CoramBAAF Adoption Conference 2026: Can modern adoption meet the needs of today's children and families?

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CoramBAAF is hosting its Adoption Conference on Monday 11 May 2026 at the Coram Campus, 41 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AZ.

The adoption conference is a key date in the calendar of social workers, panel chairs, panel advisers, legal or health professionals working in adoption, and team managers across regional adoption agencies, voluntary adoption agencies, local authority adoption teams, and adoption support agencies. It is a conference that brings together current research, legal context, and cross sector learning to explore one vital question: Can modern adoption meet the needs of today’s children and families?

Join us for an engaging event designed to inform and connect adoption professionals from across the country. Our thoughtfully curated programme will bring together contributions from adopters, adult adoptees, those representing often marginalised groups and professional who are also adopters and adoptees, birth parents. Through their presentations and workshops you'll have the opportunity to get up to date on critical topics, gain valuable insight, share your perspective and be part of the conversation.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

  • Reflect on decision-making in adoption practice using judicial guidance, research evidence and national data to inform your service
  • Develop your practice across post-adoption support, contact and identity work including staying-in-touch arrangements, and post-commencement access to records based on current best practices and research evidence.
  • Consider how to improve joined-up practice across the system by working with adopters, birth families, health services and partner agencies to improve consistency, communication and support for families.

PROGRAMME

CHAIR 

Satwinder Sandhu, Chief Executive Officer, Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies UK

KEYNOTE

Hon Dame Mrs Justice Frances Judd DBE, High Court Judge, Family Division, High Court of Justice, England and Wales

PROGRAMME 

9.30am - 10am | Registration 

Check in with our team, say hello to colleagues and have a tea or coffee 

10am | Welcome 

Keynote address: Recommendations for best practice in adoption; 18 months on

Hon Dame Mrs Justice Frances Judd DBE, High Court Judge, Family Division, High Court of Justice, England and Wales

Family Routes Longitudinal Study

Rachel Blades, ECORYS UK

Julie Selwyn, Emeritus Professor of Education and Adoption, Rees Centre, Department of Education, University of Oxford

Refreshment break - CoramBAAF Bookshop, and networking  

Refreshments in the reception area and browse our bookstall. 

Ensuring adopted people and their families get the support they need

Emily Frith, CEO Adoption UK

Can modern adoption meet the needs of today's children and families?

Jane Poore, Adoption Consultant CoramBAAF (Chair)

Julie Elliott Clinical Director Adoption UK,

Julia Whitehead - TV Assistant Producer, former child protection Social Worker

Euan Preston – Chair, the POTATO Group, campaigner against cuts to ASGSF

Clare Solomons – Adoptive parent and campaigner against cuts to ASGSF

Workshops round one 

Delegates will attend the first of their workshops

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 their second workshops

Highlights from the workshops - workshop leads

Adoption panels essential or obsolete? – debate

Arlene P. Weekes, Associate Professor at University of Birmingham and Adam Walters, Agency and Panel Adviser at Adopt Thames Valley

CLOSE

Opportunity for networking

 

WORKSHOP OPTIONS - delegates will be invited to choose two from the following

  • Health services and adoption, challenges and solutions – Ellie Johnson, Health Consultant CoramBAAF, Dr Lynn Snow, Paediatrician and Churchill Fellow

  • Recruitment – learning from what works – Pam Whittaker Executive Head Adopt East and Ann French, Team Manager, Adopt East

  • What do we do when they get to 18? Post commencement and the failure of life long services – Mike Hancock, National Strategic Lead PAC-UK, adoptee and Chair of the Improving Adoption Services for Adults Group for Adoption England 

  • Working with birth families and birth mums - Karina Graham, Women's Involvement Officer, PAUSE

 

FEES 

Full or associate CoramBAAF member £218 + £43.60 VAT - Total £261.60  

Individual CoramBAAF member £174.00 + £34.80 VAT - Total £208.80  

Non-member £305 + £61 VAT - Total £366.00 

You will receive your booking confirmation within 7 days of placing your order. If you have not received by this time, please contact us by email using the below.

CONTACT

Telephone: 0207 520 7520 / 0310

Email: events@corambaaf.org.uk

£305.00