simple explanation
03:07 – Live‑in care vs domiciliary care vs care homes
08:00 – Who live‑in care is (and isn’t) suitable for
11:24 – Cost, value, and funding options explained
17:21 – Common fears families have about live‑in care
27:14 – Practical first steps for families feeling overwhelmed
29:16 – What a live‑in carer actually does day‑to‑day
36:50 – Joined‑up care: working with NHS, charities, and community services
45:31 – Guilt, burnout, and becoming a daughter again (not just a carer)
48:26 – Questions families should ask any care provider
57:39 – Final takeaway: when to seriously consider live‑in care
🔑 Three Key Messages
Live‑in care is about dignity, not dependencyStaying at home, keeping routines, pets, relationships, and identity intact can dramatically improve emotional and psychological wellbeing.
Prevention matters more than crisis responseEarly support can prevent falls, hospital admissions, UTIs, medication errors, and carer burnout — protecting everyone long‑term.
Good care supports the whole family, not just the individualLive‑in care can help unpaid carers step out of constant responsibility and back into meaningful relationships.
📌 Resources & Organisations Mentioned
Promedica24 Live‑in Care👉 https://www.promedica24careathome.co.uk
Dementia Forward👉 https://www.dementiaforward.org.uk
Lancashire Mind👉 https://www.lancashiremind.org.uk
Care Quality Commission (CQC)👉 https://www.cqc.org.uk
Homecare.co.uk (provider reviews)👉 https://www.homecare.co.uk
🎯 Why Listen to This Episode?
If you’re:
Supporting a loved one with dementia, learning difficulties, or increasing vulnerability
Feeling exhausted, guilty, or unsure how long you can keep going
A professional wanting a clearer understanding of care pathways
Trying to make sense of confusing care options
…this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and realistic alternatives, without pressure or sales talk.
🤝 About the Guest
Gary Derbyshire runs Promedica24, delivering live‑in care across Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cumbria.
With a background in NHS work, care advocacy, and community collaboration, Gary supports families navigating dementia, learning difficulties, and complex needs. He is known for his calm, empathetic approach and for building joined‑up support networks with organisations such as Dementia Forward, Lancashire Mind, and local services.
🔗 Connect With Gary
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-derbyshire-5b484240/
Instagram: @derbyshire.gary
Website: https://www.promedica24careathome.co.uk
🔗 Connect With Able
📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining📲 LinkedIn: Able Training📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast🌐 Website: Ablle-training.co.uk

Why 'Do As You’re Told' Doesn’t Work: Rethinking Challenging Behaviour

Why “just do as you’re told” doesn’t work — and what to do instead.
If you're a caregiver, teacher or parent exhausted by difficult behaviour, this episode is for you.
In this solo episode, Andy Baker (behaviour specialist, author, and trainer) challenges the outdated scripts we've inherited around control, punishment, and compliance — and shares a powerful mindset shift that actually works.
From his own story of being mugged at knifepoint to practical insights for managing aggression, defiance, or withdrawal, Andy explores how a person-centred, trauma-informed approach to behaviour support can improve outcomes for everyone — including you.
Whether you work in a care home, a classroom or your own home, this episode helps you move from reactivity to reflection, from “what’s wrong with you?” to “what’s going on for you?”
📚 Resources Mentioned:
Book: Targeting the Positive: With Behaviours That Challenge by Andy Baker
Able Training: www.able-training.co.uk/podcast
💡 Three Key Messages:
Challenging behaviour is subjective – what we find difficult often says more about us than the person we’re supporting.
Old logic harms connection – the “do as you’re told” mindset leads to fear, shutdown or escalation.
New logic builds trust – curiosity, empathy, and focusing on needs (not punishment) create better outcomes for everyone.
⏱️ Timestamps (Chapters):
00:00 – The problem with “just being difficult”
01:20 – Andy’s story: being mugged, fear, and the start of a career in behaviour
02:00 – What does “challenging behaviour” actually mean?
04:00 – Subjectivity, values, and why we label behaviour
06:00 – Task-focused vs. person-centred: why we get stuck
07:30 – The pause: learning to respond, not react
09:00 – From punishment to curiosity: the ‘new logic’ in behaviour
11:00 – The danger of “should” and “must” scripts
12:00 – Maladaptive vs. disliked behaviour
13:00 – The cultural lens: are our expectations even right?
14:00 – 3 mindset shifts to start using tomorrow
15:10 – How “Targeting the Positive” can help you become the weatherman of behaviour
🎯 Why Listen to This Episode?
If you’ve ever thought “why won’t they just behave?” — you’re not alone. This episode gives you a practical, mindset-shifting framework that moves beyond punishment and helps you better support children, adults, or anyone with distressed or confusing behaviour. It’s compassionate, empowering, and refreshingly honest.
🔗 Stay Connected:📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining📲 LinkedIn: Able Training📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast🌐 Website: AbleTraining

