Training & events programme

The National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum (NLCBF) is a collaborative network of over 130 local authority leaving care teams, focused on improving services and support for care-experienced young people. Its central goal is to amplify the voices of these young people and ensure their input shapes the forum's decisions and priorities. The forum encourages local authorities to involve as many young people as possible in the Young People’s Benchmarking Forum (YPBMF) to help drive positive change and share best practices.

Annual Reviews are an essential part of our statutory support and supervision of foster carers. In this open course, we explore how to complete an annual review well. We explore how to ensure the review meets the needs of the Fostering Service to be legally compliant, but also of carers to feel valued and supported, whilst keeping children at the centre of the process.

LAST FEW TICKETS!
We are delighted to announce that CoramBAAF is hosting our first panel chairs and advisers conference on 3 March 2025 in London at the QEII, Coram Campus, 41 Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AZ.

FREE FOR MEMBERS
Lifelong Links is an innovative initiative developed by Family Rights Group that connects children in care and care leavers with individuals who care about them. Recent research conducted revealed a critical flaw in the care and child welfare system. When children enter care, many important relationships are disrupted. They may be separated from their siblings, moved to new schools, or relocated far from family and friends. Lifelong Links is dedicated to reversing this trend.

The safety of children in care is paramount. Therefore it is essential we investigate and respond to allegations, complaints and concerns about foster carers in a timely way and ensure children’s voices are heard and their needs met. This course will provide an opportunity to consider how we can manage allegations and concerns, with the rigour and challenge needed, whilst also considering the need for foster carers to receive sensitive support, that enables them to manage risks and keep everyone in the fostering household safe. 

Child health assessments are a key component in permanence planning for looked after children. Medical Advisers need to be aware of the relevant legislation, statutory guidance and competencies framework. They are required to interpret information and present this in an informative and considered format for social care colleagues, panels and potential carers. This course will consider the Medical Adviser's role in adoption relating to children.

Analysing adult health assessments is a key element of assessing adopters and foster carers. This includes providing reports and evidence-based comments so that panels can reach appropriate decisions. This course is designed to support medical advisers in their role. It is particularly suitable for new or inexperienced medical advisers.

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.

FREE FOR MEMBERS
Overseas placements can feel like a step into the unknown. But exploring these placements can begin the journey toward a lasting, stable and loving home. In this session, we will be joined by Lead Practitioner Alison Wheeler who will share her experience of placing a child in Australia from Brighton and Hove Council on a Special Guardianship Order. Covering all aspects from viability to final placement, we will explore the challenges practitioners face in a real-world setting and how to navigate them successfully.

This course is an opportunity to explore the unique context of kinship care and assessment of prospective kinship carers. Participants will explore professional and personal values and gain knowledge of what constitutes a robust kinship assessment within the legal and regulatory framework. The course will consider different assessment tools that can be used in kinship assessment practice, triangulation of information and effective support planning.