Training & events programme

OPEN TO ALL
On 3 February 2026 the Government announced a long-awaited reform of the fostering system in England. This is the most significant reform of fostering in a generation and will have a impact on kinship fostering practice, as well as fostering services more widely. In this session, we are delighted to be joined by the Department for Education to discuss the potential changes, the consultation and call for evidence from a kinship perspective.  

FREE FOR MEMBERS
As artificial intelligence begins to enter children’s and families social work, an important question for practice is emerging: who does this technology support, and how does it affect day-to-day work with children and families? This online event brings together a panel of experts from across research and social work to explore these issues from a practice perspective. Designed for social workers across adoption, fostering and kinship care, and those with varied levels of confidence and experience, the session will focus on the ethical challenges and practical approaches to using AI in social work.

As part of Members' Week 2026, CoramBAAF is offering 22 free places on this course. These places will be allocated based on a randomised draw. To enter the draw and win a free place sign up here.
This course is an opportunity to delve deeper into how to write analytical and evidence-based assessments of any kind.

Sibling assessments are complex and emotive for many. This course will offer a comprehensive approach to undertaking these important assessments. It will explore how assessing social workers can plan the assessment, identify the key contributors and ensure you can engage these contributors in the process. Most importantly it will explore how to gain the views of the children, observe sibling interactions, draw conclusions on the quality of sibling relationships as well as focusing on the individual needs of each child and of the sibling group.

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.

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. 

This course is an opportunity to explore the legal and practice framework of private fostering, including thinking about how to identify and work with this often unseen group of children.

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.

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?

Been a medical advisor in the UK a while ? Already attended our child and adult health assessment workshops previously?
Feeling like you’re not sure what’s going on outside your patch? Wanting to learn from others in your role?
Then the Medical Advisor Update day is for you!