CoramBAAF Conversations

Episode 44 | Chairing with care: Insights from adoption panels

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

'Adoption & Fostering' journal #18 | Vol.49 Issue 3 introduction with Dr Dennis Golm and Vicky Walker

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

Episode 43 | Co-creating assessment tools with our members and the wider sector

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. 

Adoption & Fostering journal #17 | Allegations of abuse in care: The experiences of foster carers

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.

Episode 42 | The secure base model with Professor Gillian Schofield

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

Episode 41 | Undertaking a Kinship Care Assessment

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.

Adoption & Fostering journal #16 | Vol.49 Issue 2 introduction with Dr Dennis Golm and Vicky Walker

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!

'Adoption & Fostering' journal #15 | Looking past the stereotypes – Disabled people as foster carers

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

Episode 40 | Child sexual abuse in foster and kinship care, special guardianship and adoption

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. 

Adoption & Fostering journal #14 | Outcomes from attachment-based group interventions for foster carers and adoptive parents

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