CoramBAAF Conversations

Effective Fostering Panels is available to buy in our bookshop: https://corambaaf.org.uk/books/effective-fostering-panels In this short interview, Publications Manager Jo Francis sits down with Independent Consultant, Elaine Dibben to discuss the revised and updated Effective Fostering Panels published April 2026. We discuss how fostering panels have changed since the book’s first edition in 2003 due to evolving policy and practice level; particularly in relation to kinship care. Equally, how the book remains a crucial resource to support panels facing high turnover of members and the importance of maintaining consistency in recommendations. Elaine also shares her expert insight on the role of fostering panels in today’s fostering services, the crucial safeguarding role they play, and top tips for panel members, chairs and advisers. Listen to the author interview for details on: What is the enduring appeal of the book Effective Fostering Panels? • Do fostering panels still have an important role? What role do panels play in safeguarding? What should panel members remember when taking part? What should social workers keep in mind when attending panels? • What has been updated in the latest edition of the book? How has the approach to kinship care changed? Why is guidance like this book important for agencies? Why is wider training and networking important for panel members? About the book The revised and updated effective fostering panels is for panel members and social workers. It is a guide that brings together all the information you need to know about regulations, standards and inspections concerning fostering panels. It also sets out good practice to agencies in the operation of effective panels, relevant to all fostering service providers. Although the fostering regulations apply in England only, agencies in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will find much of this practice applicable to their work. This revised edition covers recent changes in practice around areas such as virtual panels, and includes a fully updated and expanded chapter on considering kinship foster carers at the panel.

This episode of the Adoption and Fostering Journal Podcast introduces the April 2026 issue, offering key insights for academics and social work professionals. Editor-in-Chief Dennis Golm discusses a major randomised controlled trial on the Reflective Fostering Programme, highlighting its impact on carers’ reflective functioning, stress, and burnout, while noting more mixed findings for child outcomes. The discussion emphasises the importance of evidence-based interventions in foster care.  The episode also explores research on conduct difficulties in children in care, comparisons between local authority and independent fostering provision in the UK, and international perspectives on adoption. Studies from the United States and Pakistan examine birth mothers’ motivations for adoption and the impact of stigma on adopted adolescents.  Overall, this issue brings together large-scale, global research addressing complex challenges in fostering and adoption, with important implications for policy, practice, and future research. 

In this episode of the CoramBAAF Conversations podcast, James Bury speaks with Professor Samantha Baron, Interim Chief Executive of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), about the identity and future of social work. The conversation focuses on the importance of social work as a values-led, relational profession grounded in ethics, professional judgement and advocacy. We also discuss the role of membership organisations for social workers across the UK, including influencing policy, supporting professional development and strengthening the collective voice of the profession. Despite continuing pressures on the social care system, the discussion highlights the continued impact of social workers in improving people’s lives and the importance of maintaining a strong professional identity, confidence and voice across the sector.

In this episode, Adoption & Fostering Production Editor, Vicky Walker, and Editor-in-Chief, Dr Dennis Golm, are joined by Professor Nick Midgley (University College London) and Expert by Experience, Jackie Tripp, a kinship carer. Nick and Jackie talk about the Reflective Fostering Programme, an intervention designed to help carers support the children in their care. The Programme was evaluated as part of a large-scale randomised controlled trial, which showed that it was not only beneficial for carers, reducing stress and burnout and improving the carer–child relationship, but also cost-effective. While Nick outlines the study and its findings, Jackie describes its life-changing impact on her as a participant in the Programme.  For related resources and more episodes visit our website: https://corambaaf.org.uk/resources/corambaaf-conversations

In this episode, Vicky Walker and Dr Dennis Golm speak with three of the authors of the article Mental health status of orphans and vulnerable children in residential institutions in a city in South-West Nigeria from issue 3 of Volume 49 of ‘Adoption & Fostering’.  The authors describe the different types of residential institution for children in South-West Nigeria and the conditions in them, the mental health needs of the children looked after by these institutions and the availability of mental health assessments and services. They call for greater advocacy and training to enable screening and referrals within the institutions and earlier interventions. Dr Mercy Aladegboye, the lead author of this paper, is a research nurse currently working with University Hospitals Dorset, Bournemouth, UK. She obtained her PhD in Nursing from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria. She’s also a fellow of the capacity for strengthening abortion research in Nigeria (CSARN). Mercy is passionate about using research to transform health care and promote wellbeing for all ages. This has inspired her keen interest in conducting clinical research and producing publications on vulnerable populations.    Dr Adekemi Olowokere is Professor of Community/Public Health Nursing in the Department of Nursing Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.  She is a registered nurse-midwife and public health nurse specialist with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. Her research interests focus on alleviating vulnerability, debility and mortality among underserved populations in Nigeria. She is a fellow of the African Women Research Observatory (AfWORO).    Dr Abiola Komolafe is a senior lecturer in the Department of Nursing Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. She is a registered nurse-midwife, and a public health nurse. She obtained her Bachelor of Nursing Science, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Community Health Nursing from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Her research activities focus on sexual and reproductive health across the lifespan with a special focus on maternal and newborn care, and implementation science. 

Welcome to the latest episode of the Adoption & Fostering journal podcast. In this episode, hosts Vicky Walker and Dr. Dennis Golm discuss the contents of Volume 49, Issue 4, released in December 2025. Dennis talks through his editorial, which focuses on the impact of first name changes of adopted children by adoptive parents – the subject of one of the research studies presented in the issue. The hosts also offer a glimpse into the other topics covered: the inadequacy of the terms and conditions of direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies, the development of trust between foster carers and teenagers in Denmark, the risks of informal foster care practice in South-East Nigeria and the creation of adoptive ‘family’ in contemporary India. Listeners will also hear about the development of a GP-led initial health assessment model in Gloucestershire, which is easing the pressures on paediatric services and providing person-centred care for vulnerable children. Dennis and Vicky will be back with a new volume of the journal in January 2026! For related resources or to watch more episodes, visit our website: https://corambaaf.org.uk/resources/corambaaf-conversations

