The Adoption and Fostering Podcast: Recent Episodes
Al Coates & Scott Casson-Rennie
In this episode of the A&F podcast we have a quick catch up then throw ourselves into the murky world of adoption and ethics. We may have fallen at the first hurdle but we are speaking as adoptive parents and we look specifically a the balance of morals and ethics within this world. We're not high minded lads so it's pretty rudimentary but we consider some of the challenged and consider the role of pragmatism. The court case we mention can be found here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we talk about the idea of home. What does home mean to us, as individuals, as parents, as professionals? Is it a place, a person, a feeling?
We reflect on how our own experiences shape the way we support children and young people especially, those where home hasn’t always felt safe or secure. For care-experienced young people, home can be a complex and loaded idea, something longed for, feared, or never truly known.
As always you can connect with us through the following -
Instagram- BMBUltd
Facebook – Better Me Better Us
Email – info@bettermebetterus.co.uk
Hello and welcome to Conversations from the A&F podcast
In this episode I speak to adoptive parent Julie, she became a foster carer then adopted as a solo carer and has experience working as a professional in mental health and social care. Julie shares her experience and the challenges as professional dropped away as the local authority team moved to a regional adoption agency as well as the benefits of the adoption support fund.
Julie now support other families like hers through the not for profit Nurture Hub Therapy Service that she founded working with birth parents, adopters, and foster carers, understanding the unique complexities that these families face.
Julie writes:
'Nurture Hub is a specialist counselling and support organisation founded by Julie Ingram, a parent carer with an adopted daughter who has a background in social care and mental health. Nurture Hub Therapy Service works with birth parents, adopters, and foster carers, and we totally understand the unique complexities that these families face. The service is strictly not for profit offering low cost counselling and therapeutic groups to parents.
For more info don't hesitate to get in touch with the team via the website www.nurturehubtherapyservice.co.uk'
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.comListen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here
Hello and welcome to Conversations from the A&F podcast
In this episode I speak to Dan Boxall_Simpson a Foster Carer, special guardian and fostering panel member
Dan shares his experience of becoming a foster carer with his husband and how that opened up many of the things that came afterwards including the decision to become a special guardian for two of the children they fostered. Dan is now in the process of starting an independent foster care agency through a community interest company in his area to meet the needs of vulnerable children where he lives.
Website www.epicfamilycic.co.uk
Facebook here
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to the A&F podcast, we're in the same country so after a very busy day at the FASD Ireland Conf we took to bed (think Morecambe and Wise) and unpacked the day's events as well as catching up with the latest news from the world of adoption and fostering and house moves!
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here
Hello and welcome to Conversations from the A&F podcast In this episode I speak to Tristian Smith a US care experienced adult. He shares his vivid experience of coming into the care system after a difficult kinship care arrangement. Tristian with his brother moved several times, experienced a failed adoption and then separation from his young er brother. It’s a difficult listen as he shares his story. Tristian now looks to support and encourage other young people in the care system and has written his experiences in his book Against All Odds.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this third episode of Al's Churchill Fellowship. You can read the full report here.
In this podcast I reflect on conversations with carers and practitioners that support parents and children in the context of respite arrangements. It is a model of practice rarely seen in the UK and not available from statutory support services. The model of intervention explored from two settings in North America raised questions about perceptions of family and how intervening to rebuild and reform families can be an affective solution for some.
‘I came to the conclusion, if parents aren’t ok then kids can’t be ok.’
Tanya Eichler, Interwoven Connections Clinical Lead in the AFFCA Family Support Programme.
This month we’re diving into the topic of risk. Are we too risk averse? And what does that really mean in the world of parenting, adoption and fostering, education, and social work. Join us as we explore how fear of risk and the consequences shapes decision-making, and what impact it has on the young people we’re trying to support. This conversation invites you to consider where caution helps and where it might be holding us back.
As always you can connect with us through the following -
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Facebook – Better Me Better Us
Email – info@bettermebetterus.co.uk
Al was invited to attend the 2025 Adoption England Conference (Moving Forwards) in London. So, he off he went with his C30 tapes and trusty recorder and was able to grab a few interviews with attendees and contributors. The conversations cover a range of subjects; Early Permanence, the ASGSF, opportunities, adoptee voices, pre order disruption with kind contributions from the following:
Vicky Davidson Boyd - Adoption Tees Valley
Emily Frith Adoption UK
Nathanial-Elliot Coad Youth Network
Sarah Johal Adoption England
Prof Beth Neil University of East Anglia.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network.
Hello and welcome to this second episode of Al's Churchill Fellowship. You can read the full report here.
Developing the themes in Part 1 this podcast considers how parents and carers are supported by focused organisations. Rather than look at specific models of intervention, of which there are many, it considered how families interacted and accessed the interventions and specifically how they were delivered to the families. Again, drawing heavily from Interwoven Connections based in Ontario, Canada the interplay of parent/carer, peer supporter and clinical staff is highlighted.
‘It’s never about whether a parent is doing a great job. They’re doing the very best they can with what they’ve got.’
Lillyth Quillin, Parents of Children with Conduct Disorter, California, USA
In this episode we have the now almost obligatory ASSGSF intro and the get to the business on hand. We invited the All Party Parliamentary Group on Adoption and Permanence steering committee chair Siobhan Rhodes to come on and talk about the work they're doing to gather the voices of people who are adopted. We chat about what that is with the APPG is and you can complete the survey for Adoptee Voices here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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We pulled this episode together at short notice to promote the work of adoptive parent Clare Solomon joined by Euan Preston of the Potato group to talk about the upcoming march to protest against the changes to the ASGSF.
We chat through the changes and what they are looking to achieve through the petition and the march. You can sign the petition here, or find out more about the march on the 3rd May to Downing Street here and find out more about them on their Facebook page here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this first episode of Al's Churchill Fellowship. You can read the full report here.
This episode draws on peer support specialists working directly with parents and carers living with children with challenging and aggressive behaviour. Focusing on Canada & the USA it considers different models of peer support including social media, virtual and in person. It then considers the role of peer mentors specifically in the Canadian organisation Interwoven Connections based across the province of Ontario that serves a large community through virtual means.
‘The best way to help families is one at a time. What each individual family needs is so unique the only way to truly help families is by addressing each unique needs and concerns one at a time.’
Lillyth Quillin, Parents of Children with Conduct Disorder, California, USA
In this Episode Al interviews Dr Lynn Snow. She is a medical doctor who has undertaken a Churchill Fellowship looking at how other countries and context address and support adoptive parents experiencing post adoption depression.
It was a fascinating conversation and Lynn has also worked as a paediatrician on adoption panel and we start by unpacking that a little. We then delve deeply into the issue of PAD, its prevalence, what helps and what doesn't. Lynn's conversations with several professionals are fascinating and you can read her report here.
Before we get into the interview we recorded an exteneded intro unpicking what was then breaking news that the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund was going to be renewed for another year. However, it was before the updates on the Fair Access Limit. So, we will be unpacking that soon.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this episode of Converations from the A&F podcast. In this episode I speak to foster carer and Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz. He’s passionate about protecting vulnerable children which is what led him to start YATOM: The Jewish Foster and Adoption Network. He is a father to 4 children and has fostered 8 children over the past few years with his wife, Shoshana.
They work to motivate and support the Jewish community in the journey of adopting & fostering children and to advocate for the needs of orphans, children needing temporary homes, and adoptive families.
It is a fantastic discussion and we're sure you’ll find it interesting.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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What does it really mean to keep up with the kids? It's more than knowing the latest slang or TikTok trends – it's about staying curious, open, and connected.
In this episode, we explore how tuning into the world our young people live in helps build stronger relationships and deeper understanding. Are you up to date with the language they use? Do you know what matters to them right now? Are you curious rather than critical?
As always you can connect with us through the following -
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Email – info@bettermebetterus.co.uk
Hello and welcome to the A&F podcast. In this, slightly raucous, episode we speak to Michelle Hall and Dr Paul Shuttleworth. They chat about the work they are doing with the charity Kinship supporting carers to help children make sense of their life stories.
They are delivering free training across the UK, both online and in person, and you can sign up through the Kinship website here.
If you're interested in coming to Al's Fellowship report release/webinar then you can sign up for free here.
23rd April 12 noon to 13:30 Practitioners here
24th April 20:00 to 21:00 Parent/Carer here
If you want to get the audio from the event but can't attend at the time then you can also sign up and it will be sent out after the events.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this episode of Converations from the A&F podcast. In this episode I speak to foster carer Zoe Bell, she shares her experience of being a foster carer and the impact of her faith on that. She now works for the charity 100 Homes based in Nottinghamshire that supports local churches to recruit carers and build networks around foster carers for the local authority.
Links:
Facebook and Insta: @100HomesNotts
Email: info@100homes.org.uk
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode of the A&F podcast we speak to adoptive parent and Neurodiversity Coaching Psychologist Anna Webster. She shares her experience of parenting a child with a diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the development of the Neurowise Programme on Therapeutic Caregiving for FASD.
It is a genuinely fascinating chat and we both drew lots of new information and thinking about the role of parents and the specific challenges parents and carers of children with FASD face.
Anna is on X here
and Linkedin here
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F podcast. In this episode I speak to adoptive parent Ali. With her husband they adopted two boys and after what seemed like a routine and normal experience of parenting challenges came when they started School. Ali shares her experience of facing challenges, difficult decisions that led to her setting up the ‘Fizzy Kids’ website and FaceBook page.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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This month, we're exploring the power of interpretations. The way we hear, use, and understand words can significantly shape how we think,feel, and respond. We reflect on how shifting our interpretations can improve relationships and promote understanding.
As always you can connect with us through the following -
Instagram- BMBUltd
Facebook – Better Me Better Us
Email – info@bettermebetterus.co.uk
Phd Student Laura Smith recently got in touch with us in relation to research that she is undertaking research assessing the impact of a history of childhood maltreatment in the birth family on a child's emotional development. This is aimed specifically at adopters and adoptees aged 3 to 10 years old and she is keen to speak to families. We unpick why she is undertaking this research and what it can tell us in terms of how we care for adopted, and other children, who have experienced early adversity.
If you'd like to be involved here is the link to the study for parents to take part: https://southampton.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ekEPeAvyn4TjBmC
We also unpack the ongoing ASGSF saga and Scott shares news of the upcoming, and rather exciting, FASD Ireland conference in May. You can find details of that here.
At no point do we mention Al's Churchill Fellowship and that you can find out more here!
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this slightly unusual episode of Converations from the A&F podcast.
Today I’m speaking to Peter Jakob, he introduced NVR (Non Violent Resistance) to the UK and has been a leader in its development and training of practitioner here. He’s has a new book out ‘Non Violent Resistance in Trauma Focused Practice’, we talk about that as well as broader issues supporting families.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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This was a fantastic episode to record, Rebecca draws on her experience as an adoptive parent to a child impacted by FASD as well as being a practicing social worker as we talk about FASD and the challenges families face getting help. To be honest it's such a critical topic we cartwheel around it.
Rebecca wrote the following:
"I am a doctoral researcher at Birmingham City University. My research looks at post adoption social work with families with a child with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of FASD (Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder) from the perspectives of social workers, parent carers and children.
I am seeking participants who are social workers in the field of post adoption social work and have experience of working with children with a confirmed of suspected diagnosis of FASD to complete the this questionnaire here."
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we get Becky Brooks to come on and walk us through the new Government's Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that is progressing through parliament now. There's lot to unpack and Becky is able to direct us to the highlights with school uniforms, admission rules for looked after children, virtual school powers, guardianship offers and much more discussed.
As always Beck it spot on and you can read more on her analysis here.
If you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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This month we’re talking about kindness- the chosen as Children's word of the year for 2024.We'll talk about why it matters, how it shapes connections and interactions.
Kindness isn’t just about individual moments—it creates a ripple effect. When children experience kindness, it strengthens relationships, builds trust, and influences the systems and communities around them. A kind, understanding approach within families, schools, and support networks can transform outcomes for children who have experienced trauma.
As always you can connect with us through the following -
Instagram- BMBUltd
Facebook – Better Me Better Us
Email – info@bettermebetterus.co.uk
Hello and Welcome to this Episode, It's always a pleasure to have Adoption UK's Becky Brooks onto the podcast. Becky is an adoptive parent, former foster care, author and self confessed policy and statistics Nerd.
Adoption UK's Adoption Barometer is open til the 17th Feb and is a tool that informs policy makers and gives real data to the lived experience of adoptees and adopters' families. We unpick some of the reasoning behind the questions and why only 16 to 25 year old adoptees are polled.
We get of course chat about much more, hoovers, jeans and law and as always Becky's experience, knowledge and humour make it a Bantertastic episode.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F podcast. In this episode I speak to solo adopter Ramsey. He shares his journey to adoption and the experience of travelling through it on his own.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here or Spotify here
Hello and Welcome to this Episode, we jump on the AI bandwagon and dig into what we think about the idea of support to families being provided by A.I. It is an interesting chat and we give on A.I. model a try with surprising results. We also unpack the comments we got through our FB page.
Fiona Wells joins us for the whole conversation, share's her perspective and then gives us an update about the work of PATCH targeting change within adoption.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network. In this episode I speak to Augusto, with his wife they adopted twins. He reflects on the challenges of early permanence and transracial adoption.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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This month, we focus on goals. Do you set goals? If so, are they truly for you, or are they shaped by what society expects?
For fostered and adopted children, the ultimate goal often revolves around finding a permanent family. But how much are they included in shaping this goal? Are their voices heard in the process?
Join us in the conversation as we explore the importance of realistic, meaningful and inclusive goal-setting.
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Email – info@bettermebetterus.co.uk
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Hello and welcome to this episode A&F podcast our traditional new year check in with spouses Tris and Paula.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to the first episode of 2025! We recorded this episode with Sarah in the run up to Christmas so we're all festive and looking ahead and behind in our references.
We invited Sarah on to share the findings of FosterWiki's 2024 Independent Allegations Report. We have a really interesting chat about its contents as well as sharing personal and professional experience and reflect on the impact on children, adults and the broader system.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network.
In this episode I speak to Dr Elaine Machett a solo adoptive parent. Drawing on her own personal experience she shares the results of her interviews with adoptive parents in relation to the challenges they faced when their children first moved in. As well as being a huge transition and stress for children for many parents it is a difficult time where they can feel overwhelmed and struggle to adjust. Elaine shares the themes and issue the parent raised and we discussed our own experiences.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here or Spotify here
In this latest episode Vicki and Haley discuss what we mean by “consequences”. Although consequences and punishments may seem similar, understanding the difference can have a huge impact on how we view and respond to behaviour. We talk about the need for both, what they might look like in families and in the workplace as well as how people’s experiences of them influence their view and use of them.
As always you can connect with us through the following -
Instagram- BMBUltd
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Email – info@bettermebetterus.co.uk
Hello and welcome to episode 198 from the A&F Network. This week we speak to Jacqueline Gear the CEO of Walk the Walk Family Support Service based in Herefordshire. We discuss the work that they do with families including a family contact centre supporting positive relationships between parents. As always it's an interesting conversation and you can look at their website and see what they get up to.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network.
In this episode I speak to Barbara, she was adopted as a baby in the late 1940’s after the 2nd world war . She describes the experience of finding out she was adopted by accident as a 12 year old, the challenges that brought and then later in life searching for her biological family. Barbara has written an account of her experiences and journey in a book ‘Blue Plastic Cow’ and you can find a link to that here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to Episode 197 of the A&F podcast. In this episode we chat to Sam Turner Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Kinship. We'd hoped to catch Kinship Care week earlier in the month but circumstances got the better of us.
Sam joined us to chat about some of the work that Kinship had been doing as well as to highlight the new report Forgotten: Support for kinship children’s education and mental health It's a lively and friendly chat but we cover what are significant issues for many families caring for their children.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network.
In this episode we speak to Jo and James, they are biological parents and adoptive parents and came to that through the process of foster to adopt.
They share their story and shine a light on the challenges that can emerge through the process of early permanence and the emotional turmoil and complexity that it can often bring. Ultimately they did successfully navigate the process and they are open and honest about this experience.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and Welcome to this midweek webcast. Al spoke to Claire Agious an adoptive parent and Phd researcher considering the support that families are receiving through post adoption support from the perspective of adoptive parents and post adoption social workers.
Claire shares her journey to her research and more about what she is doing.
On the 23rd October Claire is hosting a free adoption conference,
Adoptive Parenting: myths, challenges and contemporary perspectives
at the Manchester Metropolitan University and you can get more details and book here.
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=UPs_KAujjEiQ9M2uT3rm0ZmvjM75w_ZDgOrz2HLd7FRUMFZTRlUwT0xXVlZENDVFREZCSjhDUklUNC4u&route=shorturl
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to a slightly unusual series of episodes of the A&F podcast. In September I joined Fiona wells from PATCH, Friend of the show Vicki McKeown and strategic lead for Adoption England Sarah Johal to speak at the Safeguarding in Adoption online conference. With over 500 tickets requested we were overwhelmed with the interest in this subject that impacts so many families.
Fiona an adoptee, adopter & social worker explained the reason for the conference:
"Practice towards adopters in crisis can be oppressive, biased and lacking in fundamental foundational understanding. There needs to be a firm consideration of the impact of adversity on the whole of the child, their whole world, and their family and support offered in line with their needs, handed over with understanding, compassion and empathy. PATCH campaigns for social workers to step back, trauma experts to step forward, and for a different lens to be used."
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
Google here
Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network.
Hello and welcome to a slightly unusual series of episodes of the A&F podcast. In September I joined Fiona wells from PATCH, Friend of the show Vicki McKeown and strategic lead for Adoption England Sarah Johal to speak at the Safeguarding in Adoption online conference. With over 500 tickets requested we were overwhelmed with the interest in this subject that impacts so many families.
Fiona an adoptee, adopter & social worker explained the reason for the conference:
"Practice towards adopters in crisis can be oppressive, biased and lacking in fundamental foundational understanding. There needs to be a firm consideration of the impact of adversity on the whole of the child, their whole world, and their family and support offered in line with their needs, handed over with understanding, compassion and empathy. PATCH campaigns for social workers to step back, trauma experts to step forward, and for a different lens to be used."
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
Google here
Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network.
In this episode, we’ll explore the big question: What do we mean by success? How are we really measuring it? Is success defined by traditional milestones like career achievements or financial stability, or can it be something more personal and nuanced?
We’ll explore how success can look different for everyone, especially when considering individual experiences such as neurodivergence, fostering and adoption.
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Email – info@bettermebetterus.co.uk
Hello and welcome to this episode of the podcast. We catch up with some news and reflect on the recent BBC programme 'I am not ok' looking at parents caring for children with violent and agressive behaviour. You can view it here in the UK. We also talk about the recent article in CYPNow by Mark Owers considering the changes that need to be brought in for Adoption. You can view that here.
In the chat we talk about a domestic homicide review and you can read that here. Of course we advise caution and note the this is highly unusual crime and not to stress over it. Get in touch via the email below if you're worried.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network.
In this episode I speak to adult adoptee Brendan. His experience of being adopted and the challenges of searching for his parents is compounded by the fact that his biological father was a priest. This fact added a layer of complexity and secrecy to what was already a challenging search. Brendan is open about the challenges that he faced across many years as the truth unfolded.
Brendan has written account of his experiences and you can read or listen to the book here and visit his website here to find out more about his experience and other aspects of his work and the other children of priests/
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Scott and Al are having a week off! both taking a pause after a busy year and before a busy autumn. So, rather than do nothing we're re releasing a cracking episode from last year that is well worth a revisit.
In this episode we speak to NHS historian Dr Michael Lambert. He has looked at the historic evidence of Government policy to promote and facilitate removal of children from mothers in the post war period. We discuss this as well as the move towards a formal apology from the government as well as from other players in the system at that time. The conversation is revelatory and puts into perspective and questions the idea that adoption was solely driven by society.
Certainly, as a topic it places contemporary adoption in context as well as considering how modern practice still echoes the historical roots of adoption.
