Read our news updates to find out about our latest views, work and developments.
Most of us would say we’re not biased and that we always look at situations fairly and without prejudice, but it’s this misguided bias that adversely impacts decisionmaking. The research of Dr Arlene Weekes proves that utilising the ‘Effective use of Personal and Professional Judgement’ (EPPJ) framework to increase personal awareness has a positive impact on professional effectiveness, particularly for panel chairs.
The Government have announced this week that there will be changes to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund. Whilst the commitment to sustain the fund for 2025-26 announced earlier this month was welcome, it is disappointing to see that as more children are coming forward, their access is being further limited.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The March issue (Volume 49 Issue 1) of 'Adoption & Fostering' is out now and free for our CoramBAAF members to access.
The Child Permanence Report (CPR) plays a crucial role in helping adoption agencies plan a child's future. As part of their legal rights, adopted adults are entitled to access the full, unredacted document. Jane Poore, our Adoption Consultant, shares everything you need to know about the launch of the new CPR - including briefing sessions, training and more.
Changes to NHS England have been announced in an attempt to improve health services. In these reforms it is vital that the needs of vulnerable children, children in care and adopted children, are not forgotten.
Our Advice Line team has received an increase in queries about statutory checks and references for prospective adopters and carers. Jo Francis, CoramBAAF’s Publishing Manager, shares the types of queries our colleagues receive and the advice provided in our Good Practice Guide, ‘Undertaking checks and references in fostering and adoption assessments’.
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