Shows
CoramBAAF Conversations'Adoption & Fostering' journal #20 | Vol.49 Issue 4 introduction with Dr Dennis Golm and Vicky WalkerWelcome 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 ri...
2025-12-2231 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 46 | Evidence based mental health supportJames 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 a...
2025-11-2142 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 45 | RCPCH’s new Initial Health Assessment StandardsEllie 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, L...
2025-11-1328 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsAdoption & Fostering journal #19 | Better identification of neurodevelopmental conditions in care-experienced childrenVicky 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 con...
2025-11-071h 01
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 44 | Chairing with care: Insights from adoption panelsJane 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...
2025-10-2341 minCoramBAAF Conversations'Adoption & Fostering' journal #18 | Vol.49 Issue 3 introduction with Dr Dennis Golm and Vicky WalkerIn 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 p...
2025-10-2224 minCoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 43 | Co-creating assessment tools with our members and the wider sectorIn 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 cons...
2025-09-1730 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsAdoption & Fostering journal #17 | Allegations of abuse in care: The experiences of foster carersWelcome 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, surroga...
2025-09-151h 01
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 42 | The secure base model with Professor Gillian SchofieldIn 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...
2025-08-2132 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 41 | Undertaking a Kinship Care AssessmentIn 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...
2025-08-0718 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsAdoption & Fostering journal #16 | Vol.49 Issue 2 introduction with Dr Dennis Golm and Vicky WalkerWelcome 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...
2025-07-2325 min
CoramBAAF Conversations'Adoption & Fostering' journal #15 | Looking past the stereotypes – Disabled people as foster carersThere 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...
2025-06-2548 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 40 | Child sexual abuse in foster and kinship care, special guardianship and adoptionIn 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 emph...
2025-06-0220 minCoramBAAF ConversationsAdoption & Fostering journal #14 | Outcomes from attachment-based group interventions for foster carers and adoptive parentsResearch 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...
2025-04-2848 min
R.I.S.EEpisode 6: Leiland-James Corkhill – learning from his death at the hands of his adopterLeiland-James Corkhill was murdered by his prospective adopter Laura Castle in January 2021. This episode looks at the findings of the review published by Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership. Learning themes include: -Limitations of self-reporting -Information sharing -Disguised compliance (as referenced in the report) -Post Adoption Depression syndrome -Covid 19 Restrictions -Changing dynamics of a person’s health status For further resources on Post Adoption Syndrome please see the following: CoramBAAF- Post Adoption Depression Syndrome The Child Psychology Service CIC – Post Adoption Depression Adoption UK- Post Adoption Depression- What no-one told...
2025-04-2225 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsAdoption & Fostering journal #13 | Vol.49 Issue 1 introduction with Dr Dennis Golm and Vicky WalkerThe 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 quar...
2025-04-0821 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 39 | Encouraging adoption in Black African and Caribbean communitiesAdoption 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 ad...
2025-03-1031 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsAdoption & Fostering journal #12 | Child to parent violence and aggression with Dr Morvwen Duncan and Hetty VerhagenDr 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 s...
2025-02-1035 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsAdoption & Fostering journal #11 | Vol.48 Issue 3 introduction with Dr Dennis Golm and Vicky WalkerDr 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
2025-01-1427 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsAdoption & Fostering journal #10 | Vol.48 Issue 2 introduction with Dr Dennis Golm and Jo FrancisDr 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.
2024-12-0221 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 38 | The AFDiT FrameworkDr 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...
2024-10-3136 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 37 | My adoption journey with Al CoatesIn 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 ca...
2024-10-241h 01
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 36 | FRG’s Lifelong Link and Build Not Break campaignJoin 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 sens...
2024-10-1543 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 35 | The kinship assessment process: listening to carersFor 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...
2024-10-1124 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsAccess and support rights to children's social care files: in conversation with Leonie SheedyLeonie 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
2024-10-0644 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsAccess and support rights to children's social care files: in conversation with Frank GoldingFrank 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
2024-10-051h 20
CoramBAAF ConversationsAccess and support rights to children's social care files: in conversation with Barbara ReedBarbara 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
2024-10-0450 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 34 | Examples of direct work with childrenHelen 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 wo...
2024-10-0320 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 32 | Support available for children and families about school exclusionsIn 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...
2024-10-0325 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 33 | Bringing social workers and teachers togetherLooked-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 fo...
2024-10-0341 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 31 | Listening to the child on staying in touchThis 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.