The links below will take you to written work, evidence Michael's letter to the movement for an adoption apology:
The birth mother and the evolution of adoption policy and practice in England since 1926 by Dr Jatinder Sandhu
Letter to the Movement for an adoption apology
The right to family life: adoption of children of unmarried women 1949-1976
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this episode of the Adoption and Fostering Podcast.
This episode is halfway between a conversation and a normal episode. I had the opportunity to speak to Bethan Pell Doctoral Researcher at Cardiff University. She’s looking Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA) in the context of Wales. It’s a fascinating study and Bethan explains the purpose of the research and how she hopes it will develop understanding in Wales of the issue and beyond as well as consider whose voices aren’t being heard.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to the A&F Podcast.
In this episode we speak to Lauren Seager-Smith CEO of The For Baby's Sake Trust charity working UK-wide to break the cycle of domestic abuse and empower parents to give their babies the best start in life.
For many children in the care system or previously in the care system domestic abuse has been a part of their story and it was a really interesting conversation with Lauren. Additionally, Lauren discusses her previous work around bullying and Scott and Al have had to call in HR.
Here are the links discussed in the news section:
Safeguarding in Adoption on the 24th Sept 9:30 to 1pm online - Here
Adoption England - Maintaining Relationships Standards Consultation - Here
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this episode of the Better Me Better Us Podcast with Vicki and Hayley.
In this months episode we talk about vulnerability. What does it mean to you? Is it a weakness or a sign of strength?
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network.
In this episode I speak to Susie James and adult adoptee and a solo adoptive parents. She shares her experience of growing up adopted and navigating reunion with her birth mother as a young woman. Susie is now embarking on a PhD looking at post adoption support for solo adopters inspired by her own experiences of support. She also has a website collating the stories of adoptees and you can find that here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this webcast Al speaks to Fiona Wells founder of Patch and author of 2023's Adoption Crisis report. We're chatting about the report and what conversations it's started as well as the upcoming 'safeguarding in Adoption' online conference planned for the 24th September. It's free and you can book a place here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network.
In this episode I speak to Marie a German Foster Carer. She got in touch to offer some insight to the German system and how fostering is viewed and arranged there. It’s a fascinating subject with that highlights as many differences as there are similarities.
We’d love to hear from any other carers or adopters from far flung lands so if that’s you please do get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to the A&F Podcast.
In this episode we speak to the CEO of The Fostering Network. It feels like we only scratched the surface of the issues facing fostering at the moment but Sarah speak with experience and insight that is really thoughtful but also hopeful. We unpick a little around the State of the Nation report as well as considering the challenges of recruitment, the value placed on foster parents to name a few of the topics covered.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to Conversations from the the A&F Network.
In this episode I speak to cousins Wendy and Azumah, they are both adoptive parents. Even through they live in different countries they have provided mutual support to each other in their individual and contrasting experiences of adoption. It’s an interesting listen and I’m sure you’ll find the contrasting and comparable experiences interesting.
There’s a little bit of audio overspill to start with in places but we sort it out in quick order so hang in there.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this episode of the Better Me Better Us Podcast with Vicki and Hayley.
In this months episode they talk about the importance of being curious with those around us. Curiosity helps us develop deeper understanding, build stronger connections, and respond to the needs of those around us with empathy and insight.
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Hello and welcome to a Monday webcast from the A&F Network.
We thought we'd do something different and unpick some stuff as we're in Podcast Towers together today! So, we talk about Facebook stalking, manifesto promises, gathering adopter views and more.....
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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We recorded this prior to the election results so there's limited election chatter. However, we do touch on it a little but more of our time is used to reflect on the recent article/blog on a court case relating to adoption revocation. The article can be read here , it is a delicate issue and we consider the implications for children, parents and families of the judgement or lack thereof. What do you think?
Al has recently been awarded a Churchill Fellowship and we unpick what that is and what he is looking at, read more here.
Of course, there's also a fair deal of banter.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network.
In this episode I speak to Kerry an adult adoptee, she lives in Kenya and runs the Footprint Family Charity. Kerry shares her experience of being adopted and the challenges of looking for her birth mother and father, the isolation of that search and experiences of reuniting with birth family.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome episode 190. In this episode weave together conversation with social worker and Guardian ad litem, Dónal Traynor, about the the recently released TV programme "Lost Boys and Fairies", pride month and the recently released manifestos. We cover lots of ground and it's a conversation for adults so we've popped on an explicit rating.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this edition of conversations from the A&F network.
In this episode I speak to adoptive parent Andrea. She is Austrian and shares her experience of approval and adoption through their system. There are few adoptions in Austria and the culture and practice are markedly different. Andrea explains some of the unique challenges faced as well as her move to raise understanding of Aware Parenting an attachment based parenting model.
Here's some links to some resources shared by Andrea "Herzenseltern“ a German speaking self-help group for adoptive parents with nearly monthly online meetings:https://www.herzens-eltern.at To me and my work:https://andreakollmann.com/en/family To the public Aware Parenting side:http://www.awareparenting.comAs always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this episode of the Better Me Better Us Podcast with Vicki and Hayley.
Happy Pride Month!!
In this 13th episode we talk about big events for little people. As usual we go up, down and all around with the topic covering events such as exams, endings (including the end of the school term), explaining big stories and how within that, us big people can help ourselves to help our young people.
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network.
Last year Al attended the Adoption England Conference and met James Kargbo one of the founders of Replenish Culture CIC. Their vision is to support foster carers and adopters of black and mixed children to value, promote and celebrate them, their culture and identity. On a practical level that is through Replenish boxes but beyond that to use the boxes as a tool to discuss issues of race, racism, discrimination and promote positive views of the children's identity.
On this podcast we speak to James and his co founder Sarah Livingston about why they set it up but reflect on the more broader issues of race and ethnicity in the UK care system and the challenges of raising black and mixed heritage children in that context. You can visit their website here
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this edition of conversations from the A&F network.
In this episode I speak to adult adoptee and birth mom to a child who was adopted Anne Peshka. Anne lives in Florida and share her story of being adopted, the experience of giving up one of her children to adoption and two stories of reunion. It’s a story that raises lots of questions and Anne is a remarkable woman in terms of her fortitude and resilience.
You can visit Anne's website here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network.
Well, just before we pressed record an election was announced in the UK in what was pretty poor timing for Adoption UK and their Barometer. We unpick both things and consider the impact of a change of government on the landscape as well as reflect on the release of the Barometer and the finding it highlights this year. You can read the Barometer here.
We also discuss touch on the recent speech by Sir Andrew McFarlane at the recent potato conference. You can read that here.
Here's the link for the event Scott is doing in with Dads and Barnardos Ireland.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this edition of conversations from the A&F network.
In this episode I speak Adoptive parent Matt, he shares his experience, with his partner, of adoption. It was a complicated and challenging path having to change agency mid assessment. They are now parents and Matt is open and honest thoughout this interview.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to the A&F podcast.
In this episode we welcome Professor Laura Machin from the Lancaster University. She is an an adult adoptee, adopter and academic and has set up Adopters Advocacy who seek to "highlight the voices and needs of adopters during the adoption process and after a child has been placed, without diminishing the importance of adoptees and their birth families.".
Before we get into the heart, vision and work that they do we dance lightly across the latest hot topics and issues in the news. It was a cracking chat and we had a wonderful hour with Laura whose passion and enthusiasm for the research and work was infectious.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this episode of the Better Me Better Us Podcast with Vicki and Hayley.
It’s the start of GCSE exams so we talk about how to support our children and young people through this difficult time. We also highlight Foster Carers week and the amazing work that they do every month not just in May.
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Hello and welcome to this edition of conversations from the A&F network.
In this episode I catch up with Kinship carer and researcher Michelle Hall, she is looking at the issue of contact between kinship carers and birth parents for her PhD. Michelle highlights the ongoing and complex challenges that can be present and shares the experiences of those she has spoken to. You can find access to her research here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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We're back in the same room after a year online. Consequently, we're a little giddy but get ourselves on track and discuss the CVAA strategy update that we were attending in that London. We ask the question that many prospective adopters ask, RAA or VAA? Then we unpick adopter sufficiency, PP+, the three year rule and more.
Here's a link to the new Adoption England Strategy that we mention, we'll unpick it more in another episode.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this edition of conversations from the A&F network.
In this episode I speak to adult adoptee Julie McGue, she was adopted in the US with her twin sister and grew up in the 60s knowing she was adopted. Julie shares her story of fighting to get access to her birth records and the names of her biological parents and the support that she received through a post adoption support group.
Julie’s website here shares more of her story and her writing and is an excellent resource and window into the US system. You can also look at the book, Twice a Daughter, that Julie wrote documenting her experience here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to Episode 185 of the Adoption and Fostering Podcast.
In this episode we interview transnational/transracial Adoptee and Sexologist Anna Linde.
Anna's research, website and social media can be found below
Free Discovery call and my ”workbase” at Healing Exchange LLC:
https://www.healingxchg.com/booking-calendar/discovery-meeting-with-anna?category=0ec8fc3e-78a2-4ef9-921b-
40851f4b1fa5&referral=service_list_widget
Intimacy coaching group for Adult Adoptees:
https://www.healingxchg.com/intimacy-for-adult-adoptees
Instagram here.
Linkedin: here
We took our time getting to the interview so it starts at
There were quite a few other things on our list to talk about prior to the interview, so some links below -
You can read the statistics for the Adopters and Special Guardian Fund here.
The Ofsted article is also here.
You can watch Gay Adoption Grandad on TikTok here.
We’d love to hear from any other carers or adopters from far flung lands so if that’s you please do get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this episode of the Better Me Better Us Podcast with Vicki and Hayley.
As it’s National Stress Awareness Month we thought we’d talk about expectations both of ourselves and others and how it contributes to our stress levels.
We would love to hear your experiences and open up the conversation.
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Hello and welcome to Conversations from the the A&F Network.
In this episode I speak adult adoptee Courtney-Grace. She shares her experience of adoption and is frank in relation to the challenges she faced growing up and re entering the care system as a teenager. Courtney-Grace is honest and frank about the impact of her experiences and the challenges that she has navigated.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we speak to Jenny Ginger in relation to her Phd looking at the issue of adopting when you've already got a biological child.
It's a fascinating subject and we drew on Jenny's research and knowledge as well as a raft of interesting comments and questions that came from listeners though our FB page. You can read them here.
We mentioned a new research project 'family routes' you can find more details of that here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this webcast we discuss the latest updates in the world of fostering and chat about FosterWiki’s latest independent survey. We cover a lot of ground and reference comments from our FB page here. Please follow and like to recieve notifications and info about what we're discussing and upcoming episodes.
You can participate here in the FosterWiki survey here.
We’d love to hear from any other carers or adopters from far flung lands so if that’s you please do get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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This episode is an interview that Al did with Adopt 4 Life's Kathryn Connor and Murray Coulter looking at the support service that they provide for fathers experiencing challenging and violent and aggressive behaviour.
You can check out their website here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this special edition of the A&F Podcast.
In this episode we’re sharing a keynote speech that I gave to the CoramBAAF post adoption support conference to mark the release of the their best practice guide by Caroline Thomas and John Simmonds. I tried to ground the talk in the lived experience of families but there was certainly much more that could have been said.
I hope you find it interesting and please let us know what you think.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to episode 183 of the Adoption and Fostering Podcast. We had a plan but got slightly sidetracked by the good news of FASD Ireland's funding success. That led us down a rabbit hole in terms of how do we affect change, what are the levers we need to pull and what are the challenges. We unpick that then Al has some feedback from CoramBAAF's post adoption conference and we run through that.
We also check in with Al and get an update on his solo parenting experiment as well as the usual infobantz. There was swearing but nothing too bad, beware ye.
Here's a link to the Family Routes study mentioned in the podcast
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Episode 10 – Embracing mistakes for growth
In this months podcast we talk about mistakes- What was our experience of mistakes growing up and how they were responded to? Does this impact how we respond now? Do you create safe spaces and relationships for conversations to happen?
We would love to hear your experiences and open up the conversation.
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Hello and welcome to this edition of conversations from the A&F network.
In this episode I speak to foster carers Halima and Adam. They have chosen to be carers while raising a young family and describe their positive experiences as well as some of the challenges that they face as carers. It’s a thoughtful conversation and demonstrates how effective support is essential for all foster carers.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to the 182nd episode of the A&F podcast. In this episode we chat to Phil Watson, amongst many other things, he works as a recruiter for Liverpool fostering as well as being a foster carer and adoptive parent. This is a somewhat chaotic but cracking chat with Phil sharing some of his personal experience as well as speaking to the challenges of recruiting as well as the nature of fostering itself.
We would recommend following Phil here on social media as he is always entertaining.
We would also like to apologise for Al's attempts at German and French.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to the A&F podcast. In this episode we unpick a few questions in relation to post adoption contact as well as think about how much scaffolding is too much and downsizing when your children get to 18. Here's a link for next Intro to NVR that we're holding on the 13th & 20th May. As it's online it's open to any persons from anywhere https://rb.gy/dx888x
Link for other workshops: www.fasdireland.ie/workshops - this includes an Introduction to FASD.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this edition of conversations from the A&F network.
In this episode I speak to Susan Vickers, she shares her story of growing up as a transracial adoptee in the 70s and 80s. Susan experienced ongoing racism and a challenging relationship with her adoptive parents. She then went on to reconnect with her biological parents with complex outcomes. Susan has written two book charting her experience ‘Love Susan: An Adoption Reality’ and ‘I am not a Paki’. that offers a unique insight to her experience and life.
Below is an image of the sculpture Susan references in the podcast.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello to Better Me Better you Ep9 - As Children’s Mental Health Week falls within February, we thought we would discuss this year’s theme which is “My Voice Matters”.
What do we already do to ensure we listen to the voice of the child and what could we do better?
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Hello and welcome to this edition of conversations from the A&F network.
In this episode I speak to adult adoptee Stephen Rowley, he was adopted in the 1940s in the US and he shares some of his journey to rediscovering his birth family. Stephen in a Psychotherapist and he unpicked aspects of his internal journey and considers some philosophical questions in terms of identity. Stephen has a website here and you can find out more about him in his memoir - The Lost Coin: A Memoir of Adoption and Destiny
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this Wednesday Webcast from the A&F network.
We chat to Researcher Matt Clark about his research into adoptive dads, we unpick why he's doing the research and some of the specific challenges that dads face and are perhaps hidden in the support world.
You can read more about the research here or get in touch with Matt
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to the Adoption and Fostering podcasting, this week we explore Therapeutic Parenting and Good Enough Parenting. Terms that we often throw around and presume that we understand but we ask what it actually is, is there a definition and are we all on the same page.
We draw on the feedback we had from the excellent comments on our FB pages (you can read them here and here and consider if we are indeed therapeutic parents.
We also unpick a little news and catch up with all that's going on.
Finally if you've not completed the Home Office consultation on definition of Child to Parent Abuse please do so here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this edition of conversations from the A&F network.
In this episode I speak to Irina, she is a foster carer and an adoptive parent and lives in Australia. Irina shares her experience of becoming a foster carer then moving to Singapore where she also fostered then adopted her daughter with her husband. They now live back in Australia where they have continued to foster and have adopted a son. In this conversation Irina also reflects on the challenges faced by the fostering and adoption system in Australia and her broader views on the issues.
You can connect with Irina on Linked in here or Instagram here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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It's that time of the year and as per our new tradition we've invited our spouses on to dish the dirt, catch up and reflect on the latest comings and goings in our journey. We cover all kinds of stuff, children growing up, boundaries, new ways of being and moving house.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this edition of conversations from the A&F network.
In this episode I speak to Caroline and adult adoptee and adoptive parent. She shares her experience of entering a children’s home as a four year old with her siblings. Caroline articulates the complexity of her experience and her as a child growing up adopted away from her siblings. Now as an adoptive parent she also shares her views on contemporary services and adoption
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this months episode Vicki and Haley firstly Wish You All A Happy New Year!! After which we consider the pressure people often put on themselves at this time of year with new starts, resolutions, giving up things which is great but what do people also want to keep, build on and strengthen. Under this we consider modelling habits and changes to those around us particularly children. We also know how hard it is to give up habits particularly when a lot of those habits are meeting some kind of need.
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Hello and happy new year!
We thought it would be good to catch up after a busy few months and the usual Christmas shenanigans. We reflect on Christmas challenges, experiences of loss for children and then range onto politics, cruises, and more.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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We re release the most downloaded episode of 2023.
Many thanks for all the listens.
One of our contributors at the annual Adoption & Fostering Podcast Conference was Angela Frazer-Wicks, birth parent and chair of trustees at the Family Rights Group as well as a key note speaker and campaigner. She shares her experience of maintaining links with her children after their adoption, the challenges of an inconsistent system and professional support as well as navigating the feelings of all parties to the adoption.
It is a fantastic insight to a world that can be opaque for professionals, adopters and adopted children and Angela was also able to answer some of the questions that attendees asked.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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We're re releasing the most listened to podcasts of the year. In second place we have adoption social worker, Nick Burke
In this episode we're really happy to speak to Nick Burke a post adoption social worker. Nick speaks from a personal perspective across a range of issues that impact on adoption and social workers and it's fantastic to get a real live social worker on the podcast. We discuss a whole range of issues that are unique to adoption and post adoption support.
The discussed BASW report can be found here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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We're re releasing the most listened to podcast of the year. In third place we have Fiona Wells.
In this webcast we speak to adopter, social worker and adult adoptee Feona Wells about the recent report Adoption Crisis The Jarring Reality of Adoption that she complied. It has been shared widely and lay’s out over 30 families’ experiences of adoption and the challenges that led up to and were part of disruption. It’s an emotive issue and the report raises serious concerns in terms of the system’s response to the adversity that many find themselves in.
There's a little swearing and we're aware that this is an emotive issue so go easy on yourselves.
You can read the report here.
You can contact Fiona on fionawells.patch@gmail.com
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In our final episode or our first Series of “FASD – What’s Da Craic?” Maggie, Rob and Scott are joined by FASD Ireland Founder and Chief Executive Officer – Tristan. As a team of 4 we have all had quite the year, not just with the inaugural series of the podcast, but with us all being involved in a range or events, workshops, political events to name a few.
We each review our favourite episodes of the series, and how it has lifted the lid on accessibility to information on FASD in Ireland. We also discuss what we would like to see happening in 2024 – relating to FASD and FASD Ireland.
So what is next for “FASD – What’s Da Craic?” – We would love to record another series and would love to hear from YOU directly. What would you like to hear more about? Who would you like us to talk to? – let us know by emailing us:office@fasdireland.ie
From Maggie, Rob, Scott and Tristan, we would like to wish everyone a merry christmas and a happy new year / Ó Maggie, Rob, Scott agus Tristan, ba mhaith linn Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain faoi Mhaise a ghuí ar gach duine
Whilst “FASD – What’s da Craic?” is predominantly an Irish take on FASD, we try to make our language and experiences accessible to everyone. We have a mix of accents in there – something for all!
We welcome you to get in touch whether you have a question or would like to be a guest, you can search FASD Ireland across all social media platforms and DM us or email us: office@fasdireland.ie
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In this our Christmas podcast we get on Vicki and Haley from the podcast family and we unpick some of the latest new, consider what we'd like to ask the Children's minister and look to the future.
Thank you so much for listening this year it's been a delight to podcast and we've had so many highs that they can't be listed.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this midweek podcast I speak to former teacher, a behaviour outreach worker and adoptive parent Sophie Parkinson. She shares her experience of working in school as well as how this has led her to now be undertaking a PHD entitled "Education professional's understanding of trauma informed approaches in education".
We chat about a broad range of issues that impact on children in school as well as trying to make sense of the current culture around supporting children's behaviour in school, behaviourism and the broader political context.
If you'd like to speak to Sophie or participate in the research she's undertaking you can contacted through her twitter here or via email b1204649@student.bishopg.ac.uk
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F network
In this episode I speak to adoptive parents Ettienne and Scott. They share their story of how they came to adoption following issues around their health and fertility. The conversation covers a range of issues including how they chose their adoption agency, the approval process, competitive matching and introductions in lockdown. Unusually, they also have court imposed visitation which they also discuss.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this month's podcast we talk about safeguarding during the festive period as we acknowledge that this time of year can be very stressful, overwhelming and triggering. With this in mind we have a conversation about the importance of pre-empting some of the difficulties and creating a safety plan in place to manage some of the risk factors.