No Home, No Care: The UK Housing Crisis Blocking Care Packages

What happens when a care package is approved... but there's no home for it to go into?
In this vital conversation, I’m joined by Ben Gyles, co-founder of Urban Nest Property Solutions and The Housing Partnership Forum, to tackle the growing gap between housing and care. Ben shares his personal connection to council housing, his work supporting care providers and councils, and how housing shortages and visa changes are creating a chokehold on care delivery across the UK.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher or caregiver, this episode sheds light on how stable, trauma-informed housing isn’t just about bricks and mortar – it’s about creating safety, healing and dignity for those we support.
🔑 Three Key Messages:
Care Needs a Roof: Housing is not just a backdrop to care delivery – it’s a fundamental part of it. Without suitable homes, care packages are delayed, disjointed or completely unworkable.
The System is Reacting, Not Planning: Providers, councils, and landlords are trapped in reactive firefighting. We need better communication, forward planning and strategic housing pipelines to meet future care needs.
Homes Can Heal: Trauma-informed environments matter. With insight from his partner, therapist Silvia Costa, Ben shares how thoughtful design can support mental wellbeing and long-term recovery.
⏱️ Timestamps (Chapters):
00:00 – What happens when care is approved, but there's nowhere to go?
02:00 – Delayed discharge and the £2bn cost of nowhere-to-go patients
05:00 – The impact of housing shortages on small care providers
10:00 – The missing link: communication breakdown between councils, landlords and providers
20:00 – How Urban Nest is bridging the gap with property pipelines
25:00 – Visa changes, staff shortages and housing as recruitment infrastructure
30:00 – How trauma-informed design transforms housing into healing
35:00 – Advice for caregivers and advocates struggling with housing support
40:00 – Behaviour, stability and the ripple effect of insecure housing on families and schools
45:00 – What councils and government could change today
50:00 – The Housing Partnership Forum – a new space for collaboration
📚 Resources Mentioned:
The Housing Partnership Forum: Join on LinkedIn
Ben & Silvia on LinkedIn: Ben and Silvia
Your Local Guardian Article: Urban Nest launched to save Croydon's forgotten homes
Targeting the Positive (Book) by Andy Baker: Find it on Amazon
🎯 Why Listen to This Episode?
If you work in care, education or support families in any way, this episode will challenge how you think about housing. Ben Gyles offers a fresh, solutions-focused perspective on how to overcome housing barriers in care – from planning better homes to understanding trauma-informed design. It’s a conversation packed with heart, real-world examples, and practical hope.
🔗 Connect with Us:
📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining📲 LinkedIn: Able Training📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast🌐 Website:AbleTraining

