The Adoption and Fostering Podcast

Hello and welcome to this conference report -  Reframing Professional Practice on Child to Parent Abuse. It was held on the 15th May in Central London and I was asked to share my perspective on dads' experiences as well as generally. It was a great day with some perspectives that were new to me and gave me food for thought on how other communities experience children's challenging behaviour.  I was fortunate to catch up with Helen Bonnick of Holes in the Wall, assistant Professor Nikki Rutter from Durham University, Freda Quinlan a Principal Social Worker with the Irish Health Service Executive, Jane Griffiths of Capa First Response and Maria Duah who organised the conference and is the Director of Silenced CIC/PhD researcher at Durham University. As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here I was aksed    You can see Maria Duah's profile here 

This month, we're talking about change and endings. Whether planned or unexpected, transitions such as leaving school, saying goodbye to trusted adults, or changes at home can have a big impact on children and young people. As always you can connect with us through the following - Website- www.bettermebetterus.co.uk Instagram- BMBUltd Facebook – Better Me Better Us Email – [email protected]

To be honest there was so much news that we missed over the last month or so we thought we should catch up. We unpack the significance of the Supreme Court judgement in the matter of matter of X and Y [2026] UKSC 13 (click here to see the Coram analysis). What does this mean for the future of adoption and while the Law remains constant are we all in a very different place.  We also bandy around the issues of DfE communication and that promo! , Kinship changes, Scott's human trafficking and much much more. There may have been swearing!  As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here  

Hello and welcome to the AandF podcast.  In this episode we’ve a recording of a Walking with Families  peer support group sessions with adoptive parent and NVR practitioner Rachel Braverman. Rachel has broad experience of working with and supporting families using NVR  and in this mini session titled ‘unhelpful help’ she unpicks the challenges many parents face working with professionals and families and some strategies to get around that.    You can connect with Rachel at the NVR Consortium here. If you’re an adoptive parent and would like to join the community. Below is the  link to the joining form, we meet weekly online on Monday lunchtimes as well as during the month in the evenings.  https://forms.office.com/e/drdn16BLZ2 We also have a FB group that will be part of the community and you can join that here.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1620682492650215/ As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to this episode, it's action packed and we reunite after Scott's many travels! We start with a consideration about the recent FASD Ireland conference and the radio documentary that Scott commissioned in Ireland. It's well worth a listen and you can do that here.  Al has been talking to practitioners working with families living with challenging and violent behaviour over the last few weeks and we unpack why there's low confidence in the workforce and nervousness around how to support and help.  As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

In this episode I speak to former foster carer Corey Mckinney from the United States,  he shares his experience of being a foster dad and the challenges he faced with his family and the rewards of being a foster carer.  You find his book ‘Foster Dad’ here and view his website here. As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]   Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

In a fast-paced world where we have an increasing number of connections, how meaningful are our relationships really?   This episode explores the contradiction of being more digitally connected than ever whilst feeling increasingly disconnected as humans. From social media and boundaries to unsafe relationships, and the impact on young people’s social skills, we reflect on what real human connection looks like in today’s world. As always you can connect with us through the following - Website- www.bettermebetterus.co.uk Instagram- BMBUltd Facebook – Better Me Better Us Email – [email protected]  

In this episode I spoke to Sarah Fry and Claire Murphy from the Belay Foundation. They are launching a new support service to support adoptive families access DLA and PIP and we chat about how they can help and the challenges that many families face in navigating the process.  If you want to find out more about the work of the Belay Foundation you can visit their website here Or find out more about Walking with Families here As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here  

Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast.  In this episode I speak Christian Brock from Virtual Memory Box and he shares the vision and hopes behind the digital system for storing and sharing memories of children who have been in the care systems. They’ve now broadened their work to support families impacted adoption and help maintain links safely.  You can find out more here. As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

To mark a year since I completed and released my Fellowship Report I'm re releasing the podcast. Since then I've partnered with Beacon Family Services and we've put into place some of the recommendations in the Walking with Families peer support community. You can find out more or sign up here.    Hello and welcome to this second episode of Al's Churchill Fellowship. You can read the full report here. Developing the themes in Part 1 this podcast considers how parents and carers are supported by focused organisations. Rather than look at specific models of intervention, of which there are many,  it considered how families interacted and accessed the interventions and specifically how they were delivered to the families. Again, drawing heavily from Interwoven Connections based in Ontario, Canada the interplay of parent/carer, peer supporter and clinical staff is highlighted.   ‘It’s never about whether a parent is doing a great job. They’re doing the very best they can with what they’ve got.’ Lillyth Quillin, Parents of Children with Conduct Disorter, California, USA