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Hello and welcome to this episode of the Adoption and Fostering Podcast. this time we speak to authors Sally Donovan & Carly Kingswood about their new book 'The Unofficial Guide to Therapeutic Parenting for Childhood Aggression and Violence'.
To quote from the blurb 'With the aid of this guide, develop a language to enable children to understand their emotional states in a safe environment. Expertly written by award-winning author, columnist and adoptive parent Sally Donovan and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapist Carly Kingswood; learn how to care for yourself and the children in your lives.'
So, we unpick that as well as find out a little more about the authors and have a general chit chat.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In a short episode we speak to Helen Bonnick about the Home Office's consultation into 'defining child to parent abuse.'
It's been a long time coming and she shares its genesis as well as the rationale behind looking to define it now and the potential benefits of doing so.
Please Note: Helen mentioned money left over from research from Brighton but she would like to correct and confirm that it was money left over from Oxford
Helen is friend of the show and we do indulge in some light banter.
You can participate in the consultation here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F network
In this episode I speak to adoptive parents Julie and Karen, they are solo adopters and share their experience of adopting on their own. They have set up the organisation called SASSI ( Solo Adopters Social, Support and Information) which is a community for parents like themselves. We chat about the specific issues that solo adopters face well as the work and hopes of SASSI.
You can find their website here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode Scott had a chat with foster carer and parent Frank. Frank and his wife adopted in the early 90’s in the UK and since then have returned to Ireland to live.
Franks shares his families story of living with FASD, how they became aware of it, how they were supported, as well as how it impacted everyone in the longer term with the sad passing of his son 4 years ago from suicide.
Franks story is an insightful and emotional listen, and we want to thank him publicly for sharing so much.
If you have been affected by what you have heard in this podcast, and want to find out more information, please contact FASD Hub Ireland on 065 670 3098 or FASD Hub Northern Ireland on 02895 682 553.
Scott and Rob also have a quick catch up and start thinking about our 6th and final episode in this series, where we will have a review of the year with our special guest, FASD Ireland’s own CEO - Tristan.
Whilst “FASD – What’s da Craic?” is predominantly an Irish take on FASD, we try to make our language and experiences accessible to everyone. We have a mix of accents in there – something for all!
We welcome you to get in touch whether you have a question or would like to be a guest, you can search FASD Ireland across all social media platforms and DM us or email us: office@fasdireland.ie
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this episode of the A&F podcast. We have a great chat to share that we recorded in October, it's with Ellie Costello from Square Peg. Square Peg was set up as a social enterprise in April 2019, to effect change for children who struggle to attend school and their families. We only scratch the surface of a complex topic that affects many families in our community. Ellie has lived experience and is passionate about supporting families and making a positive change as are all the team at Square Peg. The interview starts at 24:20 as we rip through all that's been going on with Scott (travel) and Al (no travel) and engage in a little #infobanter. As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.comListen/subscribe on iTunes here
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In this episode we speak to Fi Henderson from the Scottish Adult Adoptee Movement (SAAM). She shares her experience of becoming a campaigner for #AdopteeRights and the work that she is part of and the legislation that SAAM are looking to effect in Scotland. Fi is passionate about change and clear in terms of the support that is needed for adult adoptees and the changes that are needed across the system. You can see more of their work on their FB page here. Or contact them via email here scottishaam@gmail.com They are also delivering an online conference on Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st details below: To learn more about the story of adoption, from those at the edge of historical findings and reserch, and how those with lived experiences are standing up for change at “Listen It’s Lifelong” 2 Day online event.This event is free and open to the allBook your tickets through Eventbrite to gain access to all the speakers over both days here! As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.comListen/subscribe on iTunes here
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As we move into winter Vicki and Haley reflect on what this time of year might mean to different people with different experiences.
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F network
In this episode I speak to Danny and Rianne foster carers featured in the recent channel four documentary ‘Kids’.
Danny is a second generation foster carer and together they have fostered several children as well as raise their own family. We chat about their experience as well as getting an update on Byron one of the young people featured in the programme.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this, sightly delayed released, Wednesday Webcast we speak to Sarah Anderson from FosterWiki. Sarah has been on before and she updates us on the work that the FosterWiki team are involved with as well as some other stuff. We talk all things recruitment, worker status and more, Sarah is passionate and you can find out more about what she does here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode of the A&F conversations I speak to adoptive parent Alex. He is a member of the armed services and has recently adopted two children with his wife through the Soldiers', Sailors' & Airmen's Families Association (SSAFA). He shares their experience of the process, approval, matching and placement as well as reflecting the unique aspects of that being in the military.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In our final podcast spotlighting different aspects of the social care system in Ireland we look at fostering with Deirdre McDonagh and Daire Gilmartin from Five Rivers Fostering based across the whole country. We consider the legal framework as well as the culture around fostering that exists in Ireland.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we're really pleased to speak to Psychosexual therapist Lisa Etherson. Firstly, it's a frank and open conversation that isn't suitable for children so be warned if you're of a delicate disposition, this may not be for you and certainly don't play it on loudspeaker when the vicar is round for tea.
We chat about the impact of early adversity on children and young people and their relationships and sex. We also discuss the broader issue of shame which was the primary reason we invited Lisa as she's researching the subject for a PHD. It's a conversation so we go where we're led and at moments slip into an episode of 'Carry on Podcasting'. Be warned.
You can connect with Lisa here
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F network
In this episode I speak to Black Sheep a transracial adult adoptee and adopter. She shares her experience of growing up in a white family, the challenges and joy’s of reunification with birth family and her own experience as an adoptive parent.
Black Sheep also shares her perspective on transracial adoption and the issues of race that are unaddressed within the adoption system. She has written of her experience in a book that you can find here and there will be an audio version available soon.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode Maggie and Scott have a have a great catch up, discussing birthdays and family additions, they also review the recent research carried out by Dr Katy Tobin, Dr Elizabeth McCarthy and Ms Anna Marie Paanoven all from Trinity College Dublin. The report was released at the end of September, and we look at some of the statistics that caught our eye. This report is the first of its kind for Ireland - with respondents from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It is definitely worth a read and you can download the whole report here: https://rb.gy/u4pjx Also in this episode Rob and Scott speak to Independent Teachta Dála (TD) for County Clare - Violet-Anne Wynne. We discuss the awareness of FASD within the political arena around Ireland, her interest in it, and how she would like to see the future develop for those living with and caring for those with FASD. Whilst “FASD – What’s da Craic?” is predominantly an Irish take on FASD, we try to make our language and experiences accessible to everyone. We have a mix of accents in there – something for all! We welcome you to get in touch whether you have a question or would like to be a guest, you can search FASD Ireland across all social media platforms and DM us or email us: office@fasdireland.ie
Hello and welcome to this edition of conversations from the A&F network.
It’s national adoption week and we’re delighted to speak to birth mother Kristy.
She shares her story of the challenge of having her children removed and how she’s managed to build a life after that event. Her story is not uncommon, domestic abuse and mental ill health being at the start of the story as well as failed letterbox contact after social care professionals miscommunicated to adoptive parents.
Kristy now volunteers with PAC UK and seeks to support other birth parents as well as affect change in the adoption system
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this #NationalAdoptionWeek edition of conversations from the A&F network.
As it’s national adoption week and I’m pleased to welcome adoptive parent and adult adoptee Mimm onto the podcast. We chat through some of her experiences and perspectives that reflect the diversity of opinions that are present in what can be a challenging week.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we catch up after a long busy summer, there's lots to catch up on so we rattle through the issues. Here's the set list:
Dog
Face
Birthday
CVAA
Panels
National Adoption week
DfE Ofsted changes (the response to the consultation can be read here)
Judges (the report can be fund here)
Conference
You'll have to check on social media to see our little friends as well.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this months podcast Vicky and Haley talk all thing parenting! What does it mean and how has it changed over the years.
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
In this episode I speak to Anthony about his experiences as a child entering the care system and his journey through foster care, residential care and semi independence. He’s really honest in terms of his responses to his lived experience and the help he received at various times. Anthony now campaigns for Revolving Door to improve youth justice and police responses to young people.
You can connect and find out more about Anthony here
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this month's podcast we talk about “change”
Here we talk about our own experiences before discussing the difference between planned or unplanned change, forced or collaborative, and what influences whether we experience it as a positive or negative. Finally we look at the importance of relationships and modelling how to navigate a new situation.
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It's FASD awareness months and the 9th September is the FASD day so to mark it we've spoken to Jeff Noble of FASD Success fame. He shares his story of how he became a foster carer and how his experience of caring for a child impacted by FASD led to his work supporting parents.
Jeff is enthusiastic and passionate about this subject so it's a full on interview and we cover a broad range of issues that impact on children and families.
You can visit the FASD Success website and Podcast here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we speak to Avery Bowser author of a chapter entitled 'If Adoption is the Answer then What is the Question?' in the new book 'The Future of Children's Social Care'. He speaks as a social worker and adoptive parent and we fully acknowledge that we speak with him from that perspective. Regardless, it's a worthwhile discussion that considers the state of adoption and its future. His interview starts at 37 mins.
This is a long episode as it's the end of the summer and in the introduction we catch up with on that's been going on as well as reflect on an email looking at lobbying for change in adoption. For once, Al, gets off the fence and the conversation gets a little impassioned. So, if you're part of the organisation that sent the email then please do come on and tell us why Al is wrong.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
In this episode I speak to Esher, she is a late discovery step parent adoptee, foster carer and adopter. Esher shares her experience of discovering that who she thought was her father was not as a teenager and how that knowledge has unfolded through her life. She is also a foster carer and an adoptive parent and her personal experience has given her an informed understanding of the impact on identity of adoption and influences how she supports her child.
Esher now works to support others in terms of identity as well as working to develop understanding of racism. You can hear her speak at this event for the CVAA 'Anti racism in adoption assessment' here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Welcome to Episode 2 of ‘What’s da Craic’ with Maggie, Rob and Scott.
In this episode Maggie and Rob have a chat with Scott’s son Jacob about living with FASD. They discuss a range of experiences including sensory issues, school, pain thresholds, driving theory and the conversation soon digresses into a more general conversation about sport and the future, with a lengthy conversation about Rugby. It included some terminology that those interested in rugby will know, however, those who may not will definitely gain an insight from someone living with FASD taking part in sport and other activities.
Rob identifies some of the areas in Jacob and Maggie’s life that he has recognised as different to his own experiences, including specific hobbies and tasks that become obsessions in life, and Maggie hears more than she bargained for about sport!
For those who may not be familiar with some of the terms used:
Banjaxed – meaning ruined, incapacitated or broken
SNA – Special Needs Assistant (in School)
Whilst “FASD – What’s da Craic?” is predominantly an Irish take on FASD, we try to make our language and experiences accessible to everyone. We have a mix of accents in there – something for all!
We welcome you to get in touch whether you have a question or would like to be a guest, you can search FASD Ireland across all social media platforms and DM us or email us: office@fasdireland.ie
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Hello and welcome to this episodes of the A&F podcast, we are rather pleased to have AUK's Becky Brooks on with us. She's a long time friend of the show and hugely knowledgeable around all things adoption.
We start with a catch up and general infobanz then dive into the joys of homeschooling, airfryers and he social media platform formally known as Twitter. Of course, we also unpack the Adoption UK 2023 Barometer and all the info around that as well as looking at it as a body of work and where it goes next. We do enjoy our chat and Becky is a great guest and knows her stuff.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Over the next few months we're spotlighting the practice and experience of social care work in Ireland. This month we're focusing on kinship. To do that we spoke to Caitríona Nic Mhuiris, she's based in Galway and is the founder of kinship care Ire. She shares the shocking events that led to her becoming a kinship carer and the subsequent desire to support other carers and lobby the Irish Government to effect positive change for children and families.
You can find out what they do and how they help here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
In this episode I speak to Christelle an adult transracial adoptee, she shares her experience of being adopted as a 10 year old girl from a Madagascan orphanage by a French family she’d never met until she was flown to their home in the south of France. Christelle’s experience is stark and she is open an honest in relation to the impact on her and the challenge that has manifest.
Christelle now works raising awareness of issues around adoption through visual arts as well as supporting and mentoring other adoptees. You can find out more about her work here.
www.christellepellecuer.com
Christelle's podcast Black Adoptees Identities has an insta page @blackadopteesidentities here
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Our third Better Me Better Us Podcast focuses on social media. We discuss various perspectives from telling ‘white lies’ so our children have access to platforms with an age limit, to posting photos of our children without consent. From an Adoption and Fostering perspective we discuss the challenges for both parents and professionals when children search for birth family members online and think about how we prepare and manage the potential risk associated with this. The virtual world has many advantages, but as with many other scenarios that we teach our children about , how do we prepare our children to navigate scenarios through their screens?
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In this episode we chat to Social Work Academic Dr Paul Shuttleworth* all things Kinship and the Care Review as per his chapter in the new book 'The Future of Children's Care' which is available here.
It's a fantastic chat about the presumptions that are in place around kinship, the evidence base for kinship and the Care Review's take on it. We also unpack bigger issues around the Review and what its impact may be.
For all it's a series issue it's a lighthearted chat and Dr Paul is a wonderful guest with fantastic insight across the issues discussed.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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*you'll have to listen to get his feelings on his title.
Al catches up with Fiona Wells about what’s happened since the Adoption Crisis: The Jarring Reality Of Adoption report (you can read it here) was released and the next steps. We talk about the issue more broadly and some of the green shoots that will hopefully develop into actions. To aid that Fiona is gathering information from families who have experienced challenges through this short survey here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
In this episode I speak to birth father Andy, he shares his experiences of family court proceedings and the challenges that led to his daughter being adopted. It’s a difficult listen and Andy is honest in regards to his journey and he highlights the combative nature of the system that led to the decision in the courts for adoption and the impact on him and his family.
You can read the PAC report that Andy participated in and helped present here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this episode of the A&F Podcast. It's been a long time coming but we've finally managed to get together to chat about the thorny issue of 'parent blame'. Pretty quickly into this we narrow down what we we mean and who we're talking about and Elaine, Scott and Al share personal experiences and perspectives as well as looking at professional perspectives.
We kind of slip into discussions around managing concerns and all kinds of other places but also give top tip for parent and top tips for professionals on how to avoid 'parent blame'.
Below here are some of the resources that we draw on and mention:
Fromparental blame to partnership with families: how to transform children’s social care
CHILDREN’S SOCIAL CARE THE WAY FORWARD - Parent Families and Allies Network
Parent-blaming to avoid professional accountability is a human rights issue
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Welcome to the introductory episode of “FASD – What’s da Craic?” – with Maggie, Rob and Scott. This is Episode 1 of our first series from FASD Ireland and hosted by the A&F Network.
Do you know what “What’s da Craic?” means, we hope it is obvious…. but Craic is a term or greeting used to describe a good time, a fun experience, or a friendly conversation and is commonly used in Irish slang.
In this episode you will get to know Maggie, Rob and Scott a little more, including their interest in hosting an FASD podcast, as they introduce themselves. As well as getting to know them they also discuss Peer Support, working when you live with FASD, Parenting Triggers and Irish voices.
Whilst “FASD – What’s da Craic?” is predominantly an Irish take on FASD, we try to make our language and experiences accessible to everyone. We have a mix of accents in there – something for all!
We welcome you to get in touch whether you have a question or would like to be a guest, you can search FASD Ireland across all social media platforms and DM us or email us: office@fasdireland.ie
Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
In this episode we speak to Fran Hill, she is the author of the novel Cuckoo in the nest as well as being a retired teacher and care experienced herself. Fran share her experience of entering the care system as a 14 year old in 1976, her reflections on that as well as how that informed her writing her book charting the experience of a fictional child entering the care system. Details of where you can buy the book are here and you can find out more about Fran here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hi Everyone, we are Vicki and Haley from Better Me Better Us.
In this episode we start a conversation about language.
We have over 45 years shared experience working with children, young people, young adults and their families, from a range of roles including statutory safeguarding, family intervention, therapy, consultancy and training.
We are passionate about humans, relationships and bringing the literature and theories to life (and we love to talk).
We cannot wait to connect with you once a month and expand the conversation.
Connect with us -
Instagram- @BMBUltd
Facebook – Better Me Better Us
Twitter – @BMBUltd
Hi Everyone, we are Vicki and Haley from Better Me Better Us.
In this first episode we introduce ourselves and what we do.
We have over 45 years shared experience working with children, young people, young adults and their families, from a range of roles including statutory safeguarding, family intervention, therapy, consultancy and training.
We are passionate about humans, relationships and bringing the literature and theories to life (and we love to talk).
We cannot wait to connect with you once a month and expand the conversation.
Connect with us -
Instagram- @BMBUltd
Facebook – Better Me Better Us
Twitter – @BMBUltd
Email – info@bettermebetterus.co.uk
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In this episode we share some news of a new podcast coming out this week, the BASW #CPV #CCVAB Practice guide (here) and their draft statement on 'forced adoption' (here), the Ellie Simmonds programme and Scott's Covid!
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this midweek conversation we speak to Prof Helen Minnis and Fiona Lettice from the University Of Glasgow. They are undertaking a trial (The Relationships in Good Hands (RIGHT)Trial) looking at Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) therapy.
We chat about the DDP generally and then consider the specific questions that the study is looking at
Can DDP (Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy) improve the mental health of 5–12-year-old fostered or adopted children and is DDP worth the commitment families need to give to it - and the extra cost to the services that deliver it?
Notes from Helen and Fiona:
"Are you interested in taking part in the RIGHT research trial and contributing to improving care pathways for adopted and fostered children? The Right trial is looking to determine the effectiveness of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy versus other appropriate treatment, offered to children experiencing difficulties related to early years trauma. We are also looking to identify how care pathways can be improved to ensure our vulnerable children are easily able to access the right treatment at the right time.
RIGHT is currently recruiting for adoptive families in the following areas: Hertfordshire, Central Bedfordshire, Bedford, Oxfordshire, Lanarkshire, Doncaster, East Midlands – Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire, West Midlands – Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, and Walsall
And for children in a long-term foster placement in:
Lanarkshire, Nottingham City, Bradford, Norfolk, Oxfordshire
Please get in touch with us at right-trial@glasgow.ac.uk
or find out more at www.gla.ac.uk/right"
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
In this episode we speak to Gaynor an adult adoptee. Gaynor has recently wrote her story in a book as a form of letters that reflects her experience and the complexity and challenge of adoption across her family. She shares some of that in the podcast and you can of course find out more if you seek out her book. Available here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode Al speaks to Sarah Brown, solicitor at Ridley and Hall. Scott wasn't able to make it so social worker, adoptee and adopter Fiona Wells stepped in to help.
We asked her on to discuss the work that she does supporting adoptive families in some of the most challenging moments. It's a difficult conversation so be careful as amongst some a range of issues such as contact orders, seeking support, passports and foster carers adopting we also discuss children having to return to care.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to the A&F Podcast.
Before we even start we trial an introduction that artificial intelligence wrote for us, not sure it's quite there yet!
This week we speak to Rachael Stemp and Marie Crook about the new model of support and development (The Reflective Fostering Programme)that has been trialled to over 400 foster carers and is part of a research project to consider how effective the new approach is. We also chat about the work that the study is doing in relation to inclusion in the support and study part of a project called INclude.
You can get more details here and if you want to sign up you can do this via this form.
This is a NIHR funded study.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
In this episode we speak to Peter a solo adoptive parent, he shares his experience as a foster care that ultimately led to him adopting a child he knew through his role as a scout leader and teacher. It’s an unusual path to adoption and Peter shares some of the challenges along the way.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
We start discussing Scott's moonlighting on the Good Tech Podcast and consider the role of Artificial Intelligence in social work assessments and matching, there's a bit of banter and we also unpick Al's reflections on being 'social worked'.
