Reflections from CoramBAAF’s first panel conference: Courageous and curious conversations – the role of panel

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 new CPR (Child’s Permanence Report): The importance of planning for a child's future

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.

Major NHS England changes to improve health services

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.

Undertaking checks and references in fostering and adoption assessments

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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A call for papers: ‘Adoption & Fostering’ Special Issue

In 2026 it will be 100 years since the Adoption of Children Act 1926 was first introduced. Although the legislation still stands, there have been numerous changes during this period. ‘Adoption & Fostering’ is inviting contributions for a Special Issue to reflect on adoption in England and Wales.

Adoption Support Plan (2025): a new comprehensive tool to support children and their families

We are thrilled to publish the new Adoption Support Plan (ASP) England. The ASP and accompanying guidance for social workers, Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs), and adopters have been developed by CoramBAAF building on work completed by Adoption England and feedback gained through a pilot of the form by five RAAs during 2024 and consultations with Adoption UK and relevant CoramBAAF forums.

From Form C to Form K: the new standard for assessment

To align with the national policy reform agenda and address the complexity and importance of kinship care, we have collaborated with carers, practitioners, managers and parents to review Form C resulting in the creation of Form K to enable comprehensive assessments of prospective kinship carers.

2025 – a big year for CoramBAAF’s forms

We have been updating and revising a number of our core forms as well as developing a new one with partners. We are reaching the exciting point of being ready to share these updates and revisions with our members and forms licence holders.