Preventative Wellbeing: The Six C’s That Help People Thrive

In this powerful solo episode of Able to Care, Andy Baker – behaviour specialist, author, trainer and speaker – explores one of the most transformative frameworks in person-centred support: the Six C’s of Preventative Wellbeing.
Too often, we fight fires instead of fireproofing. Whether you're a parent trying to reduce meltdowns, a carer supporting someone in distress, or a teacher dealing with disengagement, this episode reframes the problem: It’s not just about reacting to behaviour – it’s about creating environments where the behaviour doesn’t need to happen.
Andy introduces the Six C’s – Comfort, Consistency, Connection, Choice, Competency, and Challenge – and explains how each one contributes to better outcomes for those we support, and for ourselves. Grounded in trauma-informed practice, psychological safety, and real-world experience, this model gives carers and professionals a clear, compassionate roadmap for prevention and wellbeing.
🤝 Sponsored by Carers Card UK
We're proud to be sponsored by Carers Card UK – the UK’s number one ID and discount card for unpaid and paid carers.
Started by two friends who knew carers deserved better, Carers Card UK gives you:
Discounts on everyday essentials, days out, gym memberships, and more
An official ID recognised by emergency services
A private wellbeing hub and Carers Circle app
All for less than the cost of a box of chocolates per year.
👉 Claim your Carers Card -  Order your card today
📚 Resources Mentioned
Targeting the Positive – Andy Baker’s book exploring proactive and person-centred behaviour support.
Able Training – The Target System – Learn more about the framework featured in this episode.
🗝️ Three Key Messages
Preventative wellbeing is proactive, not reactive. When we build safety, predictability, and purpose into environments, we reduce distress – and therefore, behaviour that challenges.
The Six C’s aren’t just theory – they’re culture. Comfort, Consistency, Connection, Choice, Competency, and Challenge must be embedded into everyday life, not just stuck on a poster.
You can’t thrive in fight-or-flight. Until people feel safe, they cannot learn, relate, or grow. Support must begin with emotional safety.
⏱️ Timestamps (Chapters)
00:00 – Why Firefighting Doesn’t Work
01:40 – The Six C’s Explained
02:53 – What is Preventative Wellbeing?
04:28 – Comfort: Psychological and Physical Safety
07:17 – Consistency: The Quiet Rhythm of Trust
09:49 – Connection: The Gateway to Regulation
11:11 – Choice: Autonomy and Dignity in Action
13:17 – Competency: Building Self-Esteem Through Mastery
15:11 – Challenge: Stretching Without Overwhelming
17:00 – How to Use the Six C’s in Practice
19:13 – From Compliance to Culture
19:50 – Final Thoughts and a Call to Reflect
🎧 Why Listen to This Episode?
You’re a parent who wants less shouting and more connection
You’re a teacher frustrated by behaviour but unsure what’s beneath it
You’re a carer trying to create calm, not just contain chaos
You’re a leader looking to reduce burnout and improve wellbeing
This episode helps you see support differently – not as a response to behaviour, but as an opportunity to shape it before it ever appears.
🔗 Connect With Us
📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining📲 LinkedIn: Able Training📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk
 