...
2024-10-0324 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 30 | Access to records: what you need to knowOur 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 t...
2024-10-0332 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 29 | Complex identity: an intersectional framework for organisations, with Anthony LynchJames 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 o...
2024-10-0337 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 28 | Gender race, and religion: exploring the identity of care experienced children and care leaversAnn 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 impl...
2024-10-0343 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 27 | Exploring and assessing motivations to adoptIn 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 ov...
2024-08-3014 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 26 | Building trust between children and their carersBuilding 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.
Bra...
2024-08-2225 minCoramBAAF ConversationsAdoption & Fostering journal #9 | Adoptive parents’ worries and concerns about their adolescent adopted childrenIn 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...
2024-08-1241 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 25 | CFAB’s Cultural Family Life LibraryClare 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 P...
2024-08-0627 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 24 | Let's talk about Morris and RufusIn 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.o...
2024-07-3019 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsAdoption & Fostering journal #8 | Grandparent Special Guardians’ lived experiences of the role and family dynamicsDr 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.
2024-07-2544 minCoramBAAF ConversationsAdoption & Fostering journal #7 | Biases, concerns and the erosion of rightsSpecial 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...
2024-07-2535 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsAdoption & Fostering journal #6 | October introduction with Jennifer Simpson & Cath LarkinsSpecial 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 P...
2024-07-2530 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsAdoption & Fostering journal #5 | An introduction to the BUSS® model with Sarah LloydIn 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 Underdev...
2024-07-2533 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsAdoption & Fostering journal #4 | July introduction with Dr Dennis Golm and Vicky WalkerDr 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.
2024-07-2513 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsAdoption & Fostering journal #3 | The educational experiences of children in care with Dr Karen KennyDr 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 co...
2024-07-2529 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsAdoption & Fostering journal #2 | BRAC2eD model with Dr Tam CaneDr 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
2024-07-2526 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsAdoption & Fostering journal #1 | March introduction with Dr Dennis Golm and Vicky WalkerIn the first episode of the Adoption & Fostering podcast, Dr Dennis Golm and Vicky Walker introduce the Volume 47 Issue 1 of our journal. They talk us through Dennis' first editorial, along with the table of contents for the issue.
Our Adoption & Fostering journal podcast is dedicated to sharing the research, findings and developments of academics that focus on adoption, fostering, kinship and the children's social care sector. We have designed this podcast series to explore the articles that we publish in our online journal in a new format, and to make the content readily available and more accessible.
2024-07-2509 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 23 | LIVE Annual Health Conference: Hot topics and a step into the pastLive from this year's Annual Health Conference, Michelle Bell interviewed our poster presenters about the work that they are currently undertaking in the health sector.
These conversations include:
A joint Doctor and Nurse model for initial health assessments for children in care - Dr Michelle Bond, Named Doctor for Children in Care for Brighton and Hove, and Sue Donald, Specialist Nurse for Children in Care for NHS Sussex.
The mental health aspect of adult assessments for prospective carers - Matilda Roberts, a medical student at Cardiff University.
Supporting the completion of healt...
2024-07-2220 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 22 | PRIDE special: The experiences of an LGBTQ+ foster carerEmma and Matt come together to explore Matt’s experiences as a gay man and a foster carer. Matt and his partner began their journey as foster carers in 2019 and had their first placement during lockdown. Matt is often faced with stigma and stereotypes, he works to challenge these stigmas and dismantle traditional gender roles whilst also providing a supportive and loving care for his young people and community.
They talk about the positives and the fun that comes with celebrate PRIDE month as a family and why it is important to talk about the meaning and sig...
2024-06-2633 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 21 | The impact of the online world on the mental health of care-experienced childrenWe are excited to share the latest addition to our resources aimed at supporting practitioners to work with children and young people and their online life. Developed by Dr. Vicki Walker from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Jane Poore, our Adoption Consultant, these materials will be released over the next 12-18 months. Dive into the latest podcast episode, where they explore the impact of the online world on the mental health of care-experienced children and young people.
Dr. Vicki Walker shares her belief that everyone working in education, the police, social care, and...
2024-06-1830 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 20 | Where did my dinosaur go? Foster Care Fortnight #FosteringMomentsEmma Fincham, CoramBAAF’s Fostering Consultant, is joined by Paul Calder and Eva Sprecher to talk about their new children’s book, Where did my dinosaur go?. This is a charming picture book about moving to live somewhere new, and learning to trust new people – ideal for children in foster care, kinship care, private fostering, and many other situations.
