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Undertaking an adoption assessment in England

Bookshop product- 978 913384 00 5 - Elaine Dibben

2020 EDITION

This guide is designed to help social workers to manage and complete a comprehensive and evidence-based assessment of prospective applicants who want to adopt a child or children. It is to be used by assessing social workers to complete a Prospective Adopter’s Report using the CoramBAAF Form PAR (for England), revised in 2016, or the PAR (Reg 30F) 2019.

Undertaking checks and references in fostering and adoption assessments

Bookshop product- 978 1 910039 85 4 - Paul Adams

The assessment of foster carers and adopters is amongst the most important aspects of family placement work. Undertaking checks and references is key to these assessments, and a core task for social workers. This Good Practice Guide details the range of checks routinely undertaken across the UK.

We are fostering

Bookshop product- 978 1 903699 43 0 - Jean Camis

This is a life story workbook which will help birth children to know themselves, their history and their role in the family, prior to fostered children coming to live in their family. There is information about what fostering, adoption, and getting "approved" before having children to stay, mean. Working through this book will help prepare birth children to welcome new arrivals into their homes and lives.

When Daisy met Tommy

Bookshop product- 978 1 907585 06 7 - Jules Belle

Published as part of the Our Story series, this is the story of how Daisy and her parents adopted Tom. Although written by her mother, it is really six-year-old Daisy’s adoption story - reflecting her feelings about the family's decision to adopt Tom, bringing them vividly to life.

Where are my brothers and sisters?

Bookshop product- 978 1 907585 35 7 - Hedi Argent

This short, colourful booklet is part of CoramBAAF’s series of publications for children and young people, which aim to explain concepts in adoption and fostering that they may find difficult to understand.

Where is Poppy's panda?

Bookshop product- 978 1 905664 72 6 - David Pitcher

Change can cause confusion and uncertainty for children, but particularly for fostered and adopted children. This charming children's story uses Poppy and her lost panda to explore change, continuity, and anxieties about moves, changes and attachment in a way that feels safe and nonthreatening.

Why can't I be good?

Bookshop product- 978 1 910039 07 6 - Hedi Argent

This short booklet for children is part of a series designed to teach children about a range of health conditions common to many looked after children. This story about emotional and behavioural difficulties will be helpful for any child aged seven to 11 whose behaviour frequently gets them into trouble, or who knows someone who can’t be good.

Why was I adopted?

Bookshop product- 978 1 907585 82 1 - Jane Jackson

This short guide looks at some of the most common big adoption questions that adopted children ask, and explores the feelings and worries that can lie behind a child’s questions, with useful suggested dialogues.

Writing a later life letter

Bookshop product- 978 1 913384 03 6 - Fran Moffat

A later life letter is one written by a social worker to a child who is being adopted, to help the child make sense of their past, but it is intended to be read later in the child’s life - a difficult and delicate task even for experienced workers. This Good Practice Guide focuses on the practicalities of writing a later life letter.