Transforming School Behaviour and Culture with Fiona Booth

What happens when a headteacher leads not with policies, but with purpose? In this inspiring episode of the Able to Care podcast, behaviour specialist Andy Baker speaks with Fiona Booth, Headteacher at St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy, a school recently featured by the BBC for its outstanding, relationship-driven approach to education.
With 12 years in leadership, Fiona shares how she rebuilt a “dark” school culture into one where every child—and adult—feels safe, seen and supported.
From tucking in shirts as a symbol of belonging to using data as a torch, not a hammer, Fiona’s message will resonate with caregivers, educators and parents navigating systems while trying to hold onto humanity.
This is an essential listen for anyone who believes behaviour is communication, and that education—and care—must start with connection.
💙 Sponsored by: Carers Card UK
This episode is proudly supported by Carers Card UK – the UK’s No.1 ID and discount card for unpaid and paid carers.
With Carers Card UK, you’ll get:
A trusted carer ID card
Discounts on gyms, glasses, clothing, days out, and more
Access to a wellbeing hub, Carers Circle, and supportive app
🎁 Get your exclusive Able to Care offer:👉 🎟️ Order your card today
🔗 Resources Mentioned:
Fiona Booth – Email
BBC Feature on St Nicholas CE Primary Academy (Feb 2025) (link to be added)
Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge by Andy Baker
Able Training Podcast Hub
💡 Three Key Messages:
Love is not soft—it’s structured.Compassion and boundaries are not opposites. They work best when they walk hand-in-hand.
Real behaviour change comes from consistency and culture.Building trust, not fear, leads to safer, stronger systems—for children and adults alike.
Every human being carries light.A school should be a lighthouse: guiding, warning, celebrating. When we see the light in others, they begin to see it in themselves.
⏱ Timestamps / Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction and Sponsor: Carers Card UK
01:40 – Meet Fiona Booth: Relationship-Centric Leadership
03:00 – What is a relationship-first school and why does it matter?
06:00 – Finding the untold stories behind behaviour
08:00 – How trauma-informed leadership reshapes whole school culture
11:00 – Building trust, not compliance, with staff and students
14:00 – Stories of real transformation: from despair to belonging
18:00 – The 'shine' philosophy and embracing every child’s light
22:00 – Rethinking data: Is it a hammer or a torch?
28:00 – Boundaries, belief and building expectations
34:00 – Being a lead learner: How Fiona models continual growth
39:00 – Music, movement and joy as staff wellbeing strategies
44:00 – What Ofsted and the DfE miss about real behaviour change
48:00 – Gratitude journals, emotional literacy and peer celebration
53:00 – Culture-shifting through connection, one moment at a time
56:00 – Final stories: Why this work really matters
01:05:00 – What drives Fiona on hard days
🎯 Why Listen to This Episode:
Discover how to build compassion-led culture in any school or care setting
Learn why vulnerability is a strength in leadership, not a weakness
Explore how boundaries + empathy create safety
Be inspired by real-life stories of hope, healing and transformation
Gain tools to help you connect before you correct in behaviour support
If you're a parent, teacher, caregiver—or anyone supporting people through challenges—this episode offers emotional insight and practical hope.
📲 Stay Connected:
🎧 Listen to all episodes: www.able-training.co.uk/podcast📘 Andy’s Book – Targeting the Positive: Buy on Amazon💳 Carers Card UK Offer:  🎟️ Order your card today
📱 Follow Able Training:
📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining📲 LinkedIn: Able Training📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk

The Hidden Power of Language in Care, Teaching and Parenting

Have you ever said, “Be quiet,” or “Stop crying,” and meant well — but noticed it shut things down rather than opened them up?In this solo episode of the Able to Care podcast, Andy Baker (behaviour specialist, trainer, author, and speaker) explores how everyday language used in care, education, and family life can either build trust or break it.
Aimed at caregivers, educators, and parents, this thought-provoking episode shows how subtle shifts in language can transform your connection with the people you support — from young children to adults.
This isn’t about being “soft.” It’s about being smart with your words. Learn how to move from control to connection, from correction to collaboration.
💙 Sponsored by: Carers Card UK
The Able to Care podcast is proudly supported by Carers Card UK, the UK’s leading recognition and rewards platform for carers.
With Carers Card UK, you’ll get:
A trusted ID card for emergency reassurance
Discounts on gyms, shops, holidays, glasses, and more
Access to a Wellbeing Hub, Carers Circle tool, and supportive app community
🎁 All of this for less than the cost of a box of chocolates.👉 Claim your exclusive offer &  Order your card today
📚 Resources Mentioned:
Andy’s book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge
Podcast hub: www.able-training.co.uk/podcast
💡 Three Key Messages:
The way we phrase things shapes behaviour and safety.Language can either escalate or regulate, build bridges or burn them.
Small changes in words lead to big changes in connection.Replacing “stop crying” with “I’m here for you” invites trust and emotional safety.
Words don’t just describe reality — they create it.From praising effort to setting boundaries with kindness, your language teaches people how safe they are and how capable they can become.
⏱️ Timestamps / Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction: Why the words we use matter
00:43 – Sponsor: Carers Card UK
01:50 – Connection vs control: The impact of phrases like “Stop crying”
02:14 – How language reflects mindset and changes how others see themselves
03:12 – Language as emotional regulation and safety cue
04:44 – Trauma-informed language: Validating vs dismissing distress
05:49 – Replacing correction with collaboration
06:36 – Building a growth mindset with words
07:53 – Avoiding minimisation: Why “it’s not that hard” can harm
08:28 – Reframing “mess” and “behaviour” in play and exploration
09:38 – The principle of positive phrasing: Say what you want to see
10:19 – The TARGET model: How to reflect and shift language patterns
11:14 – Final thought: Every word is a seed — plant safety, not fear
🎯 Why Listen to This Episode:
You’ll gain practical, everyday language swaps that calm instead of escalate
You’ll reflect on your own communication habits and how they shape behaviour
You’ll understand how trust and safety are built one phrase at a time
You’ll be better equipped to help children or adults feel seen, heard and respected
If you’re a parent, teacher, carer, or support worker, this episode will leave you thinking differently about what you say — and why it matters.
📲 Stay Connected:
📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining📲 LinkedIn: Able Training📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk

Silence Your Inner Critic: Mindful Self-Compassion for Caregivers (with Kathryn Lovewell)

In this episode of the Able to Care podcast, behaviour specialist Andy Baker is joined by Kathryn Lovewell, founder of Kind Mind Academy, award-winning speaker, and best-selling author of The Little Book of Self-Compassion, The Voices in My Head, and Every Teacher Matters.
Together, they explore how self-compassion isn’t soft—it’s essential. Drawing on Kathryn’s experience working across schools, prisons, foster care, and families, they unpack the power of mindful self-compassion in daily life, especially for those in support roles.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or carer feeling stretched thin, this conversation offers something rare: permission to be kind to yourself—and practical steps to start today.
💙 Sponsored by: Carers Card UK
We’re proudly supported by Carers Card UK, the UK's leading carers recognition and discount scheme.
For just a few pounds a year, carers get:
Trusted ID card for peace of mind
Discounts on gyms, clothing, glasses, and days out
Access to a wellbeing hub, Carers Circle tool, and community app
🎁 Get your exclusive Able to Care discount now:👉 carerscarduk.co.uk/promo-code/abletocare
🔗 Resources Mentioned:
Free community: The Booster Way Community
Kathryn on LinkedIn: Kathryn Lovewell
Instagram: @theboosterway
Kathryn’s books:
The Voices in My Head
The Little Book of Self-Compassion
Every Teacher Matters
Andy’s book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge
Podcast hub: able-training.co.uk/podcast
💡 Three Key Messages:
Self-compassion isn't self-indulgent—it's essential.For carers and educators, kindness to ourselves fuels how well we care for others.
We pass on our inner dialogue.Children and young people absorb how we speak to ourselves as much as how we speak to them.
Start small, stay consistent.Rewiring our inner voice takes time, but small acts of self-kindness each day create lasting change.
⏱️ Timestamps / Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: The power of how we speak to ourselves
01:42 – Sponsor: Carers Card UK
02:00 – Meet Kathryn Lovewell and her journey into self-compassion
05:00 – Understanding the inner critic and “Crusher” vs “Booster”
10:30 – Why self-compassion is so hard but so necessary
15:20 – How changing our inner voice transforms relationships
20:00 – Recognising signs of emotional depletion and burnout
28:00 – A guided Self-Compassion Break exercise
35:00 – The Booster Way: Building emotional language in families
42:00 – Creating a culture of compassion in schools and homes
47:00 – Modeling healthy self-talk for children
52:00 – Practical ways to calm and regulate during tough moments
56:00 – Busting the myth: Self-care isn’t selfish
59:00 – Final message: No one needs to suffer alone
🎯 Why Listen to This Episode:
You’ll learn practical tools for calming the inner critic
You’ll hear powerful real-life stories from education and parenting
You’ll walk away with a new language to share compassion with your children and yourself
You’ll discover why modeling emotional wellbeing is the most effective teaching tool of all
This is an episode for anyone who’s ever said, “I just don’t have time for self-care.” You do—and Kathryn Lovewell shows you how to make it count.
📲 Stay Connected:
The Able Hub: www.ablehub.uk 
Andy Baker’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge
📱 Follow Us:
📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining📲 LinkedIn: Able Training📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk

The Cost of Submissive Behaviour: When Quiet Isn’t Calm

In today’s solo episode, behaviour specialist and author Andy Baker shines a light on one of the most overlooked behavioural patterns in care and education: submissive behaviour.
When someone is compliant, quiet, or “no trouble at all,” we often assume they’re fine. But beneath the surface, they may be masking distress, emotionally shutting down, or building up stress that will eventually erupt elsewhere.
This episode is essential listening for teachers, parents, and caregivers who want to truly understand the people they support—not just by what they do, but what they hide.
Andy explores the cost of emotional suppression, the danger of unseen stress, and how to spot when “quiet” is actually a cry for help. If you support someone who’s “easy,” “shy,” or never says no—this episode could change everything.
💙 Sponsored by: Carers Card UK
We’re proudly supported by Carers Card UK – the UK’s No.1 carers discount and ID service.
For less than the price of a box of chocolates a year, you get:
A trusted carer ID card
Discounts on gyms, glasses, days out, clothing, and tech
Access to a wellbeing hub and carers’ community app
🎁 Claim your Able to Care exclusive offer:👉 carerscarduk.co.uk/promocode/abletocare
🔗 Resources Mentioned:
Andy Baker’s Book – Targeting the Positive
www.able-training.co.uk/podcast
💡 Three Key Messages:
Quietness is not always calm—sometimes it’s a trauma response.People may mask distress by appearing agreeable, passive, or withdrawn. It’s not comfort—it’s survival.
Submissive behaviour is costly—physically and emotionally.When emotions are repressed long-term, it can lead to chronic anxiety, burnout, and even trauma.
Psychological safety allows people to show their true selves.Whether at home, school, or in care, we must create environments where people feel safe to say “no” and express emotion without fear of judgment.
⏱️ Timestamps / Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction: The myth of the “quiet, good one”
02:05 – Sponsor: Carers Card UK
03:00 – Why compliant behaviour often masks distress
05:00 – What is masking, and why does it drain emotional energy?
06:00 – The physiology of freeze and submit
07:00 – The Coke bottle analogy: When pressure builds up
08:00 – Why meltdowns happen at home, not school
10:00 – How quietness can be a trauma response
11:00 – How disassociation shows up in care and education settings
12:00 – Spotting the signs: the cost of never saying “no”
14:00 – Why we must reframe “no” as a healthy boundary
15:00 – Masking exhaustion and emotional burnout
16:00 – A story of hidden pain in a school toilet
17:00 – Practical signs to look out for
18:00 – Supporting safe expression and psychological safety
20:00 – What schools and services can do better
22:00 – Self-erasure vs. authentic self-expression
24:00 – The final message: Notice, name, and nurture the quiet ones
🎯 Why Listen to This Episode:
If you’ve ever worked with or raised someone who “never causes trouble,” this episode might completely shift your perspective.
You’ll learn:
Why submissive behaviour can be more dangerous than defiance
How stress builds when there’s no outlet for emotion
What to watch out for in “easy” children or quiet clients
How to build safe, trusting environments where true feelings can be expressed
This is a must-listen for teachers, parents, support workers, foster carers, and social care staff who want to offer truly person-centred care and connection—not just good behaviour on the surface.
📲 Connect with Able Training:
🎧 Listen to all episodes: www.able-training.co.uk/podcast📘 Andy’s book: Targeting the Positive: With Behaviours That Challenge💳 Carers Card UK Offer: carerscarduk.co.uk/promo-code/abletocare
📱 Follow Able Training:
Instagram – @abletraining
Facebook – Able Training
LinkedIn – Andy Baker
YouTube – Able Training