Paul Calder has been a foster carer for 11 years, and got involved in the book after being on an eight-week Reflective Fostering programme.
Dr Eva A Sprecher is a researcher at UCL, who works with care experi...
2024-05-2036 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 19 | Where did my dinosaur go? | Author interviewWhere did my dinosaur go? is a charming children's book about two meerkats, Mia and Kit, who do not like their new home. They don’t like their new routine, their new bedroom, or new foods for dinner – and most of all, they definitely do not like their new carer, Becky the capybara. But when the meerkats (along with their very special cuddly dinosaur toys) stay with Becky, they discover that a new home can be OK, and sometimes it’s alright to trust new people.
Jo Francis, CoramBAAF's Publishing Manager, sat down with three members of the auth...
2024-05-1022 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 18 part two | ‘Adoption by foster carers’ - interview with author Elaine DibbenDiscover firsthand insights on adoption by foster carers in our exclusive podcast interviews featuring Isla, a foster carer turned adopter, and author Elaine Dibben. Joined by Jo Francis, CoramBAAF’s Publication Manager, they delve into both the personal and practical aspects of this journey.
Elaine Dibben started her social work career in residential social work and qualified in 1988. She has over 30 years’ experience of working in adoption and fostering in local authority and voluntary adoption agency settings and is a strong advocate for the importance of securing permanence in family settings for children who cannot return to their pare...
2024-05-0317 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 18 part one | ‘Adoption by foster carers’ - interview with Isla, foster carer and adopterDiscover firsthand insights on adoption by foster carers in our exclusive podcast interviews featuring Isla, a foster carer turned adopter, and author Elaine Dibben. Joined by Jo Francis, CoramBAAF’s Publication Manager, they delve into both the personal and practical aspects of this journey.
Isla is a Foster Carer for a Local Authority with previous professional experiences in education and safeguarding. Her family have been on a journey for the last three years in Fostering and Adoption. The journey has been significantly longer than that of most people who apply to adopt having made their initial intention kn...
2024-05-0316 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 17 | What is a sibling assessment?Listen to Joan Hunt and Helen Little talk about sibling assessment and the impact they have on children and their sibling relationships. They discuss how sibling assessments have been conducted in the past and the variables this generated. As well as covering, what sibling assessments have looked like since the introduction of CoramBAAF's Sibling Assessment Report (SAR) and how it promotes consistency across reports, and the encouragement of a multi-disciplinary approach to capture multiple voices.
Find out more and explore relevant resources on our website: https://corambaaf.org.uk/resources/co...
2024-04-1024 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 16 | Post adoption depressionPost adoption depression: What is it? Who does it affect? What are we doing about it? These questions and more form part of Doctor Lynn Snow's Churchill Fellowship research. In this conversation, Jane Poore, Adoption Consultant, is joined by Doctor Lynn Snow to answer some of these questions.
Doctor 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 C...
2024-03-0714 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 15 | Therapeutic interventionsIn this episode, Helen Little is joined by Hetty (Hedwig) Verhagen. Hetty is a lecturer in Social Work at the University of Leads, whilst also being a therapeutic social worker, author and associate trainer.
They talk about what therapeutic interventions mean, why there was a need to develop the course, and how social workers, foster carers, adopters and others can benefit from signing up for the course.
Find out more or watch the interview on the CoramBAAF website.
2024-02-0213 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 14 | The secure base modelEllen Broomé welcomed Gillian Schofield and Mary Beek to talk about the new edition of their bestselling publications, The Secure Base Model and Promoting Attachment and Resilience.
Did you know podcasts count towards continuing your professional development?
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2023-12-2126 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 12 | The key principles of kinship care supportKinship Care Week (2 – 8 October 2023) is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the commitment of kinship carers and the role they play in the lives of children.
Kinship care’s profile has increased considerably over the past year but more needs to be done. This year’s theme of #DoOneThing aims to continue to raise awareness and keep the spotlight on kinship care.
To end #KinshipCareWeek, Ann Horne and Clare Seth -our Kinship Consultants - go through some of the key principles of kinship care support in our latest podcast episode.
Did you know podcasts...
2023-12-2110 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 11 | Accessing care recordsListen to Augusta Itua, our legal consultant, in conversation with Dr Julia Feast OBE. They talk us through the current barriers and support available to care experienced people wanting to access their records.