Then we go right into our own experiences of living in a home where there's complex and challenging behaviour. We draw on a few sources, direct messages to us and reflections on conversations with other men. It parallels women's experiences in some ways but we consider if it's different and how we respond and if we're able to access support and if so what do we want.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this podcast special, Scott attended the launch of Adoption UK’s Annual Barometer report in Westminster this week and in this episode he talks us through the day and his reflections on it.
Speakers included Emily Frith, CEO of Adoption UK, Ed Timpson MP, Claire Coutinho MP and Childrens Minister, Helen Hayes MP and Shadow Childrens Minister as well as Sally Donovan and the adopted adults panel.
The Barometer report is available here and is available as the full report or in an Executive Summary.
Scott doesn’t cover the report findings in any great detail – you can find that above, however, he does pick out some of his reflections from the Speakers.
Safe to say that the adopted adults panel discussions were honest, open and raw given their experiences of supports as they transitioned through teenage year and into adulthood.
We will be welcoming Becky Brookes (friend of the show) soon to discuss the content of the Barometer report very soon.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
In this episode we speak to adoptive parent and author Sarah McGeough, She shares her experiences as an adoptive parent and is open and honest in relation to her challenges in relation to getting through the process to having her child move in. Sarah also shares how and why she decided to write two books (Eddie finds a Family and Eddie finds a Home) and you can see them here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to the A and F podcast, in this Episode we speak to Mike Hancock the National Strategic Lead for PAC UK (Starting at 17:25). We discuss the recently released "Big Consult" drawing on adoptees and birth families experiences and you can read that here.
Of course there's a little banter beforehand and we unpack what we've been up to.
Also, if you've not had chance to complete the short anonymous questionnaire relating to birth family contact we'd appreciate you completing it here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this midweek podcast we're delighted to speak to Dr Nikki Rutter. Nikki has written a raft of research into #CPV and we invited her onto the pod to chat about her latest research into how mothers are perceived when seeking support in relation to challenging and violent behaviour in children. You can read it here.
It's a great chat and Nikki shares how she got drawn into this area of research and we unpick what is a complex issue
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
In this episode we cross the Atlantic to speak to Brady, he shares his personal experience of adoption as a 13 year old and how that informed his understanding adoption. With his wife Andrea, Brady then went on to adopt internationally as well as through the US foster care system and has subsequently set up a charity Rods Heroes that seeks to find families for children with Down syndrome who aren’t with their parents. Brady is open and honest in relation to his beliefs and motivation and very comfortable to engage in discussion there are many strands to this story and hope you enjoy it.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
Allegations can be catastrophic for any family and in this episode I speak to adoptive parent Emily, she shares her families experience of an allegation investigation and the impact on them.
It’s a difficult story to listen to but it’s not uncommon for adoptive families to find themselves caught up in complex processes with police and local authorities safeguarding teams. As such it’s an important topic that Emily shines a light onto.
Here are the links that can offer advice and support
National association of therapeutic parents false allegation packAllegation Support | NATP Child advice lawHome - childlawadvice.org.uk Family Rights group; https://frg.org.uk/Emily is also happy to speak to anyone in terms of their experience or for advice and support you can email her here oneinfourfa@yahoo.com
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this Episode of the A&F podcast we speak to Dr Vicky Baker about her research listening to children and young people who display violence and aggression towards their caregivers. It's a fascinating chat and she raises issues that many families will recognise and we consider intentionality, reactionary and complex histories in children who display this behaviour. It's a great conversation and Dr Vicky is happy to be contacted by email here and you can read the research here.
We also highlight some info requested in the Adopter Reference Group in relation to contact between adopters and birth family and we've popped some questions onto a short Google form here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast. In this episode we speak to formed foster carer Niki, she shares her formative experience in foster care and how this informed her decision to become a carer. Niki is honest about the experience of being a carer and reflects on some of the challenges in that role and systemic failings that ultimately led to her resigning her registration. If you’re an adoptive parent her views on the process of introductions will certainly be of interest.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this webcast we speak to adopter, social worker and adult adoptee Feona Wells about the recent report Adoption Crisis The Jarring Reality of Adoption that she complied. It has been shared widely and lay’s out over 30 families’ experiences of adoption and the challenges that led up to and were part of disruption. It’s an emotive issue and the report raises serious concerns in terms of the system’s response to the adversity that many find themselves in.
There's a little swearing and we're aware that this is an emotive issue so go easy on yourselves.
You can read the report here.
You can contact Fiona on fionawells.patch@gmail.com
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to the A&F Podcast, in this episode we speak for the first time to the new CEO of Adoption UK Emily Frith. Emily has been in post since late 2022 and we took time to catch up with her in relation to her plans, vision and hopes for AUK given the changing political and policy landscape. As always there's a little banter as well and we ask questions across a range of issues that impacts is relevant to the community at the moment.
On another note, if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Without doubt taking children with additional needs and complex histories on holiday is a minefield of challenges and we thought we'd come up with some insight and share a few stories.
We come up, in a surprising moment of organisation and planning, with our top ten tips for travel and cover a few other issues in terms of some of the difficulties that families can face.
To be clear, at the end of our chat there is another 'Vomit Story' and it's bleak, so you were warned!
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In a short episode Scott chats to Jeff Noble from the Canadian FASD Success Podcast. Jeff is in the Ayr, Scotland to share to experience and insight to FASD and Scott collared him for a quick natter. Jeff shares his perspectives on a range of issues, including swearing, and it's a fun conversation that means we'll definitely be getting him back for a full podcast.
Jeff has a dynamic podcast that you can listen to here
Al, being a total slacker chose not to edit the swears out!
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we speak to Paul White the CEO of Hidden Disability Sunflower. Paul explains how he was led to start the Sunflower Lanyards and how they have transformed the lives of thousands of children and adults who have seen the benefits of the international accepted scheme supporting individuals in public spaces, shops and while travelling.
If you are interested in finding out more and getting your hands on a lanyard or signing your organisation up to the scheme then you can do that here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
In this episode we speak to Nancy about her experience of entering the care system as a very little child, growing up in foster homes and ultimately working with children and families to promote the voice of children and create paths to healing for them. Nancy has lived a remarkable life and in some parts this is a hard listen but certainly thought provoking.
Nancy's website is here and her FB page here
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and Welcome to the A&F podcast, this week we're really pleased to have Social Worker and project lead from the National Adoption Strategy Team looking at digital contact. Vicky outlines the work that is going on across the sector as well as the specific trials that are currently being carried out in terms of 'letter swap' a digital contact system. It's an exciting project that has the potential to drag the system into the 21st century so we're really pleased to hear what she has to say.
The interview starts at 19:30 as we've a lot to catch up on in terms of what's been going on with ourselves and specifically Scott has been launching the FASD Hub Ireland and I've been training in Sunderland's second most haunted building (who knew?).
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
In this episode we speak adoptive parent Eliza.
Eliza shares her experience of a adoption with her partner and her experience of good support as she has tried to coordinate contact with her child’s large sibling group who are all living in different permanency arrangements. As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we asked for questions and topics as a guest had pulled out at the last moment. We mansplain our way through assessment of need, international adoption and unpack a whole load of social media thinking.
You can find the Regs we spoke of here
HR would like to apologise to Helmut from Austria
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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One of our contributors at the annual Adoption & Fostering Podcast Conference was Angela Frazer-Wicks, birth parent and chair of trustees at the Family Rights Group as well as a key note speaker and campaigner. She shares her experience of maintaining links with her children after their adoption, the challenges of an inconsistent system and professional support as well as navigating the feelings of all parties to the adoption.
It is a fantastic insight to a world that can be opaque for professionals, adopters and adopted children and Angela was also able to answer some of the questions that attendees asked.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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We thought we'd do a #WednesdayWebcast on LGBTQ+ Fostering & Adoption Week and more.........
Who knows where that will all go! We talk, cost of living, Ukrainian children and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode, after a much needed catch up, we speak to Jay Vaughn MBE from Family Futures (starting at 19:17).
Jay is the CEO and co founder of Family Futures and asked to come onto the podcast to share news about their new venture into fostering. We chat about that as well as reflect on the wider issues that impact on children in this community including the ASF, therapy and helping children.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
In this episode we speak adult Adoptee Rodney, he shares his experience of adoption in New Zealand in the 1960’s and then moving to the UK in the 70’s. As a young adult he reconnected with his maternal family, a complicated and challenging experience that raised more questions than it answered.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we're really happy to speak to Nick Burke a post adoption social worker. Nick speaks from a personal perspective across a range of issues that impact on adoption and social workers and it's fantastic to get a real live social worker on the podcast. We discuss a whole range of issues that are unique to adoption and post adoption support.
The discussed BASW report can be found here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Due to a lack of pre planning and a coherent podcast release schedule we thought we'd gloss over the fact that we didn't manage to release a shiny new episode and re release this one. Which was cracking BTW.
It’s LGBT history months so we thought we’d add our bit and Al has a chat with Scott and his husband Tris about their perspectives and experience of being amongst the cohort of adoptive same sex couples in the mid 2000s. They straddle a time before that was a possibility and we discuss their journey as well as some of their positive as well as less positive experiences being adoptive parents. We also chat about the implications for them as a family as they encounter and visit other cultures and countries and precautions they take to keep the children and themselves safe.
We start with a chat about the BT Halo advert, the language used and the following twitter storm and response from different parts of the adoption community.
Finally, we reveal that we’re chairing a RAA’s first year anniversary conference on the 4th April for Adoption East Midlands, until the end of Feb its open to families from that area, after that anyone can attend if there’s space. BOOK HERE The conference is going to cover a range of issues that are ever present including contact, developing children’s resilience and adopter resilience. There will also be discussion in relation to school support and peer mentors within the adoption community. Take a look here and if you’re free then we’d love to see you as well as the night before when we’re having the Adoption and Fostering Podcast Pub Quiz (details to follow).
If you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
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In this episode we speak to Victoria Ntizoglou and Claire Hardman social workers for the RAA Adoption Counts (starting 11:20) . As a service they've been innovative in their system approach to how they support children and adults in maintaining family links and connections pre and post adoption. They speak from their broad experience and offer fantastic insight to the issues that they navigate in what is essential work for a progressive adoption service. They were also knowledgeable across the adoption system and great guests.
We also reflect on the ongoing questions around the APPGs and consider the role of AUK and Home for Good in funding the Adoption and Permanence APPG. However, in the interim the question we asked on twitter has been answered here.
Adoption Counts is the Regional Adoption Agency covering the adoption services of five Local Authorities: Cheshire East Council, Manchester City Council, Salford City Council, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council and Trafford Council.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this hastily drawn together podcast on the Gov's response to the Care Review. We try to give a brief outline of the key 'pillars' of the review and reflect on the responses from across the sector.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F podcast. We are opening up our conversations to include anyone connected to the world of caring parenting or working with children who have experienced adversity or have complex needs.
In this episode we speak to kinship carer Shanayd, she shares her story of becoming a kinship carer to her niece, the legal process, the impact on her family and the challenges of accessing support. Shanayd now campaigns for better support and works to support and advocate for kinship carers locally and nationally and in the podcast she shares the work that she does.
If you’ve a perspective or have experience that you’d like to share in this space please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this special short podcast Al went up to the House of Lords for the official release of the CVAA's report "A home for me? - A comparative review of the value of different forms of permanence for children – Adoption, SGOs and Fostering"
You can read it Here
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we add in a little about our trip to the DfE then crack on with the interview with Sam Turner the head of policy and public affairs at the charity Kinship (starting 10:00). We discuss the broader issues around families living with kinship/SGO/CAOs as well as look directly at the specific issues that may be raised in the upcoming Governmental response to the Care Review.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
In this episode we speak Rebekah Pierre a care experienced social worker.
Bekah came on a webcast in November and shared some of her experiences and views while promoting the Free Loaves on Friday project. In this episode she shares more of her personal story and experiences and perspectives on the care system.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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This is a little podcast special, we were up to the Department for Education for a meeting of the Adopter Reference Group. We thought it wise to feedback what happened and some reflections on the ARG now the Leadership Board has ended.
Note: it was recorded in a pub yard next to a building site, we sat in the cold crisp shade under blue skies and chatted. It was rather pleasant, but noisy!
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Lots to catch up on this week with surveys, news and more. We go for a high energy opening and we'll see how that pans out.
Here's links to the surveys we discussed:
Adoption Support Agencies: proposed regulation changes here
Regulating supported accommodation for looked after children and care leavers aged 16 & 17 here
We were contacted by Rita from the Dave Thomas Foundation based in the US in relation to the work that they do to promote and facilitate the adoption of older children from the public care system in the US. We thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to look into a system that we rarely discuss but has a profound hold across adoption culture. Rita was incredibly articulate and clearly has a depth knowledge of the US system and the unique challenges that they face. We chat about the specific issues of adopting older children, Wendy's Wonderful Kids program and the processes that are built around that, we also discuss the broader system and some of the specific issues that impact on the US adoption culture. Scott was a little cheeky and asked his favourite question!
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we speak to Maggie May and she shares her unconventional journey through the foster care system and her decision to be adopted at 14 in Ireland. Maggie May has a unique perspective and also lives with the hidden disability of FASD. She describes the challenges she faced and the impact of the diagnosis on her life.
It’s a remarkable story and we’ll definitely be asking Maggie may back on to share the work she does as an advocate for the FASD community and the education and support she offers carers and parents of children with FASD.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
In this episode we invite Paula and Tris back onto the podcast and we reflect on some of the challenges, trials, tribulations, lessons and joys of 2022. We of course mention Scott's health incident and the Coates' latest grandchild as well as reflect on a broad range of issues including therapeutic support, what children really want and the top three podcasts of the year.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this our final normal episode of the year we rattle through a raft of news items (Adoption Agencies closure, ASLGB, ARG, PP+), Scott gives some 'hot takes' and we reflect on our interview with the Shadow Minster Helen Hayes.
We're going to round up the year in an upcoming episode.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we speak to MP Helen Hayes the Labour shadow Minister for Children and Early Years.
We discussed a range of issues and Helen was able to give Labour's and her perspective on the care review and other issues that impact on children and families. Certainly we could have spoken for longer as the time went quick.
Helen was really keen to engage with people with lived experience in relation to the care review and you can contact her through her website or via helen.hayes.mp@parliament.uk
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Scott was asked onto LBC radio to comment and reflect on the comments by Stephen Fry over the weekend in relation to his views on not being a parent. Scott shares some of his experience and journey to parenting through adoption. He also shamelessly promotes the podcast! an absolute star.
It's always interesting to communicate the complexity of adoption and the nuances of parenting as an adopter to a mainstream audience and Scott does a cracking job of doing that.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Welcome to conversations from the A&F podcast.
This is my first conversation in quite a while, and what a subject to come back to.
This week we talk to Zach and Alison. Regular listener Zach got in touch with us after listening to Al and I discussing the New Family Social podcast on “Consensual non-monogamy” recently.
Zach and his partner Alison are from Southern Carolina in the United States, and they wanted to talk to us about what they call “ethical non-monogamy”, not just about their relationship status, but also their journey through to adopting teenagers.
We were keen to interview Zach and Alison without judgement, but to also really try to get to the bottom of what “ethical non-monogamy” means to them and their family.
As ever, this is Zach and Alison’s story, and they talk openly about their status as a couple, but also they provide lots of information and statistics about the adoption process in South Carolina.
If you would like to be on an episode of the A&F Podcast conversations, then please do get in touch, either via our social on DM or by emailing aandfpodcast@gmail.com
Hello, in this episode we share an interview that we did with Robin Findlay from the National Union of Professional Foster Carers
He shares some of his experience of being a carer as well as the genesis of the NAPFC came about and the work that they do.
Prior to the interview we reflect on the conference, planned tour and the AUK's new service for adult adoptees.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Breaking news the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board is to cease.
We unpick the news that we've got today, what does it mean, how did we get here and what next.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
In this episode we speak to foster carer Matilda who shares her experience of fostering and some of the challenges her family faced.
After fostering a child short term they then moved to a permanent arrangement. Matilda shares their story of the impact of an allegation on that arrangement, the child and her family. It’s a story that is not uncommon and Matilda’s story shines a light on what is significant challenge within fostering.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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It's been a busy run up to the conference so we've got a shorter episode this week. Scott and Al unpick a recent report into GPs prescribing antidepressants to children as well as looking at the issue of the rising declarations on the school census of adopted and SGO children.
Of course, there's banter and a level of sobriety which will be apparent due to the time of recording.
For details of the podcast conference on the 25th Nov. go to the podcast Twitter Feed/Facebook page or head here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this webcast we speak to Rebekah Pierre who is looking for contributors to the anthology Free loaves on Fridays.
Free Loaves on Fridays will be an anthology about the care system, written by people with lived experience.
If you were in care for any period aged 17 and under, and want to help change the public's understanding of what it means to be care-experienced, we would love to publish your words. You are welcome to submit regardless of your age, background, or level of writing experience.
The deadline to submit your story by is 15 January 2023.
Please read this document for submission guidelines and how to submit: Free Loaves on Fridays - Submission Guidance.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
In this episode Susie shares her experience and journey to adoption with her husband. Susie has a physical disability and from the decision to proceed with the application it has defined the process.
Susie describes the challenges both personal and professsional that they[ve over come and how the skills and strengths they have as a couple influenced the match that was made with their child.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this a live #Winterbantz Webcast we cast our beady eye over the new John Lewis advert for Christmas that focuses on a foster carer preparing for the arrival of a new child. We gather comments through our FB page and generally talk it to death.
We then consider the ongoing consultation in relation to the ASF and what the history of the ASF is as well as the future. We're not sure where we'll be politically and how will that affect the fund.
Finally we also announce that adoptees and care experienced adults can come to the conference free on the 25th Nov, just DM us the usual way and we'll pass on a discount code.
To see the agenda and book tickets head here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
In this episode we speak to John Radoux a child and adolescent therapeutic counsellor who often speaks out in relation to children in the care system.
John shares his own experience of being in the Care System as well as discussing a broad range of issues including, the notion of expert by experience, the Care Review and the debate around that.
Unfortunately, Zoom messed up Scott's audio so we've made the decision to keep it in but it sounds like he's on valium underwater.
We reference a few articles in the discussion and you can find them here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
on another note you can find details of the A&F conf on the 25th Nov here.
Hello and welcome to Conversations from the A and F podcast.
In this episode we speak to Petra, she shares her story of being assessed as a prospective adoptive parent. Petra’s first assessment through a local authority was ended before panel and she shares that experience, its impact and her ultimate successful approval through a voluntary adoption agency.
Petra’s experience is not unique and many applicant struggle in the assessment process in this podcast she reflects on the impact on her and the limitations and pitfalls of the process
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
We have a very quick catch-up about #NationalAdoptionWeek and there's a little bit of bad language, not much just a little.
Then we get to the main event, school exclusion. It's a broad and deep issue so on reflection we only scratch the surface. Ruth shares her experience as a teacher and school head and reflects on some of the issues that lead up to exclusion and the impact on children, staff and parents. We also share some of the comments that were sent to us from parents and carers of children who have been struggling in school. It feels like an issue that we could return to and dig deeper into.
Ruth and Scott were full of cold so there's a little bit of coughing!
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In this, the first of two episodes considering the issues around school exclusion Al chats to Ass. Prof Sarah Martin-Denham from the University of Sunderland about her project gathering the voices of children who have been excluded.
You can find links to Sarah's work here.
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F podcast. We are opening up our conversations to include anyone connected to the world of caring parenting or working with children who have experienced adversity or have complex needs. In this episode we speak to Megan a former foster carer who is moving to Sierra Leone to support the development of children’s welfare with communities there. The charity she has founded is called Hear Their Roar and you can find details of the work they do here.
If you’ve a perspective or have experience that you’d like to share in this space please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this episode we speak to Carolyn and she shares her family’s story of adoption after a protracted assessment process and the challenges of introducing her son to her family.
Now six years on life is very different to the one that they had envisaged as they care for a child with emerging complex needs having implications for how they live as a family. Carolyn is honest and frank in relation to their experience and shines a light on many adoptive families’ experiences.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Before you listen please note, we talk about operations in some detail in the first few minutes. If you're squeamish or of a delicate disposition then skip!