James Bury is joined by leading researchers Rachel Hiller, Shaunna Devine, and Pasco Fearon to explore their work on improving access to evidence-informed mental health services for children in care across England. The discussion delves into the challenges these children face, why current provision often falls short, and the practical steps needed to ensure every child receives the support they deserve.  This episode draws on insights from the National Recommendations for Mental Health Provision for Children in Care report, which outlines actionable strategies for policymakers, practitioners, and service providers. Key recommendations include enhancing early intervention, integrating trauma-informed approaches, and ensuring consistent, equitable access nationwide.  Download the full report here: National Recommendations for Mental Health Provision for Children in Care (PDF).  Rachel Hiller is a Professor of Child & Adolescent Mental Health and lead the Child Trauma and Recovery research group. Her research is in the field of complex child trauma and mental health. Broadly, this work spans three areas: (i) the identification of key psychological and social processes linking trauma and maltreatment exposure the mental health and wellbeing; (ii) the development and testing of scalable mental health intervention for trauma-exposed young people; and (iii) the implementation of existing best-evidenced practice within and across social care and mental health services. Much of her research is focused on improving the identification and support of the mental health needs of care-experienced young people, including a focus on service pathways and access between children's social care and mental health services. Their research is co-developed with care-experienced young people, caregivers, and professionals.  Shaunna Devine is care experienced and currently a PhD researcher at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). She graduated with a First-Class degree in BSc Psychology in 2019, followed by a Distinction in her MSc in Brain and Behaviour (Neuroscience) in 2020. She was awarded a Vice-Chancellor scholarship to undertake a PhD in the School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science. Shaunna’s PhD is titled, “Pathways to Social Connectedness in Care Experienced People” explores how early life experiences, including experiences of the care system, can influence sensitivity to social connectedness.   In addition to her academic work, Shaunna joined the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) in February 2025 as a Programme Support Officer. In this role, she leads the Inspire pilot and contributes to a range of wider NNECL projects. Shaunna has been a keen advocate for care experienced people and has advocated for children's rights through her membership on several boards and organisations. This includes the Local Authority Corporate Parenting Board, Unite Foundation sounding board, Become’s widening participation projects, and LJMU Care Experienced and Estranged Board.  Pasco Fearon is a developmental and clinical psychologist. He holds the endowed chair in Family Research at the University of Cambridge, and is Director of the Centre for Child, Adolescent and Family Research there. He is past-President of the Society for Emotion and Attachment Studies, and his work focuses on the role of early experience in child and adolescent development. He is Director and co-Director of the UK’s two major birth cohort studies, the Children of the 2020s Study and Generation New Era.

Ellie Johnson is joined by Dr. Lynn Snow and Dr. Vicki Walker to explore the newly launched Initial Health Assessment (IHA) Standards from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). These Standards are designed to enhance the experience of children and young people undergoing IHAs, improve health outcomes, and support overall wellbeing. By setting a higher benchmark for care, they aim to reduce long-term health disparities faced by children and young people in care compared to their peers.  Dr Lynn Snow is a community paediatrician working as Designated Doctor for looked after children for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and has worked with looked after children for over 20 years in various roles (including adoption adviser) in various areas of the country. She was until recently chair of the CoramBAAF National Health advisory committee and has focused on health records for children post adoption working with  DHSC and NHSE.  Dr Vicki Walker is a Consultant Paediatrician in Mansfield and Designated Dr for Children in Care in Nottinghamshire.  She was appointed to the RCPCH Child Protection Standing Committee as the representative for Looked After Children in February 2019, working with the College to improve health outcomes for children in care. In 2022 she was appointed RCPCH Assistant Officer for Child Protection (education) Dr Vicki Walker, Dr Lynn Snow and Ellie Johnson are the IHA delivery standards clinical project leads. 

Vicky Walker and Dr Dennis Golm are joined by Dr Matt Woolgar and Dr Tom Cawthorne to explore their latest research featured in Adoption & Fostering (Vol. 49, Issue 2).   They discuss the mental health and neurodevelopmental challenges faced by care-experienced young people, the barriers to accessing effective support, and concerns around the overdiagnosis of attachment and trauma-related conditions.  The episode also highlights recent changes to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund and their impact on practice, research quality, and the need for evidence-based approaches to improve outcomes for children.  Dr Matt Woolgar is a consultant clinical psychologist in the NHS and currently leads the psychology services in the National Adoption & Fostering Clinic and the National Conduct Problems Clinic at the Michael Rutter Centre, at the Maudsley Hospital, SLAM NHS Trust.  Dr Tom Cawthorne is a Senior Clinical Psychologist within the National Conduct Adoption and Fostering Team (CAFT). In this role, he conducts psychological assessments and interventions with children and adolescents who are adopted or fostered and young people presenting with significant behavioural difficulties. Read the articles:  The need for improved recognition of neurodevelopmental conditions in adopted and fostered young people.  Letter to the editor - The Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund – Which services are available

Jane Poore, Adoption Consultant, is joined by Alistair to discuss Chairing adoption panels, and his experience as a single adoptive parent. They touch on the support plan that helped Alistair and his son, for both of their needs, and the support they had before the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF).  They widen their conversation to consider the adoption process and the needs of children and their families, which mirrors the responsibilities Alistair had as a panel chair. As they consider Alistair’s retirement, they also consider the changes over the past 10 years or more since he began as a panel chair.  The changes of moving online to conduct panels, and adapting to circumstances have been a positive movement in making panels more accessible and diverse panels. Alistair shares advice, actions and resources that have been invaluable to his role as a panel chair.  Alistair is a single parent adopter following the adoption of his son in 2010. He first joined an adoption panel at Families for Children in 2013, after a suggestion from a social worker, to bring his experience of adoption and commitment to ensuring adopters have good support in place for them.  He joined the Somerset Adoption Panel in 2014, later becoming Vice-Chair, to then become Chair of the Devon Adoption Panel in 2015. Whilst Somerset and Devon became part of Adopt South West (ASW), the new Regional Adoption Agency, in October 2018, Alistair continues his role as Chair with ASW until June 2025.   Find out more: Episode 46 | Chairing with care: Insights from adoption panels | CoramBAAF