Understanding Men, Women & Stress: John Gray on Relationships, Care, and Self-Care

In this powerful and insightful episode, Andy Baker, behaviour specialist, author, and trainer, is joined by John Gray — the legendary author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, one of the most influential relationship books of all time.
Together, they unpack how gender, stress, hormones, and communication interact in modern relationships — especially for people who care for others every day.
From understanding emotional needs and managing burnout to learning how men and women can better support one another, this episode offers life-changing insights for caregivers, teachers, and parents who want healthier relationships, stronger self-care, and deeper human connection.
John shares tools from his upcoming book Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus – For Women Only: Be Happy With or Without a Man, exploring how finding balance, appreciation, and authenticity can transform both romantic and caregiving relationships.
💙 Sponsored by: Carers Card UK
The Able to Care podcast is proudly sponsored by Carers Card UK — the UK’s number one card for carers.
🎁 For less than the price of a box of chocolates a year, you’ll get:
A carer ID card with emergency info
Discounts on groceries, gyms, days out, clothing & glasses
Access to a wellbeing hub, Carers Circle app & online support
👉  Order your card today
🔗 Resources Mentioned:
🌐 John Gray’s Official Website – MarsVenus.com
📘 Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus – Amazon UK
📕 Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: For Women Only – Be Happy With or Without a Man (New Release)
🎥 John Gray on YouTube
📱 Facebook: Mars.Venus.John.Gray
📸 Instagram: @johngraymarsvenus_official
🧘 Transcendental Meditation Foundation
📗 Andy’s book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge
💡 Three Key Messages:
Men and women process stress differently — and that’s okay.Men thrive when solving problems; women thrive when feeling heard and supported. Recognising this difference builds connection, not conflict.
Caregivers often give too much — without receiving enough.Dr. Gray explains how over-giving, especially for women, depletes emotional energy and hormones. Learning to receive love, rest, and help is vital self-care.
Self-care isn’t selfish — it’s hormonal balance.Whether through meditation, social bonding, or quiet time, learning what restores your energy helps you care for others without burning out.
⏱️ Timestamps / Chapters:
00:00 – Sponsor: Carers Card UK
00:46 – Meet Dr. John Gray – author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus
02:00 – Why his work still resonates decades later
03:30 – Understanding gender differences in communication
05:00 – How hormones influence emotions and stress responses
09:00 – The importance of polarity and attraction in relationships
12:00 – Caregivers, codependency, and burnout
15:00 – How women can balance giving and receiving energy
20:00 – The power of asking for help effectively
25:00 – Self-care for caregivers: “You time,” “We time,” and “Me time”
31:00 – Meditation and journaling for emotional regulation
38:00 – Why men need challenge and women need connection
45:00 – How to truly listen — and when not to offer solutions
53:00 – The secret to being happy with or without a partner
58:00 – Finding purpose, spirituality, and meaning in service
01:00:00 – Dr. Gray’s parting message: “When you’re unhappy, you’re often looking in the wrong direction.”
🎯 Why Listen to This Episode:
If you’re a parent, teacher, or carer, you’ve probably found yourself exhausted from giving to everyone else.This episode helps you:
Understand why relationships feel harder when you’re under stress
Reframe communication through empathy, hormones, and mindset
Recognise when you’re giving too much — and how to restore balance
Apply timeless Mars & Venus principles to modern caregiving and family life
Dr. Gray’s advice bridges psychology, biology, and compassion, offering a roadmap to healthier connection — with others, and with yourself.
📲 Connect with Dr. John Gray:
🌐 Website: www.marsvenus.com
🎥 YouTube: John Gray – Mars Venus
📸 Instagram: @johngraymarsvenus_official
👍 Facebook: Mars.Venus.John.Gray
🕙 Watch Live: Facebook Live Show – Thursdays 10am PST
📲 Follow Able Training & Able to Care
🎧 Podcast Home: able-training.co.uk/podcast
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AI in Care and Education: Enhancing Humanity or Risking Connection?