There's a lot going on but we start with an appeal for help from a couple of prospective adopters who are blind and are looking to speak to any other adopter who can share their experience of being approved with a disability. If you think you can help then please drop us an email.
We then unpick the news of the new minister being appointed with additional responsibilities, the shadow minster as well as AUK's new appointment. We unpick some of the discussions being had in relation to adoption approvals being transferred if agencies close as well as commenting on recent protests by foster carers and national private fostering week.
A busy episode but certainly a pretty interesting one and not without mirth.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this week's episode we speak to Sarah Anderson from Fostering Wiki about the recently released Cost of Living Crisis Report. This is a pressing issue for all carers but has exacerbated the underlying issues that fostering is facing at the moment. We chat with Sarah across some of the challenges being faced as well as the campaigning wok that is being done.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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We recorded this episode in Ireland, and planned to release it prior to the death of Queen Elizabeth.
Al had popped over to help with the opening of the FASD Ireland offices and we took the chance to record together. There's been a lot of change in the landscape around adoption and we reflect on where we are and where we're going. Do we remain a safe place for adopted adults to share their views and experiences and is a podcast hosted by two adopters the right place for that? These are few of the questions that we're asking of ourselves as we look to the future of the podcast. As always, there's plenty of banter and we reflect on the catastrophe which was Al's summer holiday and the usual stuff.
We've opened up sales for the conference on the 25th Movement. We will consider the challenges and barriers to maintaining positive, safe and meaningful links with birth family members.
Speakers including,RAA lead Sarah Johal, Angela Frazer-Wicks, Prof Beth Neil, Dawn Harker and Paula Coates. Chaired by Scott and me, so nag your RAA if you're an adoptive parent in the UK and get them to contact us by email: aandfpodcast@gmail.com for details of bulk bookings. Early Bird on sale now - £15.00 per person/£25.00 per couple. click here to buy a ticket.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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We did have a normal episode recorded and lined up but in light of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II we thought we'd throw out a few thoughts, a story and keep it brief. RIP
Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this episode we speak to Michelle Nattrass she is a special guardian to her grandson and a PHD researcher at Leeds Trinity University looking at family contact in kinship and guardianship arrangements.
Michelle shares her personal story, the circumstances that led to her and her partner becoming a special guardian as well as offering insight into the challenges that are present in the wider community. Michelle is honest and frank in relation to her experience and shines a light on many families experiences.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we sift through the brick-a-brack of talking points and news updates that have been loitering in the back of the podcast shared note. We start with the giddy, heartbreaking, joy of children moving out as Al confesses to feeling rather glum. Then onto some talking points including, consensual non monogamy, Northern Pride, social work assessments and the ASLGB away day.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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This week Scott and Al are a summer holiday! Not together thank heavens but this is an interview with Mark Owers that was recorded a few weeks ago. Mark is an adoptive parent as well as a social worker and consultant to the DfE and the Government in relation to adoption and fostering and the Chair of the National Adoption Recruitment Steering Group. He is able to bring an in depth knowledge to the policy context, how we got to where we are and consider the future of adoption. We also discuss the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board and Mark's recent article here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we are more than happy to have Becky back onto the podcast. As you'll hear Becky has an encyclopaedic knowledge of AUK's 2022 Adoption Barometer and she unpicks some of the data and we have a good natter.
As you'd expect we do occasionally get drawn into a broad range of issues including decorating children's bedrooms, women's football and the joy of pies.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we speak to Liz Harvie adopted adult and adoptee rights campaigner. We'd been planning to speak to Liz for quite a while and the interview conincided with the release of the House of Commons & House of Lords Joint Committee on Human Rights -The Violation of Family Life: Adoption of Children of Unmarried Women 1949–1976 report. Liz was generous with her time and story shared some of her own experience and the impact of being adopted and reunion on her, liz spoke across a broad range of issues including the report and we're sure you'll agree she was a great guest.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this episode Scott spoke to late discovery, transracial and translation adoptee Ryan, he shares his complicated and challenging experience of finding out he was adopted at 18 years old.
Ryan talks about living his shame and avoiding dealing with his adoption until the last few years and his journey looking for support as an adult. Ryan is open an honest in discussing the complexities of his situation and the lack of information he has of his biological family from Morocco.
You can see Ryan's YouTube video here https://youtu.be/4C-LNcmxdFk
And his Written story here https://peshy37.wordpress.com/2021/02/18/my-story/
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we speak to adoptive parent and Executive Headteacher Rob Leitch about his campaign to "Provide all care-experienced children with a right to be assessed for an EHCP"
This petition calls for all care-experienced children to be provided with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) assessment as an automatic right, upon request. This would provide all care-experienced children with an equality of opportunity, following a disadvantaged start in life.
You can add your signature here
Rob is a great guest and he shares some of his experience as an adoptive parent as well as his views on the challenges of education and the unique education model in the online school he is the headteacher at.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to #AdoptionConversations, in this episode we speak to adult adopted adult and care experienced person Saul. He shares what is a complex and emotive story of an early life in and out of the care system and eventual adoption as an older child. It is a difficult listen as Saul shares the impact of fractured relationships, racism, care, adoption and discovery of parts of his origin story. Saul is open and honest and it's a raw conversation and he is now looking to pull together like minded adults in his fledgling organisation Orfan. You can find links to Twitter here and all of the links to different outlets here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this episode of the adoption and fostering podcast. Catching up on recent news and to discuss the challenges faced by Voluntary Adoption Agencies we are pleased to have Satwinder Sandhu vice chair of the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies and CEO of the IAC join us. We unpick the impact of Families for Children closing as well as the current system and how they work with the Regional Adoption Agencies. We also consider the recent government madness and the impact on the Care Review.
As always if you’ve experience of or informed views on adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
We like real live connections so if you want to get in touch do so yourself.
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this episode Scott spoke to adoptive parent chris, he shares the experience of being approved to adopt with his wife in the run up to the first lockdown.
Covid arrived as their son moved into their house and Chris discusses the pressures of their early days together in lockdown as well as other challenges as well as strength they’re finding as a new family. It’s been a uniquely difficult time for many adopters and Chris speaks to many people’s experience at this time.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to the Adoption and Fostering Podcast, in this episode and after much time effort and energy arranging it we're pleased to interview the Children's Minister Will Quince.
We were really pleased to be given an hour with the Minister and we were really hoping to engage in conversation with him in relation to the many questions that we had and the ones so kindly supplied. There was so much we could have chatted about but we tried to stick to topic and on stuff that we thought was applicable. Will was honest and I think we came away with the impression that he was genuine and was interested, bothered and well informed. We were asked to give a broad outline of topics before hand but Will was happy for us to ask anything with no caveats.
People will make up their own minds and as in all things time will tell as to the decisions that are made and the legacy that is left.
As always if you’ve experience of or informed views on adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
We like real live connections so if you want to get in touch do so yourself.
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Hello and welcome to this special edition of the podcast. We have an interview with the chair of the Independent Review of Children's Social Care in England where we discuss the final report and the response from the Government and the sector.
You can read the report here.
It is a conversation and we drew on the published responses and our own reading of the report to inform the conversation. We were mindful of the breadth of the report and consequently the conversation stays within limits on what we could cover reasonably in the time we had. Josh was open and honest and there was no restrictions on what we spoke about though we did give a broad idea what we'd like to discuss prior to speaking.
After the last interview with Josh we did have some criticism and accusation of collusion and being in the pocket of the Government. We're not, we do this at no cost and don't get paid, we do this because our lives and the lives of our children have been shaped by fostering and adoption and we want to shine a light on it.
As always if you’ve experience of or informed views on adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
We like real live connections so if you want to get in touch do so yourself.
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In this episode we hear the relatively unique story of Leah who shares her experience of being a birth parent to two children who were adopted. Her story is one of relinquishment instigated by herself and she shares how this came about and the impact on herself and her children.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this week’s Wednesday Webcast where we speak to Jane Griffiths from CAPA First Response, she works directly supporting families living with Challenging Violent and Aggressive Behaviour.
We talk about the usual issue of how we define the behaviour as well as how CAPA works with families and the models of interventions that they utilise to support them and address behaviours. You can self refer and they can be found here. They're also on Twitter here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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As we march into June we thought we'd have a little palette cleanser before we get into what is likely to be a full on schedule through June with us speaking to Josh McAllister from the Care Review and the Children's Minster Will Quince. We catch up on the start of school holidays for Scott and family, a few thoughts on the recently released Care Review (though we're keeping our powder dry on that one) and some of the other news that's been floating around. Unusually, Al shares how and why he became a social worker and the surprising upshot of his annual traumatic appraisal.
True to form we totally forgot it was pride months so didn't even mention it. Finally, we give the worst advert in the world to the IAC conference as we were asked to mention it, details here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we asked Sally Donavan to come on the Podcast, she's a new book out, 'The Strange and Curious Guide to Trauma' and we chat about that, why she wrote it and what her future writing plans are.
To be honest we're all a bit pants at the whole publicity thing so we quickly slip into the other stuff surrounding adoption including the current adoption climate and what seems like an unresolvable debate between behaviourism and trauma informed approaches to managing behaviour in education. It's all good fun and Sally brings her insight, compassion and wisdom to bear.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to #AdoptionConversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this podcast I speak to adoptive grandma Sue. She shares her experience of witnessing her daughter, son in law and granddaughter go through the adoption assessment, matching and then introductions and placing.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
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Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
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It's Foster Care Fortnight and in a rare piece of effective and planned scheduling we've got Sarah Anderson, foster carer, therapist and founder of the Foster Wiki.
Sarah shares her story of becoming a foster carer and how some of her experiences of the system pushed her into campaigning to develop the system and to create a better environment for carers as they met the needs children who need fostering. It is a truly fascinating chat and Sarah is passionate about fostering but also incredibly knowledgeable about the system and the impact to carers. You can find a link to all that they do and the resources that are created at the Foster Wiki site.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this episode of the #WednesdayWebcast we speak to psychotherapist Mary-Joy Johnson. She works at Wildways Therapy specifically with adopters/foster carers who are having challenging experiences with their own mental health due to the chronic needs of their children. Mary-Joy is also a programme co-director for the Dare to Live Trust, a charity that works with Military Veterans, First Responders, NHS and Care Professionals who have experienced trauma through their professional roles/service.
This was a fantastic chat and we discussed the impact of trauma, horses and much more.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we discus the news last week of the two adoptive parents on trial for murdering Leiland-James Corkill. Though there's limited information we discuss what is an emotive case that I'm sure many people are following with horror and shock. This is an upsetting case so certainly may not be for everyone, we reflect on social work and what may influence people to act in this way. Obviously, there limited information and we don't cover every aspect of this but will likely return when the Serious Case Review is completed in the future.
Before we discuss the case we catch up on a few things and discuss our children wanting to access their files as well as a the usual bantz.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we catch up on all that has been going on in adoptionland over the last month or so. We look at the findings and recommendations from the Somerset Judgement (See here), consider the recent research from Dominic McSherry on adoption and trauma (see here) as well as the recent goings on at the House of Lords with Al and the House of Commons with Adoptees.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this podcast we speak to Rachel an adult adoptee, adopter and social worker. Rachel shares her story of being adopted in the early eighties and the unusual perspective that has given her in relation to her uncommon experience. Rachel also speaks in relation to her work with birth families and how all of these factors have influenced her parenting and views on adoption.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
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Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
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In this episode we talk about the impact of #CPV on parents carers and children. We also unpick a little about how an #NVR informed approach helped us as families and how it can support better relationships, a safer home environment for children and adults and impact on behaviour.
We also chat about language, high need behaviour and the need for System Literacy for parents.
Details of the NVR informed training on the 6/7th July online that we discuss and are delivering can be found here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this episode we speak to adoptive single parent Matthew, he shares his experience of applying to adopt as a single man and the unique challenges that has brought.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
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Scott joins the webcast live from Ireland with Al. They chat about all that's happened with Scott and what's going on now. Scott remains in recovery and will do for a long period to come, he shares some of the impacts and what the future holds. We shared one mic so the audio is a bit 'Swimming pool'.
If you would like to donate to Scott, Tris and the boys you can follow the link here. Seriously, no pressure though.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we speak to Sarah Richards an Adoptee, therapist, postgraduate researcher studying adoptee experiences of therapy. She discussed her experience as well as the issues facing adoptees accessing affordable and effective support in adulthood.
If you’re interested in finding out more about her research you can email her here. Sarah.richards18@my.Northampton.ac.uk
Or get in touch through Twitter here
The No Borders Training advertised at the beginning of the podcast can be found here
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to this special episode. On the 4th April Al was invited to give evidence the House of Lords Children and Families Act 2014 Committee. This is a recording of his evidence, it was discussion in relation to some of the challenges faced by contemporary adoption including support, timescales and contact. At the meeting Naomi Angell a consultant for Osbourne's Law also gave evidence from a legal perspective.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we speak to adopted adult ReGina, she shares her experience of being adopted in the early 1970 in the US. Regina describes finding out that she was adopted and her decision to keep that knowledge to herself into her adult life is explored and why she decided to keep that information private. She also shares her experience of reunification in the last few years.
You can find out more about ReGina in her book here, her FB Page here or email her at theunknownblessing@gmail.com and discover the work that she does.
As always if you have a story that you want to share then please get in touch with the podcast at aandfpodcast@gmail.com
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Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast. In this episode we speak to Keri an adoptive parent living in North Carolina in the US.
Keri shares her experience of being a licensed foster carer and adopting from the state. She shares her perspectives on the system shining a light on how the differs from the UK . Keri’s discussed the challenges that they faced as a family and the impact on her son. She also shares her experience of developing and maintaining links with her children’s birth mother counter the norm within the foster to adopt system.
Keri now campaigns to raise awareness of the challenges faced by adoptive families and you can find details of her work and writing in the podcast notes. You can visit her FB page here and see the details of her book there.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at
AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Just another short episode to keep people up to speed with Scotts progress. It's all in the right direction but there's good days and bad, certainly there's a long way to go.
If you would like to donate to Scott, Tris and the boys you can follow the link here. Seriously, no pressure though.
Here is the link to the Select Committee on the Children and Families Act 2014 Hearings.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast. In this episode we speak to Gregory Luce from the Adoptee Rights Law Center in the US.
Gregory offers professional and personal insight into the challenges faced by adoptees in the US in relation to law and wider culture. He also shares some of his experience of the difficulties of accessing his records and the historical underpinning reasons for that.
Gregory runs a podcast here.
and you can find his twitter feed here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Hello, just a brief update to let people know that Scott was rushed into hospital on Sunday having had an aneurism, he is gravely ill but successfully operated on. He is now in recovery and we wanted to share Scott's husbands thanks and a give a brief update.
We have recorded several conversations over the winter and will keep releasing them for now.
Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this podcast we speak to Rachel and Brooke, they share their experience ad perspective on the US private adoption process . Rachel, a birth mom, and Brooke her adopted, now adult, child are honest in relation to the challenges they face but also reflect on the wider culture that influences the process, language and perception of adoption.
This is an honest account and a little longer than usual but certainly well worth the listen, of course it covers difficult experience and be mindful of that if you decide to listen.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
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In what can only be described as a bizarre episode we unpick the Curse of the interview with the Children and Families Minster. A cruel and twisted tale of two ministers, hopefully we'll be able to reschedule with the minster soon. Thank you for all your questions and topics, we'll not waste them.
There's a bit more information in relation to the Somerset Judgement and we unpick some stuff around current events, sharing news with children, inappropriate texts and all the other stuff.
The link to the FB Group we mention is here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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This week is a bit different as Scott has been away and Al partaking of his favourite pastime of 'extreme therapeutic parenting'. So we're releasing an interview we did with Molly earlier in the year. Molly is an adoptive parent and she shares her experience of adopting amidst lockdown as well as already having her her own biological child. Molly has actively used Instagram as a source of support and you can find her there as @MollyMamaAdopt. She shares her experience and insights on that platform and we decided that she would be the ideal person to unpick aspects of social media, adoption and adopters.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to adoption conversations, in this episode we pick up adopted adult, David Benjamin's, presentation at the Adoption and Fostering Podcast Conference at the end of 2021. The focus of the day was in relation to adoptees an their identity and David shares his perspective and experiences from that perspective. It is worth noting that it was a really emotive and powerful presentation and all who attended were impacted and moved by David, so look after yourself.
You can find out more about David on his website here as well as follow him on Twitter here and even listen to him on the Adoption: The Making of Me Podcast here.
On another note the audio quality isn't perfect and you can tell it was done in an echoey room but that eases as the conversation progresses.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we respond to a listeners question in relation to meeting adopted children's birth parents. We had a fantastic response on Facebook to the question and we also asked birth mother Charlotte (see this episode) to share her thoughts. We included her contribution via recorded message at the end of the podcast and really appreciate her contribution. Meeting parents can be a difficult for everyone involved and we unpick some of the issues and reflect on the shared comments and perspectives.
We also unpick some of the issues raised by the recent Somerset judgement and the impact on some prospective adopters and those with children just joined.
As always there's plenty of banter and inappropriate email shenanigans, as well we also announce an upcoming guest and ask for a little help from you.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this #WednesdayWebcast we chat to Charlotte Jenkins from Beacon Family Services.
Following on from last week's webcast we're looking at social work's response to children and families where children's behaviour is challenging and aggressive. Often the underlying issues and causes are complex and layered and the resources available to social workers can be limited. We unpick all of that and think about what social workers can do to be better.
Beacon House's website is here and there's a range of free resources that you can access there.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this podcast I speak to Lara an adult adoptee, and psychologist. She shares her story of a private UK adoption in the early 1970s.
Lara discusses her views on how her adoption impacted on her identity throughout her live and She is honest and open in relation to the challenges she experienced. Lara also also speaks of her experience of searching for her birth family. You can hear more Lara’s views on adoption and the issues that impacts on adopters and adoptees on her YouTube channel ‘Lara Leon, adoption and wellbeing’
Lara is hosting an event with Claire from How to be Adopted on the 4th March described below.
"We adoptees are exceptional chameleons. We are brilliant at adapting to our environments and at communicating with people of all walks of life. This is a wonderful social skill to have, and one of the reasons that adoptees often go far in their lives – after all, life is heavily influenced by how well we navigate our social situations. He who adapts survives right? So, why are we so good at it? And what are some of the drawbacks? In this webinar I will be talking about this topic and discussing some of the reasons that we adoptees in particular, are excellent at adapting. I will also be offering some thoughts about how to move away from this behaviour towards a more authentic way of living."
You can access joining details it here. Lara notes they're asking for donations but if people are struggling the just put £0 at the checkout.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
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Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
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In this #WednesdayWebcast we talk to Helen Bonnick about the condition of services that are now available to support families in relation to challenging and violent behaviour by children. We hope to talk about how things have developed, definitions and any developing areas of support.
You can see Helen's website Holes in the Wall here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this podcast we are joined by adoptive parent Elaine Amy, from that Twitter, and we open up a discussion in relation to adoptive parent’s responses to the changing landscape and criticisms of adoption. This is a conversation between adopters about adoption and that’s the focus of the conversation hence no adoptee voices.
We chat in relation to the questions of human rights, birth parent’s perspectives and our perspectives on the difficult issue of contact. We also discuss the challenges of supporting children when they have different views to their siblings as well as how our views have changed across our experience of being adopters .
It’s a fairly open discussion and looks at a range of topics that are a little less travelled, we would of course welcome any comments or thoughts on what we chat about.
We are always happy to hear from anyone who may have experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like to share your views of perspective please get in touch on Facebook, Twitter or email at aandfpodcasst@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this episode speaks to adoptive parent James and he shares his experience of adoption. James and his partner were assessed, matched and had a child moved in entirely during the lockdown and Scott discusses this as well as the the challenges of the adoption process.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
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Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
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In this #Wednesday Webcast we're speaking to Ade Larigo about the need to diversify adoption, and fostering, panels to reflect the children and families that they oversee. Her organisation Agency Connect seeks to work with LAs/RAAs/VAAs/IFAs to see this a reality and recruit a broad range of members from different ethnicities, cultures, faiths and heritages.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this special episode we catch up with Krish Kandiah a year on from him being appointed as the Chair of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board.