To mark a year anniversary of Al's Churchill Fellowship report we've released a recording from the release event for practitioners from last year.  I shared reflections from my Churchill Fellowship Report on Walking with Families. Looking at models of support and intevention for families drawn from the Canada, US, Ireland and Austrailia. I offer areas for practice development in the UK to offer ongoing support for families that often struggle to find effective and ongoing support while caring for vulnerable children that have care experience having experiened high levels of adversity. Churchill Fellowship Report Event - Walking with Families Practitioner event April 23rd 2025 You can read the report and listen to the audio library of many of the interviews here. https://alcoates.co.uk/churchill-fellowship

On the 15th May Maria Duah is delivering a conference at Coram in London looking to Reframe Professional Practice in the Child to Parent Abuse arena.  In this short chat Maria shares her experience as a profession supporting families and children, her vision behind the conference and who is speaking.  You can sign up here and and connect with Maria here  and we hope to record some of the sessions as well.  As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here  

Hello and welcome to this first episode of Al's Churchill Fellowship. You can read the full report here. This episode draws on peer support specialists working directly with parents and carers living with children with challenging and aggressive behaviour. Focusing on Canada & the USA it considers different models of peer support including social media, virtual and in person. It then considers the role of peer mentors specifically in the Canadian organisation Interwoven Connections based across the province of Ontario that serves a large community through virtual means.  ‘The best way to help families is one at a time. What each individual family needs is so unique the only way to truly help families is by addressing each unique needs and concerns one at a time.’ Lillyth Quillin, Parents of Children with Conduct Disorder, California, USA

Hello and welcome to this episode of the A&F podcast, we unpack the fallout of our Canada trip and answer a question from a listener. Over the last few weeks there's been a few consultations for the DfE by Adoption England, we unpack some of that and the recent Adoption Forum event looking at the legal guidance around maintaining family links. As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast.  In this episode I speak to Dallas a parent through adoption who lives in Canada she shares the experience of adopting two children and the impact of caring for children with complex and challenging behaviour on her relationship with her husband and beyond. Dallas is frank about her circumstances and the difficulties that she faces and regardless of the context and country.   As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]   Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

In this episode we are talking about positive dosing - the small, consistent, positive interactions that help children who have experienced trauma, loss, or instability begin to build self-worth, trust, and connection. We explore why positive attention matters more than we often realise and explore the simple, realistic ways carers and parents can build connection into everyday moments. We also recognise that as adults, we need a bit of positive dosing too, so it’s worth thinking about this in your own life with friends, family and colleagues as small positive interactions matter for everyone. As always you can connect with us through the following - Website- www.bettermebetterus.co.uk Instagram- BMBUltd Facebook – Better Me Better Us Email – [email protected]

Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast.  In this episode I speak to a former guest Mary-Joy Johnson founder of Wildways therapy and an integrative psychotherapist whose work focuses on supporting adoptive parents. This is a really helpful conversation considering the impact of trauma on parents and considers where that comes from as well as changing the narrative of self care to one of community care. I hope you find it useful and if you want to know more of the work she does you can access Mary-Joy’s website here As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to the second podcast from our Canada road trip. In this episode we reflect on a few of the conversations we had with the team from Interwoven Connections. They support families formed though adoption, fostering, kinship and customary care and have a huge knowledge base around FASD and CPV (AFCCA). We were given much to think of and we unpack it as well as being a little giddy at being in the same room for the 8th day in a row!  You can listen to Tanya Dugay's interview from my Churchill Fellowship here.  As always, if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]   Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to the this Canada road trip podcast, in this first episode we stitch together our 'on the road' recordings as we jollied our way around Ontario and Quebec in Canada.  It's pretty flippant and catches on the road with a few instant reflections on Canada, each other and some of the people we met. In the next episode we unpack our time in Smith Falls and Ottawa with a few members of the Interwoven Connections team as well as some broader issues.  Scott also recorded an interview with the Hamilton FASD Collaborative and we'll be releasing that soon.  As always, if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]   Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to the AandF podcast.  In this episode we’ve a recording of a Walking with Families  peer support group sessions with social worker Rachel Staff. Rachel has broad experience of working with and supporting parents of teenagers. In this session she unpacks some of that insight with adoptive parents and considers the impact of early adversity on normal teenage challenges.    You can connect with Rachel here If you’re an adoptive parent and would like to join the Walking with Families Facebook community here or the online sessions here.  As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

