Training & events programme

Some kinship carers are approved as kinship foster carers and therefore their situation and circumstances are often very different to mainstream foster carers. This course provides an opportunity to reflect on the statutory framework of approval, support, supervision and review of kinship foster carers and how this unique context differs from that of mainstream fostering. This course does not cover kinship assessment practice, but rather focuses on approval, support and review beyond the assessment process.  

The role of the panel administrator is a multidimensional one. Effective adoption and fostering panels are crucial to the delivery of a good adoption and fostering service, and the provision of services for looked after children. The efficient administration of panels, including the provision of clear and accurate minutes, is a skilled and complex task that is essential to the smooth and effective operation of panels. This open course will enable adoption and fostering panel administrators to examine related legislation and share best practice though group discussion and practice application.

FREE FOR MEMBERS
In this session you will hear from Becky Saunders and Ian Moore who worked together on the production of the Parenting Through Adversity - Parents of babies & children 0-10 Practice Guide, based upon two underpinning systematic reviews of evidence, and from Sonia Beard in our policy team who will speak to what this evidence means in relation to the policy that is shaping Children's Social Care. This Guide focuses on support for parents whose circumstances include adversities that interact to challenge and undermine the skills, abilities and resources they have available for their parenting role - including poverty, substance misuse, intimate partner violence and challenges with mental health

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.

This half day course is aimed at professionals who work with children and families who may benefit from a therapeutic intervention and would like to increase their understanding of different therapeutic approaches. Foster carers, kinship carers and adoptive parents who are considering different options for therapeutic support may also benefit from this training.

FREE FOR MEMBERS
Attachment theory is a staple of practice. However, the version of the theory in circulation is quite outdated. Not only does attachment theory today look very different to the paradigm initially introduced by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth. More than this, with the accumulation of evidence over time, there have been some major revolutions since the 1990s. This webinar by Professor Robbie Duschinsky will discuss these fundamental changes that have occurred in attachment since the 1990s and consider the implications of these developments for practice with children and families

OPEN TO ALL
CoramBAAF is excited to publish the new  Prospective Foster Carer Report (Form F) England. 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.

This two-day open course will provide practitioners and particularly those who may be new to undertaking, quality assuring or considering fostering assessments with an opportunity to develop knowledge, skills and practice in completing fostering assessments. This workshop may also provide a refresher for those wanting to reflect and build on knowledge skills and best practice in the completion of fostering assessments.

Decision makers in fostering and adoption agencies have a vital but often under-explored role. Many decision makers describe finding themselves in the role with little or no preparation, and with few arenas locally to share dilemmas or discuss best practice. What is the best process for reaching a sound decision? How can you avoid it simply becoming a ‘rubber-stamping’ exercise? What is your role in relation to the quality assurance of the panel’s activities? How should a decision maker appraise a panel chair? What does a reasonable decision look like? How should it be conveyed?

This course provides supervising social workers the opportunity to develop their practice and confidence in these areas. It will include a review their role and responsibilities in relation to foster carers and promote the development of best practice.