Training & events programme

The responsibilities of a Chair can be considerable. Whereas some duties may be clearly outlined in related practice guidance along with the qualities that ensure effective chairing, not all Chair responsibilities are so helpfully detailed or provided. This workshop will explore general planning for and facilitation of panels and complex meetings in the children’s sector. It will explore time management and group facilitation whilst holding the child at the centre of thinking, recommendations and decision making. It will enable Chairs of meetings to consider good practice and approaches to effectively managing the flow of information, summarising and the formation of key action plans.

OPEN TO ALL
CoramBAAF is excited to publish the new  Prospective Foster Carer Report (Form F) Wales. Form F is an assessment framework which encapsulates the work that has been done with the assessing social worker and the prospective foster carer/s. The assessing social worker undertaking a Form F will assess the capacity, experiences, motivations and skills applicants bring and also prepares them for the task of fostering. The form has undergone a substantial revision. In this session, we will be looking at how Form F has been informed by feedback from practitioners, foster carers, care experienced adults and others within the sector. The revisions are designed to be strengths-based, trauma-informed and streamlining the process.

Sibling assessments are complex and emotive for many. This course will offer a comprehensive approach to undertaking these important assessments. It will explore how assessing social workers can plan the assessment, identify the key contributors and ensure you can engage these contributors in the process. Most importantly it will explore how to gain the views of the children, observe sibling interactions, draw conclusions on the quality of sibling relationships as well as focusing on the individual needs of each child and of the sibling group.

The Law Commission has published its Kinship Care Consultation Paper. It sets out the key issues they have identified with the legal frameworks that govern different types of kinship care arrangements. Alongside reflections and analysis, the paper also sets out their provisional proposals for reform. Join our legal and kinship consultants for opportunities over three lunchtime events to hear the proposals and share your thoughts.

This two hour training is aimed at local authority professionals – both social workers and lawyers - who are involved in the placement of children currently living in England to kinship carers overseas on a Special Guardianship Order. It will provide an overview of the legal and practice issues regarding special guardianship for children being placed abroad. There will then be ample time to discuss issues in overseas cases during the case study and group discussion.

Formulating questions is an important aspect of a panel member’s role. This course gives panel members the opportunity to deepen their understanding around this underestimated skill. Panel members will be able to practice what to ask and how to ask it, while reflecting on their own values and beliefs and how these influence thinking.

This course will explore the support needs of special guardianship families, how to carry out assessment of support needs which are sensitive to the needs of kinship care families, and the how these needs may be most effectively met. This course will explore; best practice, regulation and practice guidance, assessments, eligibility criteria and access to therapeutic support services, the impact of early trauma, identity issues, and the benefits and challenges of contact.

OPEN TO ALL
Kinship Care Week is an opportunity for professionals working with children and young people to come together to celebrate the significant role of kinship carers in children’s lives. Despite being a focus area for the UK government’s reform of children’s social care, and growing awareness around the term, many people still do not understand what kinship care actually is. In this introductory session, we will be exploring the unique circumstances facing kinship families, the vital role that kinship carers play in the lives of children and young people, as well as how professionals can better understand and support them.

This course is an opportunity to consider what we know about staying in touch from research, including what works well, the voices of those with lived experience, and aspects that may present challenges or need more support.

EARLY BIRD SALE ENDS SOON
The kinship care conference is a key event in the calendar of social work practitioners working with kinship families. With a focus on developing better support for kinship families, our programme focuses on bringing together researchers, sector organisations, carers, young people, and practitioners to network, discuss and explore how local authorities can continue to build support for kinship families in their area. Early Bird Sale now on.