We ask about the year that we've had and what Krish's reflections are on the year, subjects covered, Adoption Strategy, RAAs, Self employment and adoption leave, therapy for adult adoptees and more questions that were given to us through Twitter. Krish also shares some of the work being done by the board in relation to supporting SGOs as well as racial disparity, specifically panel membership, he also reflects on some areas that they're looking to develop over the next year in relation to maintaining family links.
We hope you find it interesting and we appreciate Krish putting himself up to be questioned as the Twitterverse can be a little spikey.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this week's
WednesdayWebcast with Tris Casson-Rennie from FASD Ireland
In this episode we speak about why FASD IRL was started, the work that they do and the plans for the future.
If you want to find out more of what they do and get involved you can visit their website here.
Facebook www.facebook.com/diversityadopt
Instagram www.instagram.com/diversityadopt
Keeley Craw Counselling service https://instagram.com/mothershipcs Personal https//instagram.com/keeleycraw
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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So, following the 'success' and brutal honesty of last year's spousal episode we invited our respective other halves onto the podcast as we start the new year. Last year we looked at the impact of adoption on relationships and this year we're focusing on Therapy. We consider the trials and tribulations of accessing therapy, what therapy works, the impact on our children and the benefit to us. As always, it's a fun and frank exchange we talk about our own experiences and some of the challenges we've faced.
As we mention in the podcast you can visit the noborderstraining website and access links to some of the resources or you can DM us if you've any questions.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this Adoption Conversation Podcast we speak to adopted adult Fiona, she shares her experience of growing up as an adopted child in the 60s and 70s. Fiona is honest in relation to the impact on her and how her life was influenced by her experience of dislocation and lack of belonging. Ultimately Fiona hit rock bottom and she shares her experience of recovery from there. Fiona went on to be an adoptive parents herself and wrote about that and her experience in her book Adoption. You see it here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
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Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this podcast I speak to adoptive parent Holly, she shares her families experience of adoption and we focus on the impact on her biological child in the process. Holly was inspired to write a book to support children understanding why adopted children are unable to stay with there biological families. You can see the book, "Delly Duck: Why a little chick couldn't stay with his birth mother"here.
You can also follow her on FB here or take a look at her Website here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
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Our number one download this year!
This week we chat to Catherine Lockett, an associate of the National Association of Fostering Providers, in relation to the difficult issue of allegations against Foster Carers.
It is a difficult issue but a harsh reality for many carers and we discuss the prevalence and consider the impact of drift in resolution of investigations against carers. This is highlighted in the research that Catherine and the NAFP have undertaken. We discuss the issue at lengths and consider the underlying issues in relation to safer caring, needs of children as well as the impact on carer's families and on children in care themselves. We also look at how inconsistencies of approach as well as the impact on recruitment.
As always its a cracking and thought provoking chat that we hope you find helpful, as promised here's some links to the report as well as the training that Catherine's training on the issue.
Here's a link the NAPF best practice guide.
Here's a link to the latest UK Stats
Here's a link to Catherine's course
As always we're very happy to hear from you all and if you want to get in touch please email us at aandfpodcast@gmail.com or through our Twitter or Facebook page.
As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
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In this special we do our own version of a reaction video with Al counting down the top 5 most downloaded episodes of the year. It's quite a short Podcast and we've gone for quality over quantity and would like to acknowledge everyone who has kindly given their time, energy and story this year. We know for some of our contributors the've had to put their trust in us and taken a risk to share what have been incredibly important stories. So, again, thank you! Of course, we'd also like to thank everyone who downloaded, listened, contributed.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this podcast I speak to adoptive dad Dan, with his wife he adopted a child after failed infertility treatment. Dan shares their experience of approval and matching as well how he then went to build a support group for adoptive dads which now has over 50 members. You can get in touch with them here hertsdadadopters@yahoo.com
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
As per tradition we've got Becky back for the annual xmas podcast.
All the best laid plans go to pieces and we cast aside the planned chat and talk about the rise of adopted people's voices and some of the changes that we've seen this year in relation to education, or haven't seen. We draw the winner of the JKP quiz as well as point towards some future plans. Becky has a rather strong feeling in relation to the latest version of Home Alone.
There's plenty of bater and laughs as well as the usual Xmas quiz and the alternative queen's speech we hopefully offer a little festive cheer in what is another Xmas in complicated times.
If you'd like to share your adoption story or if there's a topic or guest you'd like us to include on the podcast then please get in touch through the aandfpodcast@gmail.com email.
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this podcast I speak to Maria an adult adoptee who shares her experience of adoption. Please not this is an difficult listen Maria's story is an example of illegal practice and reflects the impact it has had on her.
Maria describes discovering that she was adopted illegally and the challenges she’s faces trying to gather any information in relation to her biological family, She also speaks of the community that she is part of with that shared experience. You can find out more about Plan Angel here
You can also find Maria on Insta here and Plan Angel here
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
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In this week's podcast after a brief reflection on the Podcast Conference we look at the issue that has been dominating social media in the adoption community this week. One of Adoption UK's trustees wrote a blog that was published online, in national newspapers as well as informing a discussion on Radio 4's Woman's Hour. The issue was the issue of adoption disruption and the need for additional support for adopters. It's not the first time that the topic has been raised but in this case aspects of it's representation, confidentiality and presentation caused an unprecedented level of reaction with concerns being raised by the Scottish Children's Commissioner in relation to the piece.
In this podcast we invited Dawn Harker to chat with us about the issue at short notice and we consider the impact of the reports as well as trying to consider why this piece was so inflammatory. She speaks from a personal perspective as an adoptee.
If we're honest it was a difficult chat, we didn't want to add to the public shaming or to compound the oversharing of personal details. Consequently, we are at times very measured but as the conversation progresses we cast off some of those anxieties.
Please note, after we recorded it Adoption UK released a statement to acknowledge concerns and announce that the trustee has stepped down. We considered adding to the podcast but we basically ran out of steam. You can read it here.
As always if you'd like to share your thoughts or story then get in touch through the aandfpodcast@gmail.com email.
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this podcast I spoke to Nicola an adoptive mam to three children. She shares he story of adopting with her husband after years of infertility. They adopted twice and then were asked to adopt through the foster to adopt model.
Nicola is honest in relation to the challenges they’ve faced as well as their joy as adoptive parents.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this episode we speak to adopter Richard who, with his partner, adopted an older child. Richard discusses how he arrived at adoption and offers some fantastic insights into the preparation and assessment of adoptive parents as well as his passion to see older children adopted.
Richard is the founder and host of the Adoption Adventures Podcast and you can follow him on Twitter here.
We hope you find it thought provoking and as always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page
If you’ve a story of care or adoption and would like to share your perspective or experience then please do direct message us at our twitter feed here, our facebook page here or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
In this week's Wednesday Webcast we speak to social worker, adoptee and adopter Yoni Ejo and Psychologist Keeley Craw . talk about relation based play for adoptive parents and how to strengthen relationships with their children. They have a company, Adopting Diversity, and run a range of courses. On the 25th they're hosting a free webinar looking how play can support adoptive parents attachment to their children. To register for the webinar https://tinyurl.com/5xattachment
Also
Youtube http://bit.ly/YoniYoutube
Website www.diversityadopt.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/diversityadopt
Instagram www.instagram.com/diversityadopt
Keeley Craw Counselling service https://instagram.com/mothershipcs Personal https//instagram.com/keeleycraw
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this week's podcast we look at the issue of infertility, with infertility affecting the majority of adoptive parents pre adoption it's an issue that needs to be chatted about. So, we invited adopter Anya Sizer from the Fertility Network onto the podcast to share her experience as well as her professional knowledge on the issue and consider some of the impacts on many families. Of course theres banter and Anya has worked for AUK as well as Home for Good and is familiar with the sector.
We also catch up before the interview and engage in the usual chatter.
As always if you'd like to share your thoughts or story then get in touch through the aandfpodcast@gmail.com email.
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In this episode we speak to birth parent Sarah, she shares her experience of having children removed for adoption as well as going on to have further children that remain in her care. Sarah is open and honest in relation to the complexity of maintaining relationships and living with social care involvement.
We hope you find it thought provoking and as always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page
If you’ve a story of care or adoption and would like to share your perspective or experience then please do direct message us at our twitter feed here, our facebook page here or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode Al travels to Ireland and they record a podcast there! So, we catch up on the news and comings and goings over the last few weeks. That includes adult breastfeeding, gogglebox and Al's rejection from his RAA.
YouCanAdopt has been different this year and we reflect on the differences in marketing and some of the miss steps in marketing. That leads us nicely on to the ravages of social media and how adoption is framed in that context.
We also unpick some of the language around adoption and specifically the phrase 'adoption is trauma'. It's an emotive issue so be warned.
As always, if you've got thoughts or would like to share some ideas or your own story please get in touch through the aandfpodcast@gmail.com email or via the usual social media channels.
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Full credit for the intro/outro music to
Author:Dee Yan-Kee
Title:An Earraigh
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dee_Yan-Key/An_Siansa_hireann/03--An_Earraigh Comments: http://freemusicarchive.org/ Curator: Copyright: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this podcast we speak birth mum Sammy, she shares her experience of having her children removed, court processes and accessing support once they have gone.
If you’ve a story of care or adoption and would like to share your perspective or experience then please do direct message us at our twitter feed here, our facebook page here or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
As we're bang in the middle of #NationalAdoptionWeek we're really pleased to have Sarah Johal on the podcast. Sarah has recently been appointed as the "National strategic lead for adoption — Working Regional Adoption" and we speak to her in relation to what that role means and unpick some specific issues. We chat about contact, support, adoption apologies, raising the voices of adopted adults and more. It's well worth a listen and if you're a UK adopter there is a lot of content that will impact on you and your children.
Al remains mortified by his comment/question and has laid in a dark room ever since.
We hope you enjoy it and after #NAW is over we'll return to a more 'normal' schedule.
As always, if you've a story to tell or a view to express get in touch at aandfpodcast@gmail.com
Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this podcast I spoke to Louise an adopted adult and social worker who has adopted three children. Louise is honest in relation to her experiences and discusses her views on the assessment and preparation process as well as the challenges of contemporary adoption.
This podcast comes with a note of caution, Louise is open and honest in relation to negative impacts of adoption on her relationships as well as their families experience of adoption disruption. There’s no neat bow on this conversation.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
As it's #NationalAdoptionWeek next week so we thought we'd speak to Pam Hodgkins, adoptee, retired social worker, founder of NORCAP and MBE. Pam has a wealth of lived and professional experience to share and she kindly did that with us.
Pam shares her personal experiences of adoption and growing up in the 50s and 60s as an adoptee, she then shares her experience of searching for her birth parents and how that lead ultimately to the formation of NORCAP. We chat through the inconsistencies, and injustices, in the legislation and how they impact adopted people. Pam campaigned effectively for change but has returned from retirement to carry the banner again for adopted people. She shares her insightful views on the current campaign for an apology and her hopes that it will open a door to support for the older adoptees and their birth parent who are running out of time.
It's a long podcast so get a brew and a comfy chair, we'd hoped to release it as a prerecorded webcast (get us!) but our technology wasn't quite up to it.
We hope you find it interesting and as always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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We're really pleased to be speaking to Dr Karen Treisman this week. We've wanted to speak to Karen for a long time and it was a great opportunity to cover a whole range of issues and topics that are pertinent to adoption, fostering and kinship care. Karen discusses the impact of the pandemic on children and families as well as considering different therapeutic approaches with children and much more.
As always it's difficult topics but undertaken with humour, that doesn't diminish how seriously we take the subject.
You can see Karen's website here.
We hope you find it interesting and as always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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It's kinship care week so we asked Dr Paul Shuttleworth to come onto the #WednedsayWebcast to discuss his work and the subject of his research. Though Paul works for a range of organisations he's focusing on his Thesis: What matters to children living in kinship care: "another way of being a normal family"
You can read it here
We cover a lot of ground and it's full of the usual banter and humour but the discussion raises interesting conversations around the hierarchy of care, family culture, death, adversity and the nature of kinship care.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we unpick all things matching as well as cover a few current issues.
Matching can be one of the most stressful experiences for prospective adopters. With social workers stepping back after the busyness of stage 1 and 2, adopters are often frustrated by the process of matching and downhearted by the lack of progress through the RAA and Linkmaker. How do you get support or complain if there’s a problem? Knowing the number of children waiting for adoption is decreasing and the recruitment of adopters continues meaning there’s more adopters waiting than ever is hard.
We look at all of this and more.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this Wednesday Webcast we catch up with Carol Hunter and Aliy Brown from the FASD Hub Scotland to round up what has been a busy #FASD Awareness month.
Aliy updates us on the work of the Hub as well as reflects on the progress that has been made in relation to the general awareness both in the general public but as well as within services. Carol is open and honest both in relation to her own diagnosis and lived experience and the work that she does in education, raising awareness and supporting parents and children who have been impacted by alcohol exposure before birth.
You can access the Hub here as well the resources that they have.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this podcast we spoke to Becky a parent of two biological and one adoptive children. Becky shares their story of an unsuccessful adoption assessment that led to her and her husband having to repeat the process with a voluntary adoption agency. They were approved and half way through introductions the country went into the first lockdown.
This is an honest conversation and Becky describes some difficult experiences that they faced as a family on their adoption journey. Becky is also a social worker and shares her perspective on social work practice from that experience.
We hope you find it interesting and as always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
In this conversation we speak to Lynne who has experienced the loss of her children through adoption as well as foster care. Lynne is searingly honest in relation to her experiences and story and consequently we advise caution as you listen. It's a profound interview as well as a collection of other recordings that Lynne has done for other organisations in relation to some of her experiences.
We hope you find it thought provoking and as always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page
If you’ve a story of care or adoption and would like to share your perspective or experience then please do direct message us at our twitter feed here, our facebook page here or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
Be warned, there's swearing in the worst possible way in this episode, if it's not for you then steer clear. Seriously, we quote some pretty shocking stuff as well as some comical examples but you listen at your own peril.
We start with a round up of some of the latest goings on, the new report form the The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Adoption and Permanence and the comings and goings of ministerial changes are all discussed. Then we get to the main event all prompted by the report from the National Institute for Health Research on adoption children and PTSD. Well, as Scott would say, 'No S**T Sherlock'. This led us into a very frank discussion in relation to swearing. We know that not all adopted or fostered children swear but we talk about some of our challenging family experiences as well as some of the views and anecdotes shared by twitter with us.
This episode is not for everyone and we quote some examples that are beyond the pale so if it's not for you then don't listen. You've been warned.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we acknowledge that September is FASD awareness months and we speak to Jo Garofolo the founder of Voice in a Million and she tell us about the upcoming documentary she has produced looking specifically at FASD The Hidden Disability which will be streaming on September the 9th here on VIMTV .
We chat about Jo's experience of becoming a parent though adoption as well as the work that she achieves through Voice in a Million. As always there's plenty of chat and banter.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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For clarification 'Male Grooming' was the phrase that Al was looking for in the intro and outro.
In this episode we speak to Professor Julie Selwyn academic, social worker and author of several key academic studies and reports including the seminal Beyond the Adoption Order.
Julie shares her experience as a professional and how that influenced her later academic research as well as the impact of what is now seen as a seminal report for the adoption community 'Beyond the Adoption Order'. We chat about the lead up to the report, it's impact and legacy as well as considering adoption 6 years on from that report and where we're at now.
Please note, after we recorded and Julie checked the stats she recalled from memory during the interview and asked that this correction was popped in:
"I was correct with 50% of 4-7yrs don't know why they're in care and it is 46% of 8-10yrs, but I think I said a third for the 11-17yrs group when it is 22%"
We really enjoyed chatting to Julie and her depth of knowledge and insight and hope you did too. If you like the podcast we'd really appreciate a review on iTunes as it helps get more people listening to us. If you're up for that then pop here and it will only take a minute.
Also, while you're here you could pop along here to The No Borders podcast and listen to some helpful stuff re supporting resilience training.
As always we're very happy to hear from you all and if you want to get in touch please email us at aandfpodcast@gmail.com or through our Twitter or Facebook page.
As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
In this episode of Adoption Conversations we speak to adopter Peggy and birth parent Laura in relation to their experience of creating an open an ongoing relationship to best support the needs of the two children they are parents to. Their full story can be heard on another podcast, Two Good Mums, so here we open up some of the less talked about challenges in what is a really honest and open conversation.
You can find their social media links here.
Two Good Mums Podcast - https://anchor.fm/twogoodmums Twitter - https://twitter.com/TwoGoodMums Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/twogoodmums Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/twogoodmums Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/twogoodmums/ Website - https://www.twogoodmums.co.uk/ Laura's Book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Baby-Mine-Birthmothers-Journey-Adoption/dp/B096TTRZJ9 We hope you find it enlightening and as always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page
If you’ve a story of care or adoption and would like to share your perspective or experience then please do direct message us at our twitter feed here, our facebook page here or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this, slightly unusual episode, Al speaks to adoptive parent and teacher Carol about the themes and narratives that are portrayed in literature and media representations of adoption. It an interesting conversation and everyone who's life has been impacted by adoption will have seen how adoption can be represented in, often, less than helpful ways.
We hope you find it thought provoking and as always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page
If you’ve a story of care or adoption and would like to share your perspective or experience then please do direct message us at our twitter feed here, our facebook page here or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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This week we speak to Dr Amber Elliot about her book 'SuperParenting'. It's a refreshing look at therapeutic parenting and we were given free copies to review so we thought we would.
To help us along we also invited Elaine Amy from that Twitter to join in as she'd actually read it in depth and had some insight to share. As the conversation progressed we spoke in more general terms in relation to caring for children with complex needs and behaviours as well as the usual level of banter.
There's also a competition to give the book away and if you know the answer to the question that's posed then pop us a DM for a chance to win. Or you could buy it here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we speak to Annalisa and Shania the founders of Adoptee Futures. They share the story of they how they came together as well as their hopes for the organisation and how it can be a positive environment to develop wider understanding of the adoptee experience in social workers, adoptive parnents and beyond.
As always, we go where the conversation takes us and we touch on a raft of issues that are relevant including the 'fog' that is often referred to within the adoptee community as well as how we can centre the adoptee voice in policy making, adoptee preparation and all aspects of this community.
Shania and Annalise also share with us there plans for specific workshops that they are doing to start that process of centring the adoptee voice and you can find details on their website here.
Here's some specific links as well.
Website: https://www.adopteefutures.org/
Services: https://www.adopteefutures.org/services
Workshops https://www.adopteefutures.org/workshops
LGBTQIA+ & Adopted series (new blog post every Wednesday) https://www.adopteefutures.org/blog There are a few internet blips on this podcast but they are minor and infrequent so hang in there it was a four way call!
Also, while you're here you could pop along here to The No Borders podcast and listen to some helpful stuff re supporting resilience/NVR and Transitions training.
As always we're very happy to hear from you all and if you want to get in touch please email us at aandfpodcast@gmail.com or through our Twitter or Facebook page.
As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
Hi, In this episode we take the opportunity to catch up with AUK's Becky Brooks and talk about the Adoption Barometer. We also asked her to share a few thoughts on the recently released Adoption Strategy.
We chat through specific elements such as education and ongoing support but the main thrust of the discussion was the contribution of adult adoptees to the Barometer. These focus largely on the transition to adulthood for adoptees and we discuss the specific challenges that families face in relation to access to appropriate support and services. As always with Becky it's an interesting and fun discussion with her passion shining through the minor bickering of Scott and Al.
If you like the podcast we'd really appreciate a review on iTunes as it helps get more people listening to us. If you're up for that then pop here and it will only take a minute.
Also, while you're here you could pop along here to The No Borders podcast and listen to some helpful stuff re supporting resilience training.
As always we're very happy to hear from you all and if you want to get in touch please email us at aandfpodcast@gmail.com or through our Twitter or Facebook page.
As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
In this week's episode of conversation we speak to Foster Carer Antony, he is one half of a same sex couple who foster. In this conversation, Antony tells us about his experience of close family being taken into care, how he reacted, and how it helped him to travel along his own road to becoming a foster carer.
We talk more about that, and how they all coped with a placement before the first lockdown and what that meant to how they were able to support the child in their care.