In this solo episode of the Able to Care podcast, Andy Baker—behaviour specialist, author, trainer, and speaker—explores a topic that’s becoming impossible to ignore: artificial intelligence in care and education.
With AI tools appearing in classrooms, care homes, and behaviour support planning, Andy asks:🧠 Is AI a threat or an opportunity?💡 Can it support person-centred practice—or risk removing the person altogether?
This thought-provoking episode explores how AI can:
Free up carers, teachers, and support workers to focus on what really matters
Improve inclusion by adapting communication and materials to individual needs
Assist with planning, documentation, and accessibility — without replacing empathy or connection
Whether you're a parent using tech at home, a teacher considering AI tools, or a care professional balancing paperwork with people work—this episode is for you.
💙 Sponsored by: Carers Card UK
Proud to support unpaid and paid carers across the UK.✅ Emergency ID card✅ Discounts on essentials, days out, clothing & glasses✅ Access to a wellbeing hub, Carers Circle & app-based support
🎁 All for less than the price of a box of chocolates a year.👉 Get your Carers Card here
🔗 Resources & Mentions:
Able Training Courses
Carers Card UK
Andy’s book: Targeting the Positive
AI tools used for learning, task breakdown, and accessibility
💡 Three Key Messages:
AI is a tool — not a replacement for care.Used well, it can free us to focus on relationships, not replace them.
Inclusion starts with understanding.AI can adapt content, language, and learning styles to meet people where they are—not where systems assume they should be.
The future of care isn’t less human—it’s more.With AI doing the admin, we can return to what really matters: connection, intuition, and compassion.
⏱️ Timestamps / Chapters:
00:00 – What happens when AI meets care and education?
01:31 – Sponsor: Carers Card UK
02:05 – The opportunity: freeing up time for connection
03:27 – Personal story: how AI could improve inclusive learning
05:00 – The anxiety of being “left behind” in learning
06:59 – The real impact on confidence and self-esteem
07:59 – AI and communication: reducing overwhelm
08:55 – Bias, objectivity, and smarter decisions with AI
10:18 – Real-world use: breaking down task lists for children
11:15 – Helping busy brains with structure
11:50 – Activity creation and idea generation using AI
12:36 – The danger: using AI to cut costs instead of improving care
13:46 – AI can’t empathise—but it can support empathy
14:36 – Children turning to AI for emotional support
15:00 – Guiding principles for responsible AI use
16:23 – Mental capacity, comprehension, and accessibility
17:41 – Final thoughts: AI doesn’t replace care—it should enable it
🎯 Why Listen to This Episode?
You’ll gain a balanced, human-centred view of AI’s role in care and education
You’ll hear practical ideas for using AI to support children, adults, and yourself
You’ll reflect on the risks and ethics of using AI without compassion
You’ll leave with tools, language, and hope for the future of truly person-centred practice
Whether you’re a carer, parent, teacher or just curious about the future of support — this episode will help you use AI as an ally, not a replacement.
📲 Stay Connected with Able Training
🎧 Podcast Library: www.able-training.co.uk/podcast📘 Andy’s Book – Targeting the Positive: Buy on Amazon💳 Carers Card UK: carerscarduk.co.uk/promo-code/abletocare
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Instagram – @abletraining
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LinkedIn – Andy Baker
YouTube – Able Training