In this episode, we explore the increasingly international scope of ‘Adoption & Fostering’ journal, where over half of recent submissions come from outside the UK. Dr Dennis Golm and Vicky Walker highlight powerful new research from around the world, ranging from adoptive parent regret in the US, to mental health support for children in Nigerian institutions, to foster care experiences in Greece and family engagement in Italian group homes.  We also spotlight UK-based research on adoptive teenagers’ attachment and innovative health planning tools for looked after children. Tune in for a rich discussion that connects global insights with local practice, all with the shared goal of improving outcomes for vulnerable children. For related resources or to watch more episodes, visit our website: https://corambaaf.org.uk/resources/corambaaf-conversations

In this episode of CoramBAAF Conversations, consultants Jane Poore, Clare Seth, and Emma Fincham explore the extensive work behind the recent updates to three key social work assessment tools: Form K (Kinship Care Assessments), Form F (Foster Carer Assessments), and the CPR (Child’s Permanence Report) for England.  They discuss the reasons for revising these forms, the collaborative development process, and the challenges of creating trauma-informed, strengths-based, and legally compliant tools that better reflect the realities of children in care and their families.  Listeners will gain insight into how the updated forms aim to improve consistency across local authorities, amplify the child’s voice, and provide more holistic support for carers. The consultants also highlight the importance of the free accompanying guidance, the role of practitioner and member feedback, and future developments, including support plans and long-term matching.  Whether you're a social worker, carer, or sector professional, this episode offers valuable perspectives on how thoughtful form design can lead to better outcomes for children and families. It also draws attention to the free resources available to help professionals complete assessments using CoramBAAF’s tools with confidence. 

Welcome back to CoramBAAF Conversations! In this episode, we’re diving into a powerful discussion drawn from the 'Adoption & Fostering' journal. Host Dr Dennis Golm, Editor-in-Chief, and Production Editor Vicky Walker are joined by two leading voices in fostering research and practice to talk about one of the sector’s most challenging issues—allegations of abuse in care.  Professor Damien Riggs is a researcher based at Flinders University in South Australia. Damien's research focuses on family diversity, and to date has included studies of public attitudes to family diversity, transgender parents, fertility preservation, heterosexual first time parents, surrogacy, foster care, and embryo donation for formation.  Sarah Thomas is the CEO of The Fostering Network and a qualified social worker. She has worked with children with additional needs in education settings and with young people in residential care. Following a successful career in local authority practice, Sarah programme managed the work of the National Fostering Framework through to the launch of Foster Wales in 2021. She has previously served as Service Manager for AFKA Cymru, Director for England and Wales at The Fostering Network and was appointed CEO of The Fostering Network in 2023.  Read the article that inspired this episode: Allegations of abuse in care: The experiences of South Australian foster carers.

In this episode, Anne Horne talks with Professor Gillian Schofield to unpack the Secure Base model - a framework grounded in attachment research that supports children and young people in care. Together, they trace the model’s development, break down its five key caregiving dimensions, and discuss how it has been adapted for foster care, kinship care, adoption, schools, and residential settings. Listeners will also hear about practical training approaches, updated resources, and the model’s growing international reach. Gillian shares valuable tips for implementing Secure Base across teams and services, along with guidance on where to find books, tools, and further training to put the model into practice. Find out more: https://corambaaf.org.uk/episode-42-secure-base-model-gillian-schofield Book your place at our upcoming training course: https://corambaaf.org.uk/introduction-secure-base-model-and-its-role-assessment-and-support-practice

In this episode, Clare Seth, CoramBAAF’s Kinship Consultant, author, and practicing social worker, joins Jo Francis, Publications Manager at CoramBAAF, to discuss Undertaking a kinship care assessment, the newly updated guide designed to support social workers in planning their conversations with prospective kinship carers, that has been co-authored with job share partner, Ann Horne.  This revised edition replaces the previous guide, Undertaking a Connected Person/family and friends assessment, and is affectionately known by many practitioners as the "green bible." It provides a structured approach to kinship assessments, reminding professionals of the key topics to explore and the importance of triangulating information, thinking carefully about what you need to know, when to gather it, and who to speak to.  The latest edition includes a new chapters on care planning and its vital role in the assessment process, support planning as well as updated information about safeguarding reviews and kinship policy and research.  What’s covered in the interview:  The key differences between Form C and Form K.  Recent updates to the Undertaking a kinship care assessment guide, including how it supports social workers in asking the right questions.  Examples from current research and best practice suggestions, including anti-racist and anti-discriminatory approaches.  How the guide aligns with and incorporates the principles of the National Kinship Care Strategy. Find out more on the CoramBAAF website.

Welcome to the latest episode of the Adoption and Fostering Journal podcast. In this episode, hosts Vicky Walker and Dr. Dennis Golm discuss the contents of Volume 49, Issue 2, released in July 2025. This episode delves into various articles featured in the journal, including a compelling scoping review by Jenny Conrick and colleagues on direct-to-consumer genetic testing. The episode highlights why adopted individuals might seek genetic tests to understand their health risks and familial connections. Additionally, the podcast explores the topics of allegations of abuse in foster care settings, the experiences of South Australian foster carers, and findings from cross-jurisdictional legal cases involving kinship adoption and revoking adoption orders. Listeners will also hear about innovative practices such as the Blue Hill Care Arrangement in Norway and hear about the importance of early diagnosis of neurodevelopmental conditions in fostered and adopted youth. Find out more on the CoramBAAF website!

There is a great need for more foster carers in the UK. The lack of foster carers means that children who need foster homes have less choice about where they might live, often meaning they are not fostered near to their families and schools. In recent years, foster care organisations have recruited more and more foster carers from ethnic minorities, single foster carers and non-heterosexual foster carers. However, Disabled people do not seem to have been reached out to as potential foster carers. This research study set out to explore why Disabled people have not been recruited, especially as many would be likely to have the types of skills that fostering requires. In this episode, Peter Unwin and Becki Meakin discuss their research into the underrepresentation of disabled people as foster carers, highlighting the systemic barriers and stereotypes that prevent their inclusion. They outline how fostering agencies can better recruit and support disabled carers through inclusive practices, training, and a shift away from deficit-based thinking. Read the article: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/03085759251314508#:~:text=A%20web%2Dbased%20review%20of,successful%20fostering%2C%20indicating%20the%20extreme

