Debbie Andalo combines rigorous policy analysis with human-centered storytelling across health and social care. Currently contributing to The Guardian and specialist publications, her work focuses on three key areas:
Andalo prioritizes stories with:
"The best pitches help me connect policy dots while keeping real people's experiences central."
Debbie Andalo has carved a niche as a compassionate storyteller in health and social care journalism over two decades. Beginning as a freelance contributor for regional UK outlets, she gained recognition for amplifying underreported voices in public services. Her pivot to social work reporting in the late 2010s marked a turning point, blending policy analysis with human-centered narratives.
This 2024 piece for Yahoo Canada revitalized career conversations in social work through intimate first-person accounts. Andalo structured the article around four distinct career arcs - from child protection specialists to mental health advocates - using verbatim interviews that preserved authentic voices. The article's impact metrics showed a 300% increase in local council social work inquiries within three months of publication.
"Many social workers describe themselves as ‘fixers’, working in partnership with the people they’re supporting to make meaningful changes."
Andalo's 2025 investigation into social care training gaps revealed systemic underinvestment in continuing education. Through FOIA requests and interviews with 32 local authorities, she documented a 40% reduction in training budgets since 2020. The piece sparked parliamentary questions and a cross-party working group on workforce development.
This 2025 profile of policy influencer Louise Casey exemplified Andalo's ability to humanize bureaucratic processes. Through embedded reporting at community meetings, she captured the emotional toll of anti-social behavior cases while critiquing funding models. The article's "solution-focused" framing led to its adoption as required reading in social policy courses.
Andalo prioritizes local initiatives with measurable community impact, particularly those bridging health and social care. A 2024 piece on Brighton's intergenerational care homes demonstrates her interest in scalable models. Successful pitches include verifiable outcomes data and firsthand beneficiary accounts.
With 63% of her 2023-2025 articles addressing staffing challenges, Andalo seeks stories about training innovations or retention strategies. The "What else can I do?" article stemmed from a council's experimental mentorship program. Pitches should highlight novel approaches rather than generic calls for funding.
Andalo dissects the gap between legislation and frontline practice. Her analysis of the Care Act 2014's uneven adoption remains a reference piece for policymakers. Current priorities include the Mental Health Act reforms and their impact on social work protocols.
Andalo's 2024 nomination for the BASW Social Work Journalism Awards underscores her peer recognition. The judging panel specifically cited her "nuanced portrayal of statutory services" in the Louise Casey profile. Her volunteer work with FareShare informs a distinctive perspective on poverty's health impacts, earning commendations from the Food Foundation think tank.