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2023-12-2118 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 10 | How 16- and 17-year-olds feel they should be supportedListen to our conversation with CoramVoice. Linda Briheim-Crookall shares research findings from the Bright Spots Programme, and considers how 16- and 17-year-olds feel they should be supported.
Did you know podcasts count towards continuing your professional development?
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2023-12-2133 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 9 | What is a health assessment?Listen to our health consultant, Ellie Johnson, in discussion with our head of policy, research and development, James Bury, explore what a health assessment is and how it can be used to better the lives of children and young people.
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2023-12-2131 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 8 | Using your legal department in social servicesListen to a discussion between our legal consultant, Alexandra Conroy- Harris, and our adoption consultant, Jane Poore, about how to use your legal department in social services. This episode is part of our Members' Week programme.
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2023-12-2118 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 7 | The role of the supervising social workerAlison Davies speaks about the importance of the linking role supervising social workers play between the fostering service and foster carers.
Read the book - The role of the supervising social worker.
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2023-12-2116 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 6 | Effective adoption panelsAuthor, Elaine Dibben talks Adoption Panels - how they operate and the importance of each panel member’s role and how they work together to ensure that each child is being placed with the right adoptive parents.
Read the book - Effective adoption panels.
Did you know podcasts count towards continuing your professional development?
Visit our website to find out more.
2023-12-2121 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 5 | Managing allegations, concerns and complaints against foster carersCoramBAAF Publishing Manager, Jo Francis, engages in a thoughtful conversation with author Laura Williams to explore effective strategies for handling challenging situations and, notably, preventing their occurrence. Together, they delve into the comprehensive insights provided by our Good Practice Guide, highlighting its purpose in assisting practitioners and managers in skillfully maneuvering the intricate processes associated with allegations and complaints.
Read the book - Managing allegations, concerns and complaints against foster carers.
Did you know podcasts count towards continuing your professional development?
Visit our website to find out more.
2023-12-2121 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 4 | Endorsement of PACEIn this interview, Olivia Clark shares with us how the endorsement of PACE and therapeutic parenting can have a positive impact on the wellbeing of children in care, and help to strengthen the bond between a carer and the child they care for.
Olivia has been a qualified social worker for thirteen years, with ten years of experience in the fostering sector through local authority and independent practice. She is located in Devon and now works for The Fostering Network as a Practice Support Consultant.
Did you know podcasts count towards continuing your professional development?
2023-12-2138 min
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 3 | Mental Health Awareness WeekIn this conversation about mental health, Hetty Verhagen (therapeutic social worker and university lecturer), Emma Fincham (fostering consultant) and Ellyse Partington (Digital Marketing and Engagement Officer), consider what mental health means to them.
They explore Emma's role as a mental health first aider, along with Hetty's direct work with social work practitioners.
Did you know podcasts count towards continuing your professional development?
Visit our website to find out more.
2023-12-121h 01
CoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 2 | Child to parent violence and aggressionJo Francis talks to author Hetty Verhagen about her Parenting Matters book, Parenting a child affected by child to parent violence and aggression.
Child to parent violence is a distressing phenomenon for any family, but it may be more common in children who have been separated from their birth family and who experienced abuse, neglect or other trauma in their early years. Aggression can become a problem at different ages and stages, and may have its roots in a variety of causes. For parents and carers of these children who are seeking to help them manage or ove...
2023-12-1223 minCoramBAAF ConversationsEpisode 1 | Meet Charmaine OrchardEmma Fincham met with Charmaine Orchard, chair of CoramBAAF's Fostering Advisory Committee, to talk about her new role. They talk about Charmaine's work, Foster Care Fortnight™ and this year's theme #fosteringcommunities.
It is also an insightful conversation about current fostering policy and practice, as well as exploring their ambitions for the committee going forward. To find out more about CoramBAAF's Advisory Committiees visit our website.
Did you know podcasts count towards continuing your professional development?
Visit our website to find out more.
2023-12-1209 min
Social Work SpotlightEpisode 98: KristinIn this episode I speak with Kristin, a qualified social worker with 17 years of social work experience in youth justice, child protection and the family court. Kristin qualified in Australia but has lived and worked in the UK since 2012. Now alongside her social work role, Kristin supports other overseas social workers making the move to the UK.Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:CoramBAAF - https://corambaaf.org.uk/The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) resources - https://new.basw.co.uk/policy-and-practice/resourcesLet’...