In this episode of CoramBAAF Conversations, Jo Francis (Publications Manager) is joined by Hedy Cleaver and Wendy Rose OBE to talk about their Good Practice Guide, Child sexual abuse in foster and kinship care, special guardianship and adoption: Learning from safeguarding reviews 2007–2022.  They discuss findings from 27 safeguarding reviews involving 87 children, highlighting the risks posed by serial abusers, the barriers to disclosure for children, and how perpetrators often avoid scrutiny. The conversation also covers child-on-child abuse, the need for thorough risk assessments, and the importance of professionals remaining alert to signs of harm.  Hedy and Wendy emphasise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and introduce two resources: a detailed guide for practitioners and a shorter companion for all professionals working with children.  Hedy Cleaver is an Emeritus Professor at Royal Holloway College, University of London, with experience as a social worker and child psychologist. The findings from her research have had an identifiable impact on UK policy and practice in respect of children and families throughout the past 35 years.  Wendy Rose OBE held children’s policy responsibilities at the Department of Health as Assistant Chief Inspector, following social work and senior management experience in the NHS and local authority, and a Senior Research Fellow position at the Open University. She was a professional adviser to the Scottish Government on developing its children’s policy, Getting it Right for Every Child. She also worked with the Welsh Government on its safeguarding reforms and was an Honorary Research Fellow at Cardiff University. 

Research has shown that group-based interventions grounded in attachment theory can help carers better understand the emotional needs of children in care and develop strategies to manage challenging behaviours. However, despite their promise, there is still limited high-quality evidence on how effective these attachment-focused group programs truly are for both carers and children.  In this episode, Dr. Dennis Golm explores the findings of a recent systematic review examining outcomes for foster carers and adoptive parents who participated in attachment-based group interventions. He speaks with the review’s authors: Dr. Ranjitha David, a child and adolescent psychiatrist with the CAMHS Crisis Team in Nottingham; Dr. Pallab Majumder, also a child and adolescent psychiatrist based in Nottingham; and Natasha Dembrey, a paediatric trainee (PT3). Together, they discuss the current evidence, practical implications, and future directions for supporting carers and children through attachment-informed approaches.  Read the article: Outcomes from attachment-based group interventions for foster carers and adoptive parents: A systematic review

The March issue (Volume 49 Issue 1) of the Adoption & Fosteringjournal is out now and free for CoramBAAF members to access. Dr Dennis Golm and Vicky Walker talk us through the articles and themes in this issue. In this episode, we explore the critical question posed by Editor-in-Chief Dennis Golm in the latest edition of Adoption & Fostering – just how inclusive and diverse are current UK foster care research and practice? The March issue (Volume 49, Issue 1) highlights the gap between growing awareness and meaningful change, calling for more representative research and inclusive practices. Adoption & Fostering is the only quarterly peer-reviewed journal dedicated to adoption, fostering and kinship issues. Over the years, it has gained an international reputation as one of the world’s leading sources of knowledge for academics, practitioners and all those concerned with childcare practice and research. Edited by Dr Dennis Golm, Adoption & Fostering is published by SAGE on behalf of the CoramBAAF Adoption & Fostering Academy. Find out more: https://corambaaf.org.uk/adoption-fostering-journal-13-vol49-issue-1-introduction-dr-dennis-golm-and-vicky-walker

Adoption rates vary significantly across different ethnic groups, with Black Caribbean and Black African children facing disproportionately longer waiting times. According to the Government’s Ending Racial Disparity report (2022), Black Caribbean children wait an average of 30 months for adoption, while Black African children wait 33 months—compared to the overall average of 21 months and just 20 months for White British children.  Jennifer Kwakye is the Adoption Outreach Ambassador for Coram Ambitious for Adoption, an organisation dedicated to recruiting families who can meet the needs of children waiting for a permanent home. In her role, Jennifer works to raise awareness of adoption within African and Caribbean communities by engaging with local groups, organisations, and major employers. Through community outreach, online advocacy, and information events, she aims to challenge the disparities and stigmas surrounding adoption.  In this conversation, Jennifer speaks with Jane Poore, CoramBAAF’s Adoption Consultant, about the importance of finding children a stable, loving home while preserving their cultural heritage and identity. They explore the challenges faced when recruiting Black adopters, and the vital support available for adoptive parents and prospective adoptive parents.  Adoption systems have historically been shaped by white-centric values, making the process less accessible and inclusive for families from diverse backgrounds. To truly address adoption disparities, Black adopters must see themselves represented in the workforce, and the system must evolve to be more inclusive of all cultures and identities. Find out more: Episode 39 | Encouraging adoption in Black African and Caribbean communities | CoramBAAF

Dr Dennis Golm hosts a conversation between Morvwen Duncan and Hetty Verhagen about child to parent violence and aggression. They combine their research, practice and experiences of working with children and their families to explore the topic.  Dr Morvwen Duncan is a Principal Clinical Psychologist and researcher, currently working across the NHS in a Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team and in private practice at The Lotus Psychology Practice. Dr Duncan talks with us about her research exploring primary and secondary trauma in adoptive parents.  Hetty is an independent Therapeutic Social Worker, a lecturer in social work at the University of Leeds, and the author of Parenting Matters: Parenting a child affected by child to parent violence and aggression. Her background is in adoption and fostering services, and worked in an adoption support team and was part of the team that set up adoption support at adoption matters.  This episode was inspired by Morvwen’s article in Adoption & Fostering journal, from Volume 48 Issue 2. Members, sign in to read the article for free. 

Dr Dennis Golm (Journal Editor) and Vicky Walker (Production Editor) introduce Volume 48 Issue 3-4 of our 'Adoption & Fostering' journal. The final instalment of Volume 48 is a bumper issue, containing eight research articles. Wellbeing, adolescence and the role of the government are key themes in this edition. For more information about the journal or the table of contents for the issue, visit our website. Members, remember to sign in to access the journal. www.corambaaf.org.uk

Dr Dennis Golm (Journal Editor) and Jo Francis (Publications Manager) introduce Volume 48 Issue 2 of our Adoption & Fostering journal.   They talk us through Dennis' editorial about ‘Breaking the taboo: Let’s talk about child-to-parent violence’, and talk us through each article in this issue.  For more information about the journal or the table of contents for the issue, click here. Members, remember to sign in to access the journal.

