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The March issue (Volume 49 Issue 1) of 'Adoption & Fostering' is out now and free for our CoramBAAF members to access.

The concept of adultification is where notions of innocence and vulnerability are not afforded to certain children. This is determined by people and institutions who hold power over children and young people. When adultification occurs outside of the home it is always founded within discrimination and bias. There are various contexts of adultification, all relate to a child’s personal characteristics, socio-economic influences and lived experiences. Regardless of the context in which adultification takes place, the impact results in children’s rights being either diminished or overlooked.

CoramBAAF’s inaugural panel chairs and advisers conference brought together over 110 professionals to discuss collective decisionmaking, child-centred recommendations, and the role of personal judgement in panel work. Elaine Dibben reflects on how the conference encouraged meaningful networking, highlighted key challenges and insights from experts, and reinforced the value of panels in safeguarding and supporting children’s welfare.

CoramBAAF welcomes today’s announcement of the continuation of the ASGSF. We recognise how reliant families are on the therapy that it provides. We share concerns about the delays in the announcement and the continued delay in applications opening.

At a recent Quality Circle meeting, chaired by Gemma Taylor KC and featuring Professor Brid Featherstone, over 160 participants came together to explore ways to improve how child protection systems address domestic abuse. In this summary, Kinship Consultant Clare Seth shares key findings, lessons, challenges and actions from the discussion.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill strengthens child protection, mandates Family Group Decision Making (FGDM), enhances multi-agency safeguarding, and expands schools’ duties. It also supports kinship care, improves regional cooperation, and increases Ofsted oversight. Now at its second reading in the House of Lords, it continues to shape children’s social care.