We also discuss growing up as part of the LGBT community, becoming a parent, and LGBT issues around parenting.
We hope you find it thought provoking and as always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page
If you’ve a story of care or adoption and would like to share your perspective or experience then please do direct message us at our twitter feed here, our facebook page here or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
Google here
Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode we unpack the newly released DfE National Adoption Strategy for England. It can be read here
We consider how it was put together and the specific parts of the document. Clearly, there's a lot to unpick in it but we look at the high points that were apparent on first reading.
If you like the podcast we'd really appreciate a review on iTunes as it helps get more people listening to us. If you're up for that then pop here and it will only take a minute.
Also, while you're here you could pop along here to The No Borders podcast and listen to some helpful stuff re supporting resilience training.
As always we're very happy to hear from you all and if you want to get in touch please email us at aandfpodcast@gmail.com or through our Twitter or Facebook page.
As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast. In this episode we speak to Pete and he shares his experience of adopting with his wife. They adopted one child after unsuccessful fertility treatment and have gone on to adopt again recently.
Their story reflects a positive experience and with them navigating the assessment and matching process with relative ease, its their story and reflects their views.
We hope you find it enlightening and as always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page
If you’ve a story of care or adoption and would like to share your perspective or experience then please do direct message us at our twitter feed here, our facebook page here or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
Google here
Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
In this week's episode we reflect back on the response to the interview with Josh MacAlister, to say it's been 'mixed' is fair. We also look at recent research on adoption disruption and consider the findings they highlight. If you can get access it can be found here
Its a ranging chat and we catch up with some of the recent news and unpick what's going on with what seems like a growing 'adoption influencer' culture and the dreaded oversharing. We all chat through some aspects of Transracial adoption.
As always we're very happy to hear from you all and if you want to get in touch please email us at aandfpodcast@gmail.com or through our Twitter or Facebook page.
As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
In this episode Scott chats to adoptee Rebekah, she was adopted in the late 70's by a family that did not share her ethnicity and she shares her views and experiences.
You can connect to Rebekah and the work she does on Facebook here
Or at her HappyMarlo website here
or on instagram via @happymarlolife
We hope you find it enlightening and as always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
As always, the views expressed are his and reflect his experience and thoughts on adoption.
You can also listen to the podcast:
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In this week's episode we stretch out a little and speak to Josh McAlister the Chair of the Independent Review of Children's Social Care in England.
Understandably, there's been a lot of interest in the care review and as it's been billed as a 'once in a generation' opportunity. When the review was announced we asked Josh to come on and we arranged to speak to him to coincide with the release of the interim report. So, that what this is an interview with Josh that reflects the work done so far. Many people with experience of social care are following it closely and there is a high level of criticism from some quarters. There are many concerns being raised in relation to the timings, limitations and intentions of the review and we do discuss them with Josh.
We're not Newsnight and our manner is conversational. We wanted a discussion rather than an interview and to that end we achieved what we set out for. Of course there were a myriad of other questions that we could have pressed him on but time was limited and we did reflect the questions that were passed to us through our Facebook page here.
If you want to read The Case for Change you can do so here.
We hope you find it enlightening and as always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
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In this webcast we announce our latest project, No Borders Training (visit website here) With No Borders we want to provided easily accessible training, events and resources for parents, carers and professionals. We want to step out of the adoption and fostering world and look at a broader range of issues that impact on children and those who care for them. We’ll be getting experts and professionals to come on and share nuggets of information that will be helpful and hopefully open up discussion and conversation about topics that matter. You can also listen to our new "The No Borders Podcast" as well to find out more about what we're doing and find some practical advice on specific issues. You can find details our website which is Noborderstraining.org or on iTunes here You can contact us on NoBordersTraining@gmail.com
In this episode we speak to Shania a young black adopted woman and she shares her experience of Adoption. Shania is the co founder of Adoptee Futures and an advocate and campaigner for greater awareness of the realities of contemporary adoption and during this podcast she is open and honest in her views. You can find links to Adoptee Futures here and their twitter feed here.
We hope you find it enlightening and as always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
This week we're back in the same room recording to our heart's content. We discuss the call for a national apology for forced adoption from the 50s,60s and 70. Scott talks about his little gig at the Adoptee Futures event at the festival of debate (watch here) and we unpick the thorny, but far too frequent, issue of adoptive families being pulled into safeguarding proceedings.
As always we're very happy to hear from you all and if you want to get in touch please email us at aandfpodcast@gmail.com or through our Twitter or Facebook page.
As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
Not a normal episode but Scott has a chat with Joanne Alper, friend of the show, and Director at Adoptionplus, a part of Barnardos.
Adoptionplus is known for being a very therapeutic voluntary adoption agency, with a real focus on new innovations and ideas, and it was a pleasure to chat to Joanne about their pilot of STEP.
STEP – Supporting Tracking and Evaluating Progress is a new Digital Tool that helps Parents to track their families progress in terms of support and interventions, including therapeutic support. The initial Pilot will be in partnership with regional adoption agency, Adopt East.
Joanne hopes to see more RAA’s coming forward to consider STEP as a way of being able to support families in the future.
We talk security of data, how it works, what parents have to do, and what happens with the information they provide.
As ever Joanne is enthusiastic about this new innovative idea, and in Scott’s eyes, this is a useful tool that will help families to know when they may need additional support, and not wait until they are in crisis.
For the usual podcast we’re always very happy to hear from you all and if you want to get in touch please email us at aandfpodcast@gmail.com or through our Twitter or Facebook page.
As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
I this episode we speak to Marie an adult intercountry adoptee and she shares her experience and views on contemporary adoption. Marie discusses issues of identity and belonging as well as the work that she does with www.intercountryadopteevoices.com and you can also find her at @scribbleyoga on twitter.
It's Marie's story and views and, as always, if you would like to share your story, then please do contact us on our social media platforms, or via email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
In this episode we focus on the experience of going to panel. It's a nerve wracking and challenging experience for many adopters and Kat shares some of her experiences and offers insight into Panel from her perspective as a panel member and an adoptee. We discuss the process, the challenges, quality of PARs and a whole raft of aspects of what impacts on the panel's function. Kat also shares some of her experiences of being an adoptee and her perspective on adoption generally. It's a great chat and rest assured, Al is sorry for the interruption of his daughter through FaceTime!
As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
In this episode of adoption conersations Scott speaks to adoptee Simon Benn coach and speaker. Simon is coach and speaker and shares his experience of adoption as well as how he started to consider the implications for him in his 40s.
As always, the views expressed are his and reflect his experience and thoughts on adoption.
If you would like to share your story, then please do contact us on our social media platforms, or via email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
In this weeks webcast we speak to David Benjamin adoptee and therapist who specialises in trauma. David often shares his experience and perspective on adoption preparation groups. He’s come on the webcast to share his views and thought on preparation of adopters and broader adoption issues.
As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this episode we speak to adult transracial adoptee Vik, she shares her experience of growing up in a community that had little representation of herself and some of the challenges that precipitated. She is open an honest in relation to her experience and how it had informed her broader perspective in relation to adoption.
If you would like to share your story, then please do contact us on our social media platforms, or via email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
In this Episode we have a good old chat about the subject matter of the recent recruitment drive for adopters, Siblings. It's an emotive issue and as parents of siblings Scott and Al reflect on the issue from a range of perspectives and consider challenges that can manifest. We also look at the issues of contact raised in the Radio 4 interview as well as the well raised points on social media relating to the centrality, or lack thereof, of the adoptee perspective in that and the newspaper article later in the week.
There's also talk of pants!
As always we're very happy to hear from you all and if you want to get in touch please email us at aandfpodcast@gmail.com or through our Twitter or Facebook page.
As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
This is our third Alternative Adoption Preparation Webcast and we invite Social Worker, Richard March, on to share his views.
Unfortunately we has some sort of technical glitch that impacted on some parts of his audio. So, rather than scrap it all Scott and Al did a short summary of the conversation and have included it for those who want to unpick it. We will get Richard back on as his knowledge and insight were spot on and we would love to have an unrestricted chat.
As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
In this, the 2nd episode, from Scottish Adoption I Arran and Dani young adopted adults from the Teen Talk project start to develop some of the themes that they started last week. They share parts of their stories and their perspectives on them, they also start to consider the impact of adoption on them as well as the broader system around adoption. Again, it's unedited or choreographed discussion and they shared what they wanted in their way. Many thanks to them and we hope that we'll hear from Dani and Arran, as well as some of their Teen Talk colleagues in the future.
As you're here the details for the NVR informed parenting that we're putting on. 9:30 to 1pm 20th/21st May Tickets£50 - book yours now - as limited spaces. Get booking: bit.ly/3sZNhje As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
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In our second #wednsedayWebcast 'Alternative' Adoption Preparation we speak to Viki McKeown a therapist and social worker.
We chat about the need for early support and raising awareness of the implications of early trauma on children's behaviour. Viki works with many children and families and shares her views on what ways we can support adoptive families better.
Viki's website is here
As you're here the details for the NVR informed parenting that we're putting on.
9:30 to 1pm 20th/21st May
Tickets£50 - book yours now - as limited spaces.
Get booking: bit.ly/3sZNhje
As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
In this episode Mel from Scottish Adoption introduces Arran and Dani young adopted adults from the Teen Talk project and they share some of their views on contemporary adoption specifically their thoughts on the adoption and care system. This is the first of a few episodes where we hand over the reigns to them. There's no editing, censoring or direction just their views.
As you're here the details for the NVR informed parenting that we're putting on. 9:30 to 1pm 20th/21st May Tickets£50 - book yours now - as limited spaces. Get booking: bit.ly/3sZNhje
As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
In what is a new series of #WednesdayWebcast we are looking at adoption preparation starting with perspectives from people with first hand lived experience and insight into adoption. This week we speak to Cat Theresa a psychologist and adult adoptee about her views on preparing adoptive parents.
Over the next few weeks we're going to speak to therapists, social workers, adopters and panel members as we chart the journey to adoption and overall preparation for prospective adoptive parents.
Cat's Internet threw her out of the webcast a few times but fear not they were only minor breaks.
As you're here the details for the NVR informed parenting that we're putting on. 9:30 to 1pm 20th/21st May Tickets£50 - book yours now - as limited spaces. Get booking: bit.ly/3sZNhje As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
In this episode we speak to Dave the FOUNDER of Madlug, they provide bags for children in care to promote dignity and value for those children. Dave shares the origin story and the underlying values, ethos and vision as well as being a great guest and good sport. You can visit their website here
As well, Al is eternally shamed for his dark cynical heart and we are then drawn into a somewhat bizarre discussion in relation to children and spoons.
As always we're very happy to hear from you all and if you want to get in touch please email us at aandfpodcast@gmail.com or through our Twitter or Facebook page.
As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
This week we speak to Damian an adult adoptee. He shares his experience of growing up with the knowledge of his adoption and the personal challenges that brought. He is open and honest in sharing some of the difficulties he faced with his mental heath as well as his path to a very recent reunion.
Of course, we'd recommend caution as this contains some especially difficult issues that some listeners may find upsetting.
If you’ve a story of care or adoption and would like to share your perspective or experience then please do direct message us at our twitter feed here or on our facebook page here.
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
Google here
Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
Welcome to Conversations from the Adoption & Fostering podcast.
This week we are talking to Shushma an adoptive parent. Shushma's story is unconventional in relation to fostering and transracial adoption and certainly raises questions about finding the right family for children regardless of how that looks. It's a short episode and you can find a link to Shushma book and social media here:
Layla’s Life, My Words
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laylas-Life-My-Words-Spectrum/dp/1716418933/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Layla+life+my+words&qid=1615133120&s=books&sr=1-1 https://www.facebook.com/fasdparent https://instagram.com/laylaslife_mywords
Blog https://justabritishasiangirllivingherlife.blogspot.com/ If you would like to share your story, then please do contact us on our social media platforms, or via email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
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In this episode we speak to Sandy Harper who is looking to carry out research on the impact of fostering on foster carers. We're also joined by, friend of the show and foster carer, Ema Mortimer to offer some lived experience and insight.
Sandy would like to hear from foster carers about what stresses and challenges they experience, and what strengths, resilience, and reflective abilities they have to be able to persevere. If you'd like to be involved it the research it is an anonymous study and you need to email Sandy at alexandra.harper@hmc.ox.ac.uk
We chat about the general experience of foster carers and some of the specific challenges and difficulties that are often faced by carers. We also engage in humour, banter, talk about fridge inspections and Tim the hamster, you know the usual stuff!
As always we're very happy to hear from you all and if you want to get in touch please email us at aandfpodcast@gmail.com or through our Twitter or Facebook page.
As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
In this, a podcast special, Scott and Jacob interview the author of the book 'Foster Boy'. Rhian is a social worker in CAHMS and this is her first book reflection her knowledge and experience of children's experiences in care.
You can buy the books here
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fosterboy-Rhian-Taylor/dp/183816202X
https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Fosterboy-by-Rhian-Taylor-author/9781838162023
If you would like to share your story or experience, then please do contact us on our social media platforms, or via email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
This was the first episode in our mini series - “How’s your Lockdown Hun”. There were some slight audio issues for Scott in this episode, and therefore we have attempted to improve the sound quality… however, it still sounds like Scott is in a tin can in outer space. Polly Penter is our first guest, and more than makes up for Scott’s audio. Sharing her experience of the last year, how it has impacted her, as well as touching briefly on keeping in touch remotely with all of her parents and family. As ever, Polly was a fab guest, and lots of laughs to be had too, over what is a serious topic.
If you would like to share your story, then please do contact us on our social media platforms, or via email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
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Hi, in this episode we get the smashing Dr Marie Kershaw on to answer listener's questions. It'a a lighthearted but really helpful and informed conversation and we were delighted to have her back on after a four year gap! Thanks for all the questions we received, we hopefully were able to consider them all in the ones we asked and as Marie notes, without more specific information it's hard to give specific personalised answers. However, we do manage to open up some ideas and thought on solutions and what may be going on.
As always we're very happy to hear from you all and if you want to get in touch please email us at aandfpodcast@gmail.com or through our Twitter or Facebook page.
As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
In our final “How’s your Lockdown Hun?” Scott chatted to childhood friend, Westend star and adult adoptee Shone White. Talking candidly like friends would in the Pub (remember them) they talk all things Lockdown, and how it has affected Shona and her counterparts in the arts. As ever, the technophobe Scott couldn’t work out how to do various things, including sharing the photo from 1980 of the two of them in Primary School, but be assured, Shona was open and honest about how the Lockdowns have affected her, and how it will continue for years to come.
As ever, this is their perspectives and views, some listeners may see similarities in some of their experiences.
If you would like to share your story, then please do contact us on our social media platforms, or via email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
Welcome to Conversations from the Adoption & Fostering podcast.
This week we are talking to Thelma a graduate of the Pause Programme. Thelma shares some of her experience of being in care and having some of her children in care. Thelma is also works as a peer mentor with Pause and supports other parents with similar experiences.
It's a short episode but it touches on emotive issues so please be mindful of that.
If you would like to share your story, then please do contact us on our social media platforms, or via email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
In what can only be described as experimental podcasting Scott has branched out on his own to chat to a few folks with lived experience of adoption and fostering to as how they've faired in Lockdown.
In episode 2 of “How’s your Lockdown Hun?” – we have fixed Scott’s audio issues…. and Scott chatted to Daniel, an adopted adult. The plan was to talk about how lockdown has been for Daniel and his family, and there is certainly some messages in there about how Daniel coped with it all, however, the conversation was really influenced by Daniel not finding out he was adopted until he was 26 years old. Daniel is only 35 now. I am sure you can imagine how interesting this conversation was, and it certainly wasn’t the plan to talk as deeply about all of the experiences of Daniel – however, it was definitely a story that we all need to hear. Catch Daniel on Twitter @dnlbshp
Next week Scott is joined by “friend of the show”, West End Star, Adult Adoptee, Scott’s childhood friend – Shona White (@SingingHaggis). Next Wednesday – LIVE and FREE at 8pm.
In what can only be described as experimental podcasting Scott has branched out on his own to chat to a few folks with lived experience of adoption and fostering to as how they've faired in Lockdown.
As ever, this is their perspectives and views, some listeners may see similarities in some of their experiences.
If you would like to share your story, then please do contact us on our social media platforms, or via email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
This week we speak to the CEO of Adoption Focus Anna Sharkey, Scott had asked her on to speak to us in relation to early permanence and foster to adopt. Anna runs the Triangle Project as part of Adoption Focus and she speak with authority in relation to the work that they do, how and why the do it and detail about some of the challenges. Anna is generous in sharing some of her personal story and her link to adoption as well.
We also get time to reflect on the 'Moonpig incident' and even though we're a bit 'meh' we were surprised to get a direct apology on Twitter. Slightly odd as we didn't even complain. To add to this there's talk of wildlife shenanigans, a nerf gun and more.
As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
Welcome to Conversations from the Adoption & Fostering podcast.
This week we are talking to Whitney, a 22 year old Care Experienced Adult. We came across Whitney on Social Media, when she posted openly and honestly about her experience of being permanently excluded from education, with images of reports and information (that she had carefully concealed personal details on), and were intrigued by Whitney’s openness and honesty.
Whitney tells me all about her earlier life, and her early experiences of social workers and professionals being in her life, but unaware why, her foster care experience, homelessness, mental health, being educated in a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), and her experiences of the court system, police, and ultimately prison.
Whitney also discusses her sibling being adopted, and how the severing of this link has affected her, and continues to.
There is much more discussed in Whitney’s story, these are just some of the topics we explore.
As ever, this is Whitney’s story, and her experience, and some listeners may see similarities in some of their experiences, but Whitney was clear that she wanted to share in the detail she has, and is fully supported in that from her Support Network.
If you would like to share your story, then please do contact us on our social media platforms, or via email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
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In this week's #WednesdayWebcast we chat to Adele Bates a teacher, speaker, writer and educator for students with emotional and behavioural difficulties. In what can only be described as 'freewheeling' conversation Adele shares some of her journey to specialising as she does and how her own experience of difference has given her insight to the experience of some of her pupils. We also reflect on many children's experiences in school and the challenges they experience. It is LGBTQ+ fostering and adoption week and we cover that as well as lots of other stuff. Adele is a great guest and we look forward to having her back on in the future when her book is released. You can find her on Twitter here.
As you're here the details for the Practice/Learning Half day: Managing Challenging and Aggressive Behaviour 12th March Tickets start from £25.00 - book yours now - as limited spaces. eventbrite.co.uk/e/135339717739 As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
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This week we're really pleased to speak to Beverly Barnett-Jones MBE from the Nufield Family Justice Observatory. We invited her on to speak about the research that she's been undertaking in looking at updating the contact system to a digital one. We chat about all kinds of stuff before we get to that including the #CareReview and early support for struggling families but we then get onto discussing the benefits of digital letterbox system as well as the challenges around the current system and the potential pitfalls. Bev was a great guest and Al is sorry for being cheeky and will be in the naughty corner for the next episode. If you want to get in touch with Bev her email is bbarnett-jones@nuffieldfoundation.org
In a few weeks Dr Marie Kershaw is coming on and we're looking for questions to ask her so if you've got any that you'd like to share (it can be anonymous) then email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com . If you've got anything you'd like to say or ask in general then you can email us there too.
As you're here the details for the Practice/Learning Half day: Managing Challenging and Aggressive Behaviour 12th March Tickets start from £25.00 - book yours now - as limited spaces. eventbrite.co.uk/e/135339717739 As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this episode we’re sharing the seminar that Dawn Harker gave at our recent online converence. It was really insightful and everyone who heard it noted how it had opened their eyes to new perspectives on the adoptees views.