Dr Tam Cane joins Jane Poore, CoramBAAF Adoption Consultant, to talk about the Adoption Framework for Diversity and Inclusion in Transracial adoption, also known as the AFDiT Framework The framework is an initiative by Adoption England, in collaboration with the University of Sussex and The British Academy. It aims to improve positive identity outcomes for children in transracial adoption. It was developed through a process of co-creation involving social work practitioners, individuals with lived experiences of transracial adoption, and organisations including CoramBAAF and Adoption South East. The AFDiT Framework is seen as a groundbreaking publication that underscores the commitment to enhancing the adoption experience and ensuring better support for children and families involved in transracial adoption. Dr Tam Cane is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Education and Social Work at the University of Sussex. Dr Tam Cane's research interests centre around HIV reproductive health and adoption. Over the past few years, she has researched and published peer-reviewed articles around HIV-related reproductive health, adoption, problematic and unhealthy alcohol misuse and contextual safeguarding. Find out more at corambaaf.org.uk! Intro and outro music by MoodMode - Groovy Ambient Music: https://pixabay.com/music/funk-groovy-ambient-funk-201745/

In celebration of National Adoption Week, Jane Poore is joined by Al Coates. They talk about a range of elements that were a part of Al’s journey as a parent, adopter, foster carer, and social worker. In 1999, Al and his wife Paula adopted a sibling group of three, later expanding their family by adopting two children they had fostered, followed by their sibling in 2013 Al became a qualified social worker in 2013 and, two years later, advanced to the role of a social work practice educator. With over 20 years of experience working with adoptive families and foster carers, he has dedicated his career to training and advising parents and carers on managing challenging behaviours in children. Drawing on both his personal and professional experiences, Al is also a qualified advanced non-violent resistance practitioner, specialising in supporting families facing difficult dynamics. Beyond his hands-on work, Al is a passionate advocate for adoption-related issues, lobbying for change and raising awareness. He hosts the weekly Adoption & Fostering Podcast and contributes articles on topics such as childhood challenging, violent, and aggressive behaviour. Find out more at corambaaf.org.uk! Intro and outro music by MoodMode - Groovy Ambient Music: https://pixabay.com/music/funk-groovy-ambient-funk-201745/

Join us as we explore the Build Not Break campaign with our guests. In this episode hosted by James Bury, Head of Policy, Research and Development, we delve into the inspiring work of the Family Rights Group (FRG) and their mission to support children and young people in care.   Special guests Andrew, Saima, and Sandra will share their experiences with the innovative Build Not Break campaign, which aims to ensure care-experienced individuals have enduring, positive relationships. We’ll discuss initiatives like Lifelong Links, connecting children with relatives, former carers, and other significant individuals to foster a stronger sense of identity and stability. Tune in for powerful stories, expert insights, and practical advice on building supportive relationships for those in care.  Andrew is a family group conference and Lifelong Links practice adviser at Family Rights Group, with years of experience in education and child welfare. He specialises in training practitioners to support the relationships of children, young people, and families; strategic development; and system change. Andrew is committed to improving the lives of people who experience the sharp end of children’s social care.  Saima is a young care care-experienced person with lived experience of Lifelong Links. Saima and her sister were in care and had limited time with their family. Lifelong Links increased the number of connections and the quality of their relationships while helping them understand their rights.  Sandra is a Lifelong Links coordinator and a Life Story facilitator. She exemplifies the importance and the connection that Life Story work has in relation to Lifelong Links. Sandra endorses the importance of connection vicariously through young people.  At the end of the episode, we have included a jingle about Lifelong links created by the Lifelong Links team at Brighton and Hove Council. The song features a fantastically talented care experienced young person Maddie Hughes.  Find out more at corambaaf.org.uk!

For Kinship Care Week, Ann Horne interviewed Clare Seth about their work on the new Form K (previously known as Form C) due to be launched in January 2025. Clare shares the feedback from focus groups, including the voices of kinship carers, and how they used this to inform the development of Form K. Form K is currently being piloted within 10 local authorities across the UK. CoramBAAF hopes the revised form will improve the assessment experience for kinship carers.  We hope it will enable relationship-based assessment practice that captures their strengths and vulnerabilities, and what is important to them as a family.   To find out more about accessing CoramBAAF forms, and forms licensing, click here. Ann Horne, our Kinship Care Consultant, has 20 years' experience as a social worker in children's services, with 14 years focused on kinship care. She co-managed a kinship care team in Brighton & Hove, contributed to best practice models, and helped shape national kinship assessment policies. Ann also developed comprehensive support services for kinship carers.  Clare Seth, also our Kinship Care Consultant, is a qualified social worker with over 20 years' experience in children’s services, specialising in kinship care and adoption assessment and support. She has managed teams in Brighton & Hove and worked as a freelance social worker for the last four years, focusing on kinship. Clare is also a qualified trainer with experience delivering support programmes in Sussex.  

Leonie is the CEO and co-founder of Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN). She is an advocate for the rights of care leavers and people who are victims of institutional abuse. Leonie has given several major presentations including at the UN in Geneva and received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2007.   Find out more: https://corambaaf.org.uk/resources/access-records/childrens-social-care-files/access-and-support-rights-childrens-social

Frank Golding is an author, researcher, activist and historian. His childhood as a Ward of the State of Victoria in Australia in the ‘care’ of three foster mothers and three institutions underpins his active involvement in Care Leaver issues as an advocate and lobbyist. Find out more: https://corambaaf.org.uk/resources/access-records/childrens-social-care-files/access-and-support-rights-childrens-social

Barbara Reed is a consultant in the field of records, archives and information management with more than 25 years of industry experience in in all levels of Australian government, private sector and not-for-profits. She been active as a trainer and recordkeeping professional, and has played a major role in the development of Australian and international standards for records management, digitisation, recordkeeping metadata and whole-of-government initiatives.  Find out more: https://corambaaf.org.uk/resources/access-records/childrens-social-care-files/access-and-support-rights-childrens-social