2023-12-0841 min
Conversations with Annalisa BarbieriAdoption with psychotherapist and adoption specialist Alison RoyI get a lot of problems about adoption, usually, but not always, from the adopters who are struggling but are mired in shame that they cannot cope. Once someone has been through the process of adoption it can be very hard for them to admit they are finding it tough. But in this podcast we also hear from an adoptee, because that's the other side that I hear from (and often a voice which is missing when adoption is discussed). When adoptees write to me, they often talk of constantly looking for something, as if something is missing, or...
2022-06-131h 02
Mishcon Academy: Digital SessionsModern Family: Adoption in the UKIn the latest episode of our Modern Family podcast, led by Associates Sarah Infante and George Irving, Dr John Simmonds OBE from CoramBAAF was invited to discuss the adoption and foster care system in the UK.John is a qualified social worker with substantial experience in child protection, family placement and residential care settings. He is responsible for CoramBAAF’s contribution to the development of policy and practice in social work, health, the law, and research.John shared his own experience of adopting his two children over 40 years ago. The discussion focused on questions of id...
2022-01-1139 min
Thriving Adoptees - Let's ThriveNavigating Adoption With Terry Fitzpatrick DirectorTerry has worked in the field of children’s social care for over 38 years. He began his career in the Voluntary Sector, working for the then Catholic Rescue Society as a residential child care officer, before moving to work within a local authority setting in 1983.For several years he again worked in a residential setting, helping to manage a “fostering preparation unit”, as a qualified social worker, he was enlisted to conduct fostering and adoption assessments too and so the passion for family placement work began.From 1989 until 2013 Terry managed family placement services for the counci...
2021-10-211h 00
Thriving Adoptees - Let's ThriveMore Empathy With Your Child Paul Hewitt & Emma Gardner Adoption Social WorkersHere's some information about Nugent from their website:Nugent Adoption is a registered and approved Independent Adoption Agency located in the North West of England. Nugent became a Registered Adoption Agency in 1943; therefore we have been involved in placing children for adoption for 75 years.We provide a welcoming team of professional and dedicated social work staff who are experienced in all areas of adoption. Our aim is to increase the opportunities for children who have experienced a difficult start, to enjoy a positive, safe and secure family life.We pride ourselves on providing...
2021-10-201h 03
Learn on the go: the Community Care podcastSiblings, placements and contactWelcome to Learn on the go, a Community Care Inform podcast where we discuss what the latest research, practice models and policy guidance mean to your practice.This episode is about siblings. It covers some of the issues for practitioners making decisions when placing brothers and sisters who come into care, and contact for siblings who - whether in the short- or long-term - have different living arrangements. The expert guest is Shelagh Beckett, an independent social worker and consultant specialising in this area, and author of Coram BAAF’s Beyond together or apart: planning for, assessing and pl...
2020-03-0533 minLearn on the go: the Community Care podcastChild to parent violenceWelcome to Learn on the go, a Community Care Inform podcast where we discuss what the latest research, practice models and policy guidance mean to your practice.This episode is about child and adolescent to parent abuse. It covers how this form of abuse is defined, what is known about when and why it occurs, how social workers can support families, both when there are specific programmes in place and what they can do themselves. We also explore the links and differences with domestic abuse. Discussing these questions are Helen Bonnick, social worker specialising in this area and...
2019-10-3132 min
Learn on the go: the Community Care podcastAdoption disruptionWelcome to Learn on the go, a Community Care Inform podcast where we discuss what the latest research findings mean to your practice.In the first episode of the series, we asked two experts to summarise the research on adoption disruption, and explain what social workers can learn from it. Community Care Inform subscribers can visit Inform Children and Inform Adults for more detailed information and guidance.The expertsJulie Selwyn is professor and director at the Hadley Centre for Adoption and Foster Care Studies at the University of Bristol, and author of...
2017-08-0729 min
The Trauma TherapistEpisode 203: Attachment & Relational Trauma. Karen TreismanDr. Karen Treisman is a London-based highly specialized clinical psychologist. She has worked in the NHS and children’s services for several years and has also worked cross-culturally in both Africa and Asia with groups ranging from former child soldiers to survivors of the Rwandan Genocide. Karen has extensive experience in the areas of trauma, parenting, and attachment, and works clinically using a range of therapeutic approaches with families, systems, and children in or on the edge of care, unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people, and adopted children. In addition to holding a doctorate in Clinical psychology, Karen has undergone a range of...
2016-11-1433 min