It was so good we felt that it was a shame to not share it so we’ve added it to our normal podcast here. Dawn wasn’t asked filter or edit her perspective or talk and Consequently, it’s her own views and answers to questions that were put to her at the end of the session.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
In this week's #WednesdayWebcast, a half term special, we chat to former teacher, trainer and life coach guru Ruth all things about emotional intelligence including how to build and develop it in yourself. Self-awareness is a key part of parenting and especially caring for children with challenging behaviour. It's a really helpful chat and very thought provoking. Take a listen and follow ruth on twitter @ruthCoaching As you're here the details for the Practice/Learning Half day: Managing Challenging and Aggressive Behaviour 12th March Tickets start from £25.00 - book yours now - as limited spaces. eventbrite.co.uk/e/135339717739
As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
After several weeks of serious guests we take slight detour and unpick some of the issues that have been floating round the news recently. We chat about the short twitter poll we took considering the impact of adoption on adopters relationships. Al Blagged his way onto the ASGLB away day and reports back and think about Special Guardians as well as consider the National Minimum Standards, the ASF and more. We also get pulled into the long grass in relation to a whole host of other things too, plenty of #InfoBanter.
In a few weeks Dr Marie Kershaw is coming on and we're looking for questions to ask her so if you've got any that you'd like to share (it can be anonymous) then email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com . If you've got anything you'd like to say or ask in general then you can email us there too.
As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
In this week's #WednesdayWebcast we chat to Fran Lucas and Ellie Costello from Square Pegs and we talk about barriers to school attendance. It's an issue that faces many families for a broad range of reasons. We talk about how it is framed, described and dealt with be schools as well as considering the primary focus of Square Pegs which is to campaign to see effective change for families. You can visit their website here. As you're here the details for the Practice/Learning Half day: Managing Challenging and Aggressive Behaviour 12th March Tickets start from £25.00 - book yours now - as limited spaces. eventbrite.co.uk/e/135339717739
As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this episode we speak to Ahmed, he arrived in the Uk aged 14 unaccompanied and found himself living on the streets. He shares his experiences of foster care and the immigration process. It’s his story and perspective and opens a window into an area that we’ve not looked at before.
We hope you find it enlightening and as always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
In this week's #WednesdayWebcast we chat about the impact of challenging behaviour and give a little preview to the practice day we're holding as below: Practice/Learning Half day - 12th March Managing Challenging and Aggressive Behaviour. Tickets start from £25.00 - book yours now - as limited spaces. eventbrite.co.uk/e/135339717739
As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
We chat to Hugh Thornbery the Chair of Trustees of Become, consultant to the ASLB and former CEO of Adoption UK. Hugh has been involved in the adoption sector for several years and share with us the genesis of the current policy and political position on adoption as well as his reflections from his time as the CEO of Adoption UK and working with the previous chair of the ASGLB. He bring insight and perspective to the challenges that the sector faces as well as offering some thought on the recently announced care review, it's chair and the perspectives from those with care experience.
As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
This week we chat to Jane Pickthall, virtual school head, and she reflects on the learning and challenges that many young people face who are also fostered and previously looked after. Jane discussed the work that she does to ensure that school is a safe environment for children and how she has built a multidisciplinary team within her virtual school staff team to meet the needs of the children under her care.
Jane is passionate and we touch on a range of issues including the benefits of lockdown for some young people and the impact on results, post 16 education for children and how the Virtual School should be a champion for children.
As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
Welcome to conversations from the Adoption & Fostering podcast
In this conversation Scott has a really interesting discussion with Birth Mum Charlotte and Adoptive Mum Kerrie. It is a unique story, and one that left him speechless.
Charlotte and Kerrie have established a relationship in the hope of it benefitting their son, and what began as a facebook message has now developed into something clearly quite special for everyone.
Whilst still early days for everyone, Kerrie felt it right that Charlotte should always be involved in their sons life, and with support on both sides they have embarked on a more open adoption.
Both Mums were a joy to talk to, and I don’t mind admitting to some eye leakage from myself during the conversation. It would spoil it for you to say much more before you listen…
It’s their story and reflects their views and experiences and If you’d like to share your story please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
This week we speak to Helen Townsend from Beacon House, she comes on to share the work that they do as well as point us to the broad range of free resources that they create for families that live with vulnerable children that have experienced trauma, loss and separation. Helen also discusses how to help families caught up in lockdown challenges and struggling to meet the needs of families as well as care for vulnerable children. Additionally, she has made some resources to go with her chat and they can be found here.
Helen also work for Inner World Works and they can be found here.
In many ways Al didn't quite reach his usual standards this week, both in paying attention and WiFi stability, and consequently will be sat in the naughty corner til the next episode.
If you want to comment or get in touch you can email us at AandFPodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
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In this week's episode we have an exclusive chat with the Adoption and Special Guardianship Board's new Chair Krish Kandiah (@KrishK). It's his first interview since coming into the role and we put to him as many of the questions that had been sent to us as time would allow. We asked specific questions in relation to his experience as well as his views and hopes on a range of issues that are pertinent to his role and matter to the community. We'd love your feedback and to know what you think, we liked the interview and are hopeful for his tenure but, like in all things, we'll have to see what happens.
As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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We've started up the #WednsedayWebcast again as we're all at home bored. We thought we'd start with Stuart(@stuart_guest) Headteacher and adoptive parent as he can offer some insights into the challenges of maintaining education both at home and school. We chat about a broad range of different challenges that many families are facing as well as offering some insights to the impact on children and what the long term implication of remote learning may be.
Stuart also shares his top five tips for remote learning that he has come up with that you can also find on his blog here.
It is a fantastic chat with a few audio blips and lots of questions from live viewers that Stuart tries to answer.
If you want to comment or get in touch you can email us at AandFPodcast@gmail.com
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
Earl and his wife are US citizens living in the UK and in this episode they share their story of their unconventional route to adoption in the UK.
Earl has also written an account of their journey "Our Road to Adoption: The Story of our Family and the Great Family of God"and you can find it here.
It’s their story and reflects their views and experiences and If you’d like to share your story please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
Happy New Year! In this Episode we take a leap of faith and Scott and Al invite our better halves onto the podcast. We look at the impact of parenting on relationships. With us considering how we manage stress differently, the challenge of working with other professional and the unexpected twists and turns of adoptive parenting. It is a candid episode as we discuss our personal experiences and open up more than we’ve done before! Surprisingly, we’re all still talking.
As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this, our fifth Christmas special, we planned to unwrap the festive season with a light hearted banter filled episode on the joys of fostering and adoption in the Christmas season. However, in what can only be described as a flurry of controversy we get drawn into the leaked/botched ASF announcement (huzzah, good news!) as well as Becky's views on the Children's Commissioner. We then limp through a feeble attempt at a quiz and end in a glorious 'alternative adoption Queen's speech' from a fabulous surprise guest.
Generally all good though Beck does sound as though she's underwater at points that was either tech problems or egg nog.
As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
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Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast. In this episode Angela shares her story shares her story of losing two children to adoption. It a difficult story to listen to and raises challenging issues from a range of perspectives. As such we advise caution before listening, you can get in touch and see further developments in her story by following her on twitter here.
It’s her story and reflects her views and experiences and if you’d like to share your story please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
In what is a UK and England centric #WednesdayWebcast we catch up on what has been a busy news week, as short and to the point podcast.
We chat about the new appointee to the Adoption & Special Guardianship Leadership Board and consider the challenges set before them. Also, we consider the lack of news in relation to the continuation of the Adoption Support Fund and who will be leading the promised Care Review and who should be leading it.
Finally, we consider the controversy around physical chastisement and the proposed Children's Commissioner.
Al was away from home so his voice is through some low quality earbuds hence the quality differential.
As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we chat to Sarah Lloyd who has developed the Buss model of physiotherapy for children who experienced early adversity. She brings with her Parents Ruth Coppin and Vicky Holland and they share their experience of utilising the model and the benefits that it brought to their children. There's a link to her book here.
It's a great interview and really helpful to rethink the impact of early adversity and how to help restore children. We also chat about the latest news and indulge in a little light banter after the main interview.
As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Welcome to conversations from the Adoption & Fostering podcast
In this conversation I talk with Lucy. Lucy is a transracial adoptee, and contacted us following our Wednesday webcasts wanting to share her story.
Lucy tells us more background into her own experience – being born in Hong Kong and adopted and subsequently raised by white british parents.
Lucy also tells us about her experience of racism and identity, as well as being one member of a group of Transracial Foundlings from Hong Kong, and with the other foundlings, taking part in a group run by the British Association of Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) – now CoramBAAF.
We hope you enjoy the conversation, and If you have a story you would like to share, then why not drop us a line on any of our social media channels, and while you are here, if you could leave a review on the Podcast app – we would really appreciate it.
As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we wrap up our conference feedback, and get drawn into what has been a busy old news week.
The outgoing Children's Commissioner has made some pretty honest remarks that lead us into fostering recruitment. From there we consider the ongoing government spending review, the Article 39 ruling on the Covid amendments to social care legislation and then wrap up some thought on the lazy newspaper trope of poor couples being not allowed to adopt. We comment of the lack of news on the ASF and fostering as a career.
Scott reflects on the passion of Jan Slater, friend, colleague and adoption practitioner, and we try to ask some difficult questions of ourselves in relation to our lack of understanding of some people's perspectives.
Here's links to the news articles we chatted about.
Hertfordshire Mercury
Bristol Post
As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode of Conversations Shama shares her experience of adopting with her husband. Over eight years they adopted four children all in very different circumstances.
As always, it Shama's story and we've purposely focused on that so the episode reflects her experience. If you'd like to share your experience and perspective on adoption, from any position, please get in touch through our Facebook page, Twitter feed or email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
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In this episode we speak to Dr Peter Jakob, Clinical Psychologist, Family Therapist and Director of PartnershipProjects. We focus on his work as an Non Violence Practitioner and discuss some of the underlying challenges many families face in managing challenging or self destructive behaviour. The discussion focuses on some aspects of NVR and looks at repairing connections and the impact of trauma on families. Peter hosts a podcast on NVR and you can find that here.
After the interview, Scott and Al are drawn into some #InfoBanter with chat about the recent Roundtable event Al attended, the three year recruitment strategy and those fostering ads.
Here's the podcast email if you want to get in touch or offer your thoughts AandFPodcast@gmail.com
Or you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
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In this episode we speak to adoptive mum Jess. She shares her experience of navigating the the adoption process with her husband and the subsequent arrival of her children.
It's a personal account and reflects her views and experiences from her perspective. If you'd like to share your story or views then please get in touch through our Facebook page, Twitter feed or email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
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In this episode we catch up with a few responses to the Security of State's recent comments during #NAW. A few social workers got in touch and we consider their views, we also look at the ADCS's response. From there we also consider what assessments look like the challenges for practitioners, the National Minimum Standards and the impact of power dynamics. Of course there's the usual #Infobanter.
Here's the podcast email if you want to get in touch or offer your thoughts AandFPodcast@gmail.com
Or you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
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In this episode Phil share his family's journey from deciding to become foster carers to moving into adoption. It's not been without it's challenges but Phil's enthusiasm and passion is clear as he share his family's story.
As always, it Phil's story and we've purposely focused on that so the episode reflects his experience. If you'd like to share your experience and perspective on adoption, from any position, please get in touch through our Facebook page, Twitter feed or email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
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In this Episode we welcome the CEO of Adoption UK Sue Armstrong Brown. We had invited her on a while back and it was arranged for this week, little did we know what a news rich week it would be with the announcement from Gavin Williamson set in the context of research released on RAAs as well as the quarterly date for adoption in 19/20. We did start with chat about AUK’s Adoption Barometer that built on last year’s and produced some hard data that can be used as a lobbying tool.
We also chatted about representation at the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board as well as the role and function of the board in the landscape. As always there was some banter and stretching of metaphors beyond breaking point. We also discussed Scott and Al’s letter to the New Chair.
As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
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On the eve of National Adoption Week we have a very short chat about that and the imminent arrival of the new chair of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board.
We then move onto the main focus which is a conversation with Clare Laxton from Pause. They work supporting birth mothers who have had their children removed by the state and are considered to be at risk of repeating that. Leading up to the chat we'd asked for lots of questions from Twitter and Facebook and we raised some of the points that had been shared with us. Within some circles they are controversial and we tired to reflect that in the discussions.
As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
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In this weeks episode we reflect across a few issues that have been floating around the adoption world. We unpick Adoption UK's "Adoption Barometer" and look at some of the headline issues raised in it. We also chat a little more in relation to social work practitioners views on the #YouCanAdopt campaign as well as some stuff that we’ve been doing in relation to that. Al Reflects on this recent NVR training and we discuss the upcoming inaugural National Conference that we’ve scheduled in for the 20th November. We also chat through some of the upcoming podcast stuff that we’re hoping to do.
As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
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In this, the last of our Wednesday Webcasts on race and racism, we speak to Susan Cousins and she shares her experience, views and insights to the impact of transracial and trans national adoption.
You can follow Susan here on twitter and access her book here
You can also see the webchat as well as the other stuff we do at our FB page here.
As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
This week we chat about the ever so trick issue of adoption introductions. It's a defining moment for many adopters as they meet their children for the first time and begin their lives together and it is also the end of a foster carers journey of care. Where two contrasting experience meet we have children who are trying to make sense of all of this. Ema has navigated intros several times and we draw on her perspective and wisdom as well as share our own experiences.
However, before we get to that we snag ourselves on the #YouCanAdopt publicity that is prevelant at the moment and speak in unfettered terms (Scott) and guarded bland terms (Al).
As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
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It this webcast Al spoke to Fran in relation to her experience of being a black single woman and her journey to adoption. She describes some of the challenges she faces in relation to matching and culture as well as some perspectives on barriers to the black community coming forward to adopt. We continued chatting after the webcast ended for a few minutes so we included them here in the podcast. You can see the webchat as well as the other stuff we do at our FB page here. As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
On this week's episode we speak adoptive parent Laura and she shares some of the challenges that she faced, with her husband, as they sought to be approved as adopters. She also shares their experience of introductions and becoming a parent.
If you’ve a story of care or adoption and would like to share your perspective or experience then please do direct message us at our twitter feed here or on our facebook page here.
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
Webcast: Transracial Adoption In this webcast we speak to Marie Louise and Larry and they share their experience of being transracial adoptive parents. We chat about a range of issues including preparation, assessment, the challenges of supporting a child of a different ethnicity and issues of racism. Like all the webcasts it's too short and there was a lot more that could be said. You can see the webchat as well as the other stuff we do at our FB page here.
We slow it all down a little and reflect on all that's happened and all that we've learnt over the summer as well as comment on the joys of return to school. There's a few reflections on the fraught discussion around language over the last few weeks on social media and we dance onto the thin ice of representation on the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board, social work practice and how in the blue blazes we affect it.
As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
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Continuing our webcasts we chat to Twayna Mayne and she shares her views and experience of transracial adoption. We chat about the impact of growing up with a parent that doesn't share your ethnicity and the challenges that can bring. Twayna is open and honest in her views and we discuss a broad range of related topics. As usual, there was a lot more that could be said and can see the webchat as well as the other stuff we do at our FB page here.
You can follow Twayna here and her podcast here.
As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
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In this episode we speak to Emma Sutton, she shares her story of coming to adoption and the challenges and experience of assessment, matching and starting a new life. It’s her story and reflects an honest and insightful understanding of her experience. You can find out more about her story in her book here.
If you’ve a story of care or adoption and would like to share your perspective or experience then please do direct message us at our twitter feed here or on our facebook page here.
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
In this week's Wednesday Webcast we start to look at other issues that impact on adoption, specifically race and racism following the BlackLivesMatter campaigns that have developed over the summer. We chat to Satwinder Sandhu the CEO of The International Adoption Centre and social worker. He opens up the discussion in relation to systemic issues that may prohibit adopters coming forward, transracial placements and how to prepare families to parent children of colour beyond the lazy tropes of hair and skincare. Scott and Al appreciate that they have limited experience in these matters but feel strongly that conversations need to be had with people that can speak with lived experience and personal insight so we'll be chatting to a few different people over the next few weeks.
You can see the webchat as well as the other stuff we do at our FB page here.
As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
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With this being the 100th 'Episode' we though it only right to get our good old friend Becky on. We aspire to draw together all the challenges in relation to education and we certainly cover some ground: children, parent and teacher anxiety, behaviour policies, SEN guidance, lockdown, how is this going to work, Flexi teaching, homeschooling and more!
It's mildly raucous at times and we even get some info on Becky's teaching career and the challenges of teaching kids the samba.
As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
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In this week's Wednesday Webcast we complete our little series on post adoption contact. We're really pleased to have Claire AKA HowToBeAdopted on to share her perspective on contact as well as some of her experiences as she's worked to maintain contact through the letterbox process with her niece and nephews. Through her Twitter feed @howtobeadopted and website howtobeadopted.com Claire regularly speaks to adopted adults and she shares some of the perspective from this on the impact of contact as well as the consequences of no post adoption contact for children and adults.
You can see the webchat as well as the other stuff we do at our FB page here.
As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
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Hello, we're off on our annual summer hols so to keep the podcast machine rolling we're releasing a webinar that Scott did for Adoption UK. It's focus is on the parenting young adults with some of the unique challenges that can bring.
We hope that you are having a smashing summer.
As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
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Hello, we're off on our annual summer hols so to keep the podcast machine rolling we're releasing a part of a Childhood Challenging Violent & Aggression webinar that Al did earlier this year. It's focus is on the research that originated from his own family's experiences and an overview of the research.
We hope that you are having a smashing summer.
As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
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This week we take the opportunity to speak to Kath Drescher head of Adopt South West and Helen Atkinson lead on Matching and introductions. We discuss the logistics of change to becoming a Regional Adoption Agency and the impact on services and staff. We chat about the impact of COVID 19 on the work they do as well support, recruitment and all kinds of other stuff that we rarely get to speak to people in power about. To be fair we could have gone on longer.
You can see the webchat as well as the other stuff we do at our FB page here.
As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
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We both feel strongly that there needs to be access to knowledge in relation to adoption practice and the impact of adoption across the community. To that end we’ve decided to run some 30 minute webcasts on our FB page to open up some debate around key issues. We’re starting with Contact and are hoping to speak to a few people with key perspectives and insights. We’re starting with Clarissa Stevens this week then Professor Beth Neil and then the head of a RAA. This is a short recording from our first web chat with Clarissa for those that prefer to listen than watch, However there were a few tech issues in the first 7 minutes so I apologise as Clarissa’s feed was a little poor and that can be heard in the audio. That said, we then fixed it and cracked on.
Other topics that we’d like to look at over the summer are transracial adoption and……..well we’ll see what comes up after that!
If you've got any ideas for guests or topics let us know through the usual routes!
Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In our conversation podcasts we look at adoption from different perspectives and this episode we follow on from our Webcast with Tiegan about contact. in this episode Tiegan shares her experience of being an adopted young person and how that has impacted on her life up until now. We also talk about having same sex parents and Tiegan’s thoughts on differences.
This is Tiegan’s story and her reflections on it, and we would remind listeners that conversations can be emotive, reflective and insightful, and may not reflect the story of others who have experience of being adopted.
If you’ve a story of care or adoption and would like to share your perspective or experience then please do direct message us at our twitter feed here or on our facebook page here.
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
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Music by
Together, We Can Make It by Neutrin05 | https://soundcloud.com/neutrin05
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
In this week's Wednesday Webcast we speak to young adoptee Tiegan about her experience of post adoption contact with family members. She is really open and honest in relation to her experience and then offers insight to some of the challenges that her peer face as they look for contact, or not, with birth family members. You can follow Tiegan on Twitter here.
You can see the webchat as well as the other stuff we do at our FB page here.
The audio quality isn't always the best, overheating computers, the curses of wifi and a myriad of other issues. However, the content is unique in the current landscape so please push through
As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
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In what is a bumper episode we speak to Sarah Naish, adopter, SWer, author and trainer about her latest book "The Quick Guide to Therapeutic Parenting: A Visual Guide". She shares some of her expierences along the way, the impact of the recent events as well as her views on therapeutic parenting. It was a fun chat and we converted Scott to the benefits of TP.
After that we were drawn well into the long grass, we chatted about the recent Webinars we've been doing and then regrettably were drawn into a discussion about social media adoption influencers and Scott somewhat lost his cool. He also used a bad word, sorry, Al de escalated and NVRed him back to a state of equilibrium and they'll be talking about natural consequences off air once they've repaired.
As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here.
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
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