This month we explore identity. With International Identity Day, International Day of Happiness and Mother’s Day all taking place this month, we reflect on how identity develops and how our experiences and relationships shape the way we see ourselves. We talk about the importance of checking things out with someone rather than making assumptions, and how creating safe, supportive spaces allows children and young people to explore who they are and feel able to be their authentic selves. As always you can connect with us through the following - Website- www.bettermebetterus.co.uk Instagram- BMBUltd Facebook – Better Me Better Us Email – [email protected]

Hello and welcome to the AandF podcast.  In this recording adoptive parent and founder of FASD Ireland shares his family's story and unpacks the realities, challenges and some of the solutions to parenting a child with FASD This is a different kind of episode, in January Tris Casson Rennie joined one one the peer support group sessions that I host with Walking with Families. We are a community of adoptive parents who are living with challenging behaviour and Tris is an adoptive parent and the founder of FASD Ireland. In this session he was able to unpack Feotal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - FASD- with us and help us make sense of behaviour and what can help with that. He gives a pocket sized training then answers some of the questions from the community.  You can find out more of the work that Tris and his husband Scott do here FASD Ireland.  If you’re an adoptive parent and would like to join the community. Below is the  link to the joining form, we meet weekly online on Monday lunchtimes as well as during the month in the evenings.  https://forms.office.com/e/drdn16BLZ2 We also have a FB group that will be part of the community and you can join that here.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1620682492650215/ As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast.  In this episode I speak to Richard McCombe an adoptive parent. He shares his family’s experience of adoption including the challenges that they have faces caring for children with complex needs and complex behaviour. Richard lives in Scotland and the different aspects of that experiences are also shared.  As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]   Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to this special edition of the Fostering and Adoption podcast On the 12th February Patch held their first in person conference in Liverpool bringing together adoptive parents, adult adoptees and professionals from the adoption arena. Fiona Wells is the founder and a driving force behind Patch and here is a recording of her morning keynote presentation on the “Journey of the Child.” If you want to know more about the work of Patch you can find that here.  As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to the A&F podcast with Scott Casson-Rennie AMBII and Al Coates.  This was recorded the day of the Children's Minister's announcement on the Adoption & Special Guardianship Support Fund and the announcement of a consultation. So, after a little banter we get right into it and unpack our views on it. Frankly we pull no punches and throw caution to the wind of ever getting Josh Mac on the podcast.  We also unpack the announcement for an extra 10,000 carers and after a short pause we get onto the issue of is foster caring a job!  Below is the link to the FASD Ireland conference. A limited number of Early Bird tickets are now available - secure your place today: www.fasdireland.ie/conference If you're an adoptive parent and are wanting to join the 'Walking with Families' online FB group you can join here  or  if you want to sign up to the weekly online support meetings for adopters caring for children with challenging behaviour you can do so here   As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

  As February is the month of love, we thoughts we’d explore what love really means especially in the context of adoption and fostering. What does love look like in real life? How do our different love languages shape the way we give and receive? And how does trauma affect the way children and adults experience love, connection, and safety? We reflect on the powerful truth that while love is vital, love alone does not heal trauma and consider what children and families need alongside love.  As always you can connect with us through the following - Website- www.bettermebetterus.co.uk Instagram- BMBUltd Facebook – Better Me Better Us Email – [email protected]

Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast.  In this episode to Dr Maude Champagne , social worker, psychotherapist and NVR practitioner who works in adoption and foster care. Specifically she works with parents who are experiencing violence and aggression and I asked her on to talk about parents experience of recovery once children, who are challenging, leave the home.  There are links to her work below: Recovery When Your Child who is aggressive no Longer Lives at Home As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to this episode of from the AandF podcast.  This episode is unofficially sponsored by Sainsbury's Supermarket.  In this episode we unpack the pros and cons of social media bans and the specific challenges that many parents and carers of children with complex early lives and SEN face.  We also get somewhat distracted by some self care and purchasing choices. We would welcome the findings of your Nectar app purchases.  Below is the link to the FASD Ireland conference. A limited number of Early Bird tickets are now available - secure your place today: www.fasdireland.ie/conference If you're an adoptive parent and are wanting to join the 'Walking with Families' online FB group you can join here  or  if you want to sign up to the weekly online support meetings for adopters caring for children with challenging behaviour you can do so here As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast.    In this episode I speak with Suzanne Scott, she is the founder of Trauma informed parenting based in Scotland. Suzanne supports parents and professionals to move from fear and control to a trauma informed approach to strengthen relationships with children and affect change in them. She shares her own experience of parenting children with complex needs as well as being a foster carer and not the work she does across the UK. Here are some links to Suzanne's work. FB https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1ZmGwbMA28/?mibextid=wwXIfr Website https://www.traumainformedparenting.uk/ Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/o/25265000625   As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]   Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome the AandF podcast, it the New Year so our better halves,Paula and Tris, join us to catch up on the year and join the banter.   We unpack the year and catch up with them and after a slow start we discuss the challenges and new experience of parenting adult children with the subsequent surprising rewards. At no point is there any marital strife!  As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

