CoramBAAF Kinship Care Conference 2025: Developing a kinship local offer - What can we learn?
We are delighted to invite you to this year’s CoramBAAF Kinship Care Conference. Book now to join us on 13 October 2025 at Coram Campus, 41 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AZ.
The kinship care conference is a key event in the calendar of social work practitioners working with kinship families.
With the new statutory guidance for local authorities requiring publication of a kinship local offer, our programme focuses on bringing together researchers, sector organisations, carers, young people, parents and practitioners to network, discuss and explore how local authorities can shape and develop a good kinship local offer.
The day will create a supportive and collaborative learning experience to empower social work practitioners. Attendees will leave with knowledge, practical tools, and new connections to confidently take the next steps in producing their local offer.
CHAIR
James Bury, Head of Policy, Research, and Development, and Interim Managing Director, CoramBAAF
PRESENTERS
Jahnine Davies, National Kinship Ambassador
Dr Priya Tah, Research Officer, Rees Centre University of Oxford
Anam Raja, Research Manager, Kinship
Frances Edwards, Legal Adviser, Family Rights Group
Augusta Itua, Legal Consultant, CoramBAAF, and Chair of the Racial Family Justice Network
Karina Graham, Involvement and Communications Assistant, Pause
Dr Paul Shuttleworth, Senior Lecturer, Kingston University
Sandra Latter, Specialist Adviser, CoramBAAF
Sharon McPherson, Co-Director, Families in Harmony
Emelda Small, Peer Support Lead, Families in Harmony
Kyle Rogers, Youth Engagement, Families in Harmony
Jo Flanagan, Senior Practice Development Adviser, Foundations
Sam Lockwood, Practice Manager, Suffolk County Council
Kim Smith, Assistant Head of Service, Birmingham Children's Trust
PROGRAMME
9.30am - 10.00am | Registration
Check in with our team, say hello to colleagues and have a tea or coffee
10am | Welcome
James Bury, Head of Policy, Research and Development, and Interim Managing Director, CoramBAAF
Raised by Relatives: the experiences of Black and Asian kinship carers
Dr Priya Tah, University of Oxford, and Anam Raja, Kinship
The legal implications of the kinship local offer - a conversation between CoramBAAF and Family Rights Group
Augusta Itua, CoramBAAF, and Frances Edwards, Family Rights Group
Kinship Local Offer: Considering the Role of Parents in Kinship Families
Karina Graham, Pause, alongside Pause graduates
Refreshment break - CoramBAAF Bookshop, poster presentations and networking
Refreshments in the reception area and browse our bookstall and poster presentations.
Different perspectives on the importance of maintaining connections for children
Paul Shuttleworth, Kingston University; Karina Graham, Pause; Kyle Rogers, Families in Harmony, Sandra Latter, CoramBAAF
Workshops round one
Delegates will attend the first of their chosen workshops listed below
LUNCH
Food and refreshments will be available in the reception area. This will be another opportunity to browse the bookstall and posters
Workshops round two
Delegates will attend the second of their chosen workshops listed below
COMFORT BREAK
In conversation with Jahnine Davies
Jahnine Davies, National Kinship Ambassador
WORKSHOPS
Delegates will have a choice of two of the four workshops listed below.
Workshop one | Form K 6 months in – what have we learnt?
Led by Clare Seth, one of CoramBAAF’s kinship consultants and joined by Maria Griffiths of Surrey County Council, a pilot local authority, we will consider what has been learnt since the publication and implementation of Form K. Learning from each other, how can we support ongoing improvements in assessment practice with kinship families? This workshop will be useful for everyone using or thinking about using Form K and will provide an opportunity to explore what is needed to support successful implementation.
Workshop two | Building the kinship local offer together
Sharon McPherson, Co-director, and Emelda Small, Peer Support Lead, Families in Harmony
This workshop focuses on what local authorities can do to ensure their local offer is a “collaboration with local partners” and meets the needs of all kinship carers, as required in the statutory guidance. Sharon McPherson, together with Emelda Small, will share their expertise on what makes co-production work in practice. Drawing on their experiences with local authorities and across the kinship care sector, they will highlight a community development model as an effective way to engage with all kinship families. The workshop will provide practical strategies and ideas for local authorities looking to co-produce a local offer
Workshop three | Implementing the Foundation’s Kinship Practice Guide: Learning from 11 local authorities
Jo Flanagan, Senior Practice Development Adviser, Foundations; Sam Lockwood, Suffolk County Council
This session will share themes from a partnership project between 11 Local Authorities and Foundations looking at learning from implementation of the Practice Guide. In the workshop we will discuss the process for implementation, which practice guide recommendations local authorities are developing as part of their local offer, common barriers and enablers, supportive tools deployed and the high-level learning from our work together.
Workshop four | Barriers and enablers - how can we support the development of effective kinship local offers?
Kim Smith, Birmingham Children’s Trust; Ann Horne, Kinship Consultant
What are the barriers and enablers to developing your kinship local offer? This workshop is an opportunity to share experiences, to think about where help is needed and to shape the support and future learning opportunities CoramBAAF provides for its members. If you would like to join a community of practice exploring the development of kinship local offers, this is the workshop for you.
FEES
Early bird discounts are applied at the checkout page
Early bird sale until 28 July 2025 23.59pm
Full or associate CoramBAAF member £177.60 + £35.52 VAT - £213.12
Individual CoramBAAF member £148.00 + £29.60 VAT - £177.60
Non-member £248.64 + £49.73 VAT - £298.37
Prices from 29 July 2025 00.00am
Full or associate CoramBAAF member £222 + £44.40 VAT - Total £266.40
Individual CoramBAAF member £185.00 + £37.00 VAT - Total £222.00
Non-member £310.80 + £62.12 VAT - Total £372.96
Concessions are available for kinship carers. Please contact us using the email below.
VENUE
Coram Campus,
41 Brunswick Square,
London,
WC1N 1AZ
CONTACT
If you have special requirements please click the left hand bar at the checkout to let us know. Alternatively, contact us by email.
Email events@corambaaf.org.uk
Testimonials KCC 2024
“I have learnt so much and made various connections with other colleagues in different boroughs.”
“Interesting and informative, with opportunities to network with other professionals and take away understanding of how other agencies are working to improve the service delivery.”
“Enjoyable event where everyone was on the same page.”
“Very useful and informative. Gave me loads of ideas and questions to take back to my work.”
“The sessions were informative, so much up-to-date knowledge and currently practices were discussed. Lots to take away and research afterwards.”
£310.80