Helen Little, Training, Consultancy, and Events Manager, sat down with Marrianne Palin, Associate Trainer at CoramBAAF, to discuss effective ways to engage with children and truly understand their thoughts and feelings.  During the conversation, Marrianne shared various techniques for direct work with children, offering insights into what these approaches look like in practice, along with practical tools that can be implemented in everyday work with young people.  Marrianne Palin qualified as a social worker in 2002, and with a wealth of experience in child protection and family placement social work. She holds a degree in social work, along with a PGCE. Since 2016, she has been working as a trainer while simultaneously practicing in the field. Apart from her role at CoramBAAF, Marianne serves as an associate trainer for AFKA Cymru and works part-time in adoption. During her tenure with AFKA Cymru, she contributed to a number of National Adoption Service Wales' good practice guides. Marianne's primary areas of expertise encompass fostering, adoption, permanency planning, and life story work.  Helen Little joined CoramBAAF in 2023. Latterly, she was Learning and Development Manager for almost 8 years at Langley House Trust. The learning and development function she developed for Langley now offers an extensive programme for staff and managers whether that be face to face, virtual, e-learning or coaching. Reflecting on her career to date, she can see that this new role for CoramBAAF draws on the many parts of it from the beginning in the hospitality and conferences industry to running her own learning and development consultancy for over 18 years, designing and delivering a range of programmes for clients across many sectors.

In this discussion on school exclusions, Augusta Itua, Legal Consultant at CoramBAAF, is joined by Richard to highlight the support and resources available for children and their families.  The conversation focuses on the pressing issue of school exclusions, covering recent research, the legal framework, and offering practical guidance for parents, carers, and guardians navigating this complex area.  School exclusion occurs when a school removes a pupil from the educational setting, either temporarily or permanently. This can include suspensions (also known as fixed-term or fixed-period exclusions) or permanent removal from the school roll.  Exclusions can have serious, long-term consequences on a child's education, mental health, and future opportunities. Research from the Institute for Public Policy Research and the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory indicates that excluded children are more likely to leave school without qualifications and are at increased risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system.  Richard is part of Coram Children’s Legal Centre (CCLC), which promotes and protects the rights of children in the UK and internationally in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.    Augusta Itua joined CoramBAAF in April 2023 and job-shares with Alexandra Conroy-Harris, assisting with our advice line and service delivery for our members. Augusta qualified as a Youth Justice Lawyer and previously worked at Just for Kids Law. There, she provided specialist legal advice and representation on criminal justice issues and gained experience in community care, education, and strategic litigation law. Find out more: https://corambaaf.org.uk/membership/members-week-2024-listening-child/working-schools/episode-32-support-available-children

Looked-after children face significant challenges in school, often due to poor collaboration between teachers and social workers, which can hinder their progress. Effective teamwork between these professionals can greatly benefit these children by providing more consistent support for their educational and emotional needs.   Clear communication, sharing information about the child's development, and understanding each other's roles are essential for improving outcomes. Policy changes and successful models from other countries offer valuable insights, while families and communities can also play a key role in fostering better collaboration.  Listen to Ellyse Hinder, Senior Marketing and Engagement Officer for CoramBAAF, talk with Sylvia Ikomi and Lorna Stabler about how social workers and teachers, or those working in education, can come together to help looked after children and young people.  Sylvia Ikomi is a lecturer and qualified teacher. She delivers Continuous Professional Development training that is aimed at raising professionals’ awareness of the adultification of Black girls within the education and social care sectors.  Lorna Stabler currently works with CASCADE as a Research Associate. She is a Chief Investigator on an NIHR study focused on understanding how Family Group Conferences can be embedded in statutory child and family social work. Lorna is also Principal Investigator for a Nuffield Foundation funded study focused on Special Guardianship Orders in Wales. Find out more: https://corambaaf.org.uk/membership/members-week-2024-listening-child/working-schools/episode-33-bringing-social-workers-andv

This pre-recorded video offers a taster of the benefits of joining our course ‘Making plans for staying in touch’. No two children or their families are the same. The most critical aspect of any staying in touch plan post adoption is that it allows for individual needs and situations.   This conversation covers some of the key considerations when communicating with children and young people about their contact/staying in touch plans. Listening effectively to children and young people will help ensure that arrangements can reflect the changing needs of the child throughout childhood, teenage years and beyond.  Lindy Wootton possesses over 35 years of valuable experience working with people in the voluntary and public sectors, serving as a trainer, practitioner, manager, project leader, mediator, and restorative justice practitioner. After qualifying as a social worker, she initially worked in child protection before transitioning to adoption. In 2013, she joined CCS Adoption, where she took on diverse roles, including managing early permanence projects and the life story work service – Sharing Stories, as well as handling assessment, training, post-adoption support, and agency decision maker. In 2022, Lindy left CCS Adoption to become an independent social work consultant, undertaking work for the National Adoption Strategy Team and delivering training as an associate trainer for CoramBAAF. Lindy holds a BSc in Social Administration, MSc in Criminal Justice Policy, MSc in Social Work, and is a qualified mediator. Find out more: https://corambaaf.org.uk/membership/members-week-2024-listening-child/staying-touch/episode-31-listening-child-staying-touch

Our Legal Consultants, Augusta Itua and Alexandra Conroy-Harris came together to talk about the structures, regimes, differences and challenges for care-experienced adults wanting to access their records.  Augusta joined CoramBAAF in April 2023 and job-shares with Alexandra, assisting with our advice line and service delivery for our members. Augusta qualified as a Youth Justice Lawyer and previously worked at Just for Kids Law. There, she provided specialist legal advice and representation on criminal justice issues and gained experience in community care, education, and strategic litigation law. Recently, she was awarded the 2023 Churchill Fellowship, which allowed her to travel to Australia to explore ways to improve access to children’s social care files for care experienced people.   Alexandra was called to the Bar in 1989, and spent nine years in private practice, representing children, families and local authorities, followed by nine years as a Senior Child Care Lawyer in a London local authority before joining BAAF as Legal Consultant in 2008. Her CoramBAAF role involves writing,advising, and training on all aspects of the adoption and fostering process, as well as advising the IRM Cymru. Until recently she was combining her part-time role at CoramBAAF with employment as a childcare lawyer in a North-East local authority, and now maintains hands-on experience with some private practice at the Bar.  Find out more: https://corambaaf.org.uk/membership/members-week-2024-listening-child/identity/episode-30-access-records-what-you-need-know