In this episode we explore the responsibility adults and professionals carry to own their behaviours, words, and actions, especially when working with children. From everyday interactions to moments of conflict and repair, we unpack why accountability is not about perfection, but integrity. We discuss how children learn more from what we model than what we say, why owning mistakes builds trust and emotional safety, and how this is especially vital in fostering and adoption, where many children have experienced broken promises and unmet accountability.  As always you can connect with us through the following - Instagram- BMBUltd Facebook – Better Me Better Us Email – [email protected]

Hello and welcome to the AandF podcast.  In this  episode I speak to adult adoptee Tiegen Boyens and social worker/researcher Nick Burke. They are undertaking research examining the adoptee quality of life for those between 16 and 25. Tiegan and Nick unpack the reason behind the research and how the topics and questions were identified though focus group with a range of adoptees.  You can access the survey here As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]   Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to the A&F Podcast. In this episode we're continuing to look at parenting from a distance and adoption disruption. It's a hugely sensitive matter with the impact on children adults and professionals often being catastrophic. Here, I speak to Amy an adoptive parent and social worker and she describes the events that led to crisis and the response of the system. As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]   Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

This episode resinated with so many of our listeners. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder remains under discussed with a growing understanding of the prevalence and impact that many children are living with.  In this episode of the A&F podcast we speak to adoptive parent and Neurodiversity Coaching Psychologist Anna Webster. She shares her experience of parenting a child with a diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the development of the Neurowise Programme on Therapeutic Caregiving for FASD.  It is a genuinely fascinating chat and we both drew lots of new information and thinking about the role of parents and the specific challenges parents and carers of children with FASD face.  Anna is on X here and Linkedin here As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]   Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to the AandF podcast Christmas special.  In this episode we streamed live to Facebook and chat with Fiona Wells from Patch. We unpack all that's been happening with the raised awareness of the levels of adversity all members of adoptive households are having. There is a crisis in the adoption community and Fiona has spearheaded the news and bringing of many families together.  Oh, and it's Christmas we share our top tips! It's a little raucous but that's how we roll.  As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]   Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast.  In this episode I speak with Helio an adult adoptee, he shares his experience of being adopted from Brazil to an Italian family. There’s so much more to his story and as an adult he went onto what was a complex journey to reconnect with his biological mother. His resilience and the murky circumstances of his adoption are remarkable and it’s well worth a listen.  You can follow Helio on instagram here.  As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

In this episode, we explore the importance of stripping everything back to the basics and showing up on a truly human level. It’s these foundations, warmth, consistency, repair and presence, that create safety and stability for our most traumatised children. We also reflect on how powerful our modelling is: what we, as professionals, model to parents and carers, and what they in turn model to the children in their care. When we get the basics right, everything else becomes possible.   As always you can connect with us through the following - Instagram- BMBUltd Facebook – Better Me Better Us Email – [email protected]

Hello and welcome to this episode of the adoption and fostering podcast. With the wide ranging coverage in the news of the UK's adoption crisis we focus in on that in this episode as well as the response from adoption agencies and the children's minister.  There's a lot to unpack but we give it a go and then have a little chat about the drop in foster carers in the UK and the review announced in to mental health and neurodiversity diagnosis announced.  BBC Adoption Crisis here Debate in Parliament transcript here Walking with Families Peer support here As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

On the 19th November Al was invited to attend a conference in London organised by The Adoption Forum and this is his on the hoof podcast. Their goal is to bridge law, policy, and lived experience and to turn research and policy into practical, down to earth strategies that support children, families, and the professionals who work with them.  You can follow them on Linkedin here Al was able to speak to attendees and contributors, Anthea Benjamin, Mike Hancock from PAC UK , Sarah Beskine, Sophie Hill and Azariah Hope.   As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]   Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here  

Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F podcast.  In this episode I speak to former foster carer and author Amelie. She shares her family story of a serious allegation made against them that led to her own children being removed from her care. It’s a stark account  and Amelie’s book, Broken, recounts that experience. Amelie is passionate to see change and help build a system that manages allegations better.   You can read Amelie's book here and follow her on instagram here.  As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]   Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to the AandF podcast.  *Warning!* We will be leaning into gender stereotypes. So, it's been a while since we had a proper natter so we catch up then dive into the tricky issue of mens'/dads' mental health and the specific challenges that adoption may bring. We think about blocked care and post adoption depression as well as consider how we access support and if we even want it? Here's a link to the research we reference around adoptive dads and if you're interested in joining Al's online peer support for adoptive parent caring for children with challenging behaviour follow this link and we'll share the details of the open groups and the dads' groups with you. There's also a FB group you can join here.  As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]

Podcast 30 - Professional Relationships   In this episode, we explore the power and complexity of professional relationships - how they shape our ability to ask for help, to trust, and to be trusted. We look at the systems we work within, and how they can both nurture and hinder the relationships we need to do our best work.    As always you can connect with us through the following - Instagram- BMBUltd Facebook – Better Me Better Us Email – [email protected]

Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast.  In this episode I speak to Dan Boxall-Simpson, he’s returned to the podcast to update us on the progress of EPIC Fostering the independent foster care agency he is in the process of setting up. He shares some of the challenges of navigating the process, Ofsted applications and more. It’s interesting to find out why now is a good time to do this and chat about their ethos and vision as a not for profit agency.  You can find out more about EPIC and EPIC family CIC here.  As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]   Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to the A&F podcast.  In this  episode we’re focusing our gaze on the issue of adoption disruption. It’s a hugely sensitive subject matter with the impact on children, adults and professionals often being catastrophic.  Here I speak to Vicki McKeown psychotherapeutic Counsellor at VLM Therapy Ltd & Director at Better Me Better Us Ltd, social worker and panel member. She has broad experience of working with adopted children and their parents and shares insight to the causes and impacts across the system. As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F podcast.  In this episode I speak to adoptee Andy Wallis. We talk about his experience of being an adoptee and the impact on his mental health in adulthood. This is a thought provoking conversation and Andy is honest about the the complexity of being an adoptee. Andy blogs on the subject as well as having told parts of his story in his book  Who's Wally? Adoption, Brian, and Me.  Website: www.whoswally.co.uk 📸 Instagram and TikTok: @whoswally73 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andy.wallis.3572 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-wallis-865ab6195/ As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]   Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

I speak to Fiona Wells, social worker, #adopter, #adoptee and #adoption reform campaigner about where we are this #NationalAdoptionWeek.  We talk all things adoption, trends, contact, the good and the bad.  It's an engaging chat and you can see the comments on Al's FB page here.  Patch's even can be found through their website here.  As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to the A&F podcast.  As part of our look at the issue of adoption disruption in this episode I chat to Charlotte Jenkins. She is the founder of Beacon Family Services but acting as an independent social worker chairs adoption disruption meetings.  It’s a hugely sensitive subject matter and Charlotte explains how bringing together professionals and parents they can potentially make sense of what has happened, she also draws out themes that she has observed doing what is challenging work. As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here  

This month we’re exploring how our different lenses - our lived experiences, values, and professional knowledge, shape the way we see and interpret behaviour. They influence how we respond, the language we use, and even whether we view something as needing a safeguarding referral or as an opportunity for support and connection. By becoming aware of our own lenses and being open to those of others, we can create a shared understanding that keeps curiosity, empathy, and the child at the centre of our practice. As always you can connect with us through the following - Instagram- BMBUltd Facebook – Better Me Better Us Email – [email protected]

Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F podcast.  In this episode I speak to adoptive parent Cath who is parenting from a distance, a position  that many adoptive families find themselves in. Often parents struggled to meet the complex and high needs of children with the challenges of ensuring children remain safe also added into the mix.  When this happens it can characterised as a breakdown or an adoption disruption, however as Cath’s story indicates the separation is often necessary to ensure any chance of an ongoing relationship between children and parents. However, getting service to acknowledge and see the needs of children and parents can be challenging to say the least.  As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected] Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to our Kinship week live with Dr Paul Shuttleworth. We chat about the voices of children and Dr Paul's new book, Listening to Children about Kinship care, child welfare and permanence. You can download the book for free here and please do as Dr Paul worked hard to ensure it was available at no cost and we want to support the excellent work he's doing.  We do chat more broadly about Kinship and the state of the broader context.  As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]   Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here