James Bury, CoramBAAF’s Head of Policy, Research and Development, is joined by Anthony Lynch to tell us more about his research study “Complex Identities: An Intersectional Framework” which delves into the intricate nature of identity by examining how various social categories—such as race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, and sexual orientation—intersect and shape individual experiences. The study highlights the importance of considering these aspects of identity simultaneously to understand the unique challenges faced by individuals with complex identities.  By incorporating insights from both academic literature and grassroots sources, Anthony’s framework sheds light on the lived experiences of mixed-heritage individuals, third culture kids, and those living in border regions or with transracial and international care backgrounds. The research aims to help organisations and policymakers better support these individuals by fostering a deeper understanding and awareness of their diverse identities.  Anthony Lynch is a researcher and mixed-heritage adoptee working in the intersection between Lived Experience and Policy. Their work in identity began when they co-founded In-Between Lines, an award-winning exhibition for individuals belonging to multiple ethnicities, cultures, and families.   James Bury is the Head of Policy, Research and Development at CoramBAAF. James joined CoramBAAF in January 2022. James has over 7 years’ experience working directly with children. He has worked as a children’s Guardian and Family Court Advisor at CAFCASS and as a social worker in London and Norfolk operating in a safeguarding role. Find out more: https://corambaaf.org.uk/membership/members-week-2024-listening-child/identity/episode-29-complex-identity-intersectional

Ann Horne, CoramBAAF’s Kinship Consultant, is joined by researcher and academic  Sariya Cheruvallil-Contractor. As part of this year’s Members’ Week celebrations, they will be talking about the theme of identity, with insights from Sariya’s research and her key findings from past and present projects.    Sariya Cheruvallil-Contractor (PhD) is an Associate Professor in the Sociology of Islam at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University, UK. She is Chair (2020-2023) of the Muslims in Britain Research Network (MBRN). As a feminist sociologist of religion, she interrogates the power dynamics within knowledge production and the implications of the processes and systems of knowledge on society as a whole. She started undertaking research with and for children in care after starting the process to become an adopter, just under a decade ago.   Her extensive portfolio includes projects funded by prestigious bodies like the AHRC, ESRC, and the British Academy, covering topics such as Muslim women’s experiences, religion, and the intersectional identities of care-experienced children. Cheruvallil-Contractor’s work is deeply rooted in feminist, pragmatist, and decolonising methodologies.  Ann Horne joined CoramBAAF in February 2022 alongside jobshare partner, Clare. Ann has been a local authority social worker in children's services for 20 years. She has worked in kinship care for the last 14 years and for 7 of these co-managed a dedicated kinship care team in Brighton and Hove. Ann contributed to the development of best practice models within the Brighton and Hove Team, and some of her work locally later contributed to wider national policy developments around kinship assessments. Ann also took a lead in developing comprehensive kinship support services, ensuring kinship carers in Brighton and Hove were well served by a range of available supports.    Find out more: https://corambaaf.org.uk/membership/members-week-2024-listening-child/identity/episode-28-gender-race-and-religion-exploring

In this episode, we dive into the insights from our latest Good Practice Guide, Exploring and assessing motivations to adopt. Jo Francis, CoramBAAF’s Publishing Manager, meets  with the guide's author, Laura Payne. Laura shares her experiences in writing the book, detailing the interviews she conducted and the insights she gained while examining the diverse reasons people choose to adopt. Together, they discuss how these motivations impact the adoption assessment process, offering valuable perspectives for professionals in the field.  Laura Payne has worked in and managed several adoption agencies (both local authority and voluntary adoption agencies), and has over 30 years of experience. She is now a trainer and consultant, with a particular interest in assessment, panels, post-adoption support and the longer-term needs of adoptive families. For more information visit corambaaf.org.uk. ABOUT THE BOOK  This practice guide will help social workers better understand and assess motivation, by examining four groups: couples who have experienced fertility issues, LGBTQ+ applicants, single applicants, and those for whom adoption is their first choice. It will empower workers to explore various motivations, how they may affect adoption success or need for support, and how to discuss often sensitive subjects with applicants – with an eye to providing thoughtful and analytical assessment. It also explores the key importance of applicants’ expectations of parenthood and how these can affect their adoption journey.    This guide provides vital practice advice for all social workers, social work managers and panel members who may be involved with assessing and/or considering applicants to adopt. Read the book!

Building a healthy relationship between a foster carer and the child in their care is deeply rooted in trust. In this insightful conversation, Jo Francis, our Publishing Manager, sits down with Brad Kemp and Lauren Fernandes to explore what it truly means to build trust between children and their carers.   Both Brad and Lauren played pivotal roles in the creation of our latest children’s book, Where did my dinosaur go?  Brad shares how his personal experiences in care shaped the story, while Lauren discusses the significance of illustrating a book with such an important message.  Bradley Kemp is a care experienced individual who was in care from a young age till the age of 18. He got involved with this project to show how important it is to have trust built up between a carer and a child in care.    Lauren Fernandes is a care experienced artist and illustrator living in Dublin with her husband, daughter, two dogs and cat. Visit corambaaf.org.uk for more information!

In this episode, Dr Dennis Golm interviews Saul Hillman about their PhD, which focused on developing the Story Stem Assessment Profile (SSAP), a tool to measure attachment in children through narratives. Saul has been involved with all phases of the longitudinal adoption study which has followed up on late- and early-placed children since placement.  Saul Hillman is a Senior Research Fellow at Anna Freud and an Honorary Lecturer at University College London (UCL). Saul’s research has primarily focused on attachment and mentalization in both children and adolescents, especially those who are most vulnerable, such as looked-after or adopted children.   Read the lastest article in the study, Adoptive parents’ worries and concerns about their adolescent adopted children, in Volume 48 Issue 1, March 2024 of ‘Adoption & Fostering’.  Members, remember to sign in to your CoramBAAF website account to access any article from Adoption & Fostering. The journal is accessed via the SAGE website.  For more information visit corambaaf.org.uk!

Clare Seth, our Kinship Consultant, interviews Chloe Hubert from Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB) about their Cultural Family Life Library - a series of guides for social workers introducing them to the history and culture of families in diaspora communities in the UK.  Chloe has a background in asylum and immigration law and has worked in various NGOs working to support women who are survivors of domestic abuse and honour based abuse and supporting migrants, asylum seekers and refugees to access justice. She has been working at CFAB for almost 4 years where she works on the Post Placement Support Service and provides holistic casework to families and young people on practical matters such as engaging with the benefits system, housing, education as well as accessing medical services and legal advice.  CFAB initiated their Cultural Family Life Library due to serious case reviews which highlighted that social work professionals sometimes require further support to work with families whose culture or religion is unfamiliar to them. Culture-specific training can help inform practice and avoid the risk of inadvertently enabling situations that put some children at risk.   Some professionals also feel they lack the tools or confidence to build on cultural strengths, or to question specific cultural practices, potentially hindering better outcomes for children. With one in three children born in 2022 having a foreign-born mother, it is of growing importance that social workers receive more support for working within diaspora communities.  Please note that this conversation references child abuse, domestic abuse, genital mutilation, harmful practices, and the death of children. For more information visit corambaaf.org.uk or https://corambaaf.org.uk/episode-25-cfabs-cultural-family-life-library

In this delightful conversation CoramBAAF's Publishing Manager, Jo Francis, speaks with Jill Seeney about the success of her children's books over the years. They dig into what sparked the ideas for the stories and why they've struck a chord with social workers, carers, and kids over time. Jill Seeney is a Fostering and Kinship Training and Development Team Manager. She has worked in fostering for many years, in a variety of roles, and previously with children as a social worker, counsellor, and French teacher. She studied psychology and educational psychology. Find out more at corambaaf.org.uk!

Dr Dennis Golm is joined by author Stacey O'Sullivan, and CoramBAAF Kinship Consultant Ann Horne, to talk about this article from Volume 47, Issue 4 of the Adoption & Fostering journal. Stacey completed her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2022. Currently, she works full-time as a Clinical Psychologist in an Early Years (0-4 years) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in the NHS. She offers an integrative approach in her work alongside families, namely utilising relational, values based and compassion focused approaches. Find out more at corambaaf.org.uk.

Special Edition: The digital turn in child and family social work: Challenges, opportunities and imagined futures Biases, concerns and the erosion of rights: Addressing digital issues with adopted and fostered children in a policy vacuum Andy Phippen is a Professor of Online Harms at the Bournemouth University. Starting his career in an AI research lab in the 1990s, he has specialised in the use of ICTs in social and ethical contexts and the intersection with legislation for over 20 years, carrying out a large amount of grass roots research on issues such as attitudes toward privacy and data protection, internet safety and contemporary issues such as sexting, peer abuse and the impact of digital technology on wellbeing. He has presented written and oral evidence to parliamentary inquiries related to the use of ICTs in society, is widely published in the area and is a frequent media commentator on these issues. Find out more at corambaaf.org.uk.

Special Edition: The digital turn in child and family social work: Challenges, opportunities and imagined futures Dennis Golm is joined by two of the guest editor's for the introduction of the October special collection of the 'Adoption & Fostering journal, Volume 47 (Issue 3, October 2023). They discuss their editorial, The changing digital landscape for looked after children, and the articles from this special edition. Before joining NTU, Dr Jennifer Simpson taught on the Social Work courses as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Northampton and was also a senior manager at The Open University. Jennifer undertook her PhD at the University of Edinburgh, focusing on the area of Looked After Children and issues related to contact, which she completed in 2012. The research aimed to capture how contact between Looked After Children and their birth families has changed as a result of 3G telecommunications and social media, and whether or not there is a tangible impact in terms of key areas of local authority care. Prof Cath Larkins innovates in participation, activism and knowledge exchange with children and young people, and their allies, across the UK and Europe. She conducts co-research, particularly with marginalised children and young people which is focused on challenging discrimination and improving policy and practice. Working with a wide range of child and adult colleagues, she co-authors guidance to inspire social change. Her scholarship advance theories and methodologies for participation and citizenship. Her collaborative work with children and young people has led to impact on policy and practice internationally. Cath co-directs the Centre for Children and Young People's Participation at the University of Central Lancashire and the NIHR funded Social Care Rapid Evaluation Team (Socrates) with colleagues at LSE.   Find out more at corambaaf.org.uk.

In this episode of the podcast, Sarah Lloyd talks to Vicky and Dennis about the BUSS® model. Sarah Lloyd is a Consultant Occupational Therapist and Play Therapist and author of the BUSS® Model. Sarah worked in CAMHS for over 30 years before retiring in 2022 to head up the training and clinical teams within BUSS®. Sarah has published two books; Improving Sensory Processing in Traumatised Children, and Building Sensorimotor Systems in Children with Developmental Trauma.  Sarah is the author of the 2023 paper, An innovative approach to working with children who have experienced developmental trauma: An introduction to the Building Underdeveloped Sensorimotor Systems (BUSS®) model, which is featured in Volume 47 Issue 2 of the journal.   Find out more at corambaaf.org.uk.

Dr Dennis Golm and Vicky Walker introduce Volume 47 Issue 2 of our journal. They talk us through Dennis' editorial about the need for routine mental health support for care-experienced children and young people, along with the table of contents for the issue.   Find out more at corambaaf.org.uk.

Dr Karen Kenny joins Vicky Walker and Dr Dennis Golm to discuss Karen's article in Issue 1 of Volume 47 in the Adoption & Fostering journal. It is widely acknowledged that looked after children have consistently lower educational achievements than those young people who are brought up by their birth families. Karen explains the key findings from her research and how we need to support and encourage looked after children with their education. Read more about 'The educational experiences of children in care across five decades: A new perspective on the education of looked after children in the UK'. Visit corambaaf.org.uk for more information!

Dr Tam Cane is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Education and Social Work at the University of Sussex. Tam joins Vicky Walker and Dr Dennis Golm to discuss Tam's article BRAC2eD model: An approach to de-bias decision-making in adoption assessments with prospective adopters from minoritised ethnic groups in Issue 1 of Volume 47 in the Adoption & Fostering journal. In this episode of the podcast, Tam explains the BRAC2eD model for de-biasing is used to support adoption assessments of individuals and families from minoritised ethnic groups.    Find out more at corambaaf.org.uk