CoramBAAF Conversations

In this episode of the CoramBAAF Conversations podcast, James Bury speaks with Professor Samantha Baron, Interim Chief Executive of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), about the identity and future of social work.

The conversation focuses on the importance of social work as a values-led, relational profession grounded in ethics, professional judgement and advocacy. We also discuss the role of membership organisations for social workers across the UK, including influencing policy, supporting professional development and strengthening the collective voice of the profession.

Despite continuing pressures on the social care system, the discussion highlights the continued impact of social workers in improving people’s lives and the importance of maintaining a strong professional identity, confidence and voice across the sector.

In this episode, Adoption & Fostering Production Editor, Vicky Walker, and Editor-in-Chief, Dr Dennis Golm, are joined by Professor Nick Midgley (University College London) and Expert by Experience, Jackie Tripp, a kinship carer. Nick and Jackie talk about the Reflective Fostering Programme, an intervention designed to help carers support the children in their care. The Programme was evaluated as part of a large-scale randomised controlled trial, which showed that it was not only beneficial for carers, reducing stress and burnout and improving the carer–child relationship, but also cost-effective. While Nick outlines the study and its findings, Jackie describes its life-changing impact on her as a participant in the Programme. 

For related resources and more episodes visit our website: https://corambaaf.org.uk/resources/corambaaf-conversations

In this episode, Vicky Walker and Dr Dennis Golm speak with three of the authors of the article Mental health status of orphans and vulnerable children in residential institutions in a city in South-West Nigeria from issue 3 of Volume 49 of ‘Adoption & Fostering’. 

The authors describe the different types of residential institution for children in South-West Nigeria and the conditions in them, the mental health needs of the children looked after by these institutions and the availability of mental health assessments and services. They call for greater advocacy and training to enable screening and referrals within the institutions and earlier interventions.

Dr Mercy Aladegboye, the lead author of this paper, is a research nurse currently working with University Hospitals Dorset, Bournemouth, UK. She obtained her PhD in Nursing from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria. She’s also a fellow of the capacity for strengthening abortion research in Nigeria (CSARN). Mercy is passionate about using research to transform health care and promote wellbeing for all ages. This has inspired her keen interest in conducting clinical research and producing publications on vulnerable populations.   

Dr Adekemi Olowokere is Professor of Community/Public Health Nursing in the Department of Nursing Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.  She is a registered nurse-midwife and public health nurse specialist with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. Her research interests focus on alleviating vulnerability, debility and mortality among underserved populations in Nigeria. She is a fellow of the African Women Research Observatory (AfWORO).   

Dr Abiola Komolafe is a senior lecturer in the Department of Nursing Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. She is a registered nurse-midwife, and a public health nurse. She obtained her Bachelor of Nursing Science, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Community Health Nursing from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Her research activities focus on sexual and reproductive health across the lifespan with a special focus on maternal and newborn care, and implementation science.

Welcome to the latest episode of the Adoption & Fostering journal podcast. In this episode, hosts Vicky Walker and Dr. Dennis Golm discuss the contents of Volume 49, Issue 4, released in December 2025.

Dennis talks through his editorial, which focuses on the impact of first name changes of adopted children by adoptive parents – the subject of one of the research studies presented in the issue. The hosts also offer a glimpse into the other topics covered: the inadequacy of the terms and conditions of direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies, the development of trust between foster carers and teenagers in Denmark, the risks of informal foster care practice in South-East Nigeria and the creation of adoptive ‘family’ in contemporary India.

Listeners will also hear about the development of a GP-led initial health assessment model in Gloucestershire, which is easing the pressures on paediatric services and providing person-centred care for vulnerable children.

Dennis and Vicky will be back with a new volume of the journal in January 2026!

For related resources or to watch more episodes, visit our website: https://corambaaf.org.uk/resources/corambaaf-conversations

James Bury is joined by leading researchers Rachel Hiller, Shaunna Devine, and Pasco Fearon to explore their work on improving access to evidence-informed mental health services for children in care across England. The discussion delves into the challenges these children face, why current provision often falls short, and the practical steps needed to ensure every child receives the support they deserve. 

This episode draws on insights from the National Recommendations for Mental Health Provision for Children in Care report, which outlines actionable strategies for policymakers, practitioners, and service providers. Key recommendations include enhancing early intervention, integrating trauma-informed approaches, and ensuring consistent, equitable access nationwide. 

Download the full report here: National Recommendations for Mental Health Provision for Children in Care (PDF). 

Rachel Hiller is a Professor of Child & Adolescent Mental Health and lead the Child Trauma and Recovery research group. Her research is in the field of complex child trauma and mental health. Broadly, this work spans three areas: (i) the identification of key psychological and social processes linking trauma and maltreatment exposure the mental health and wellbeing; (ii) the development and testing of scalable mental health intervention for trauma-exposed young people; and (iii) the implementation of existing best-evidenced practice within and across social care and mental health services. Much of her research is focused on improving the identification and support of the mental health needs of care-experienced young people, including a focus on service pathways and access between children's social care and mental health services. Their research is co-developed with care-experienced young people, caregivers, and professionals. 

Shaunna Devine is care experienced and currently a PhD researcher at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). She graduated with a First-Class degree in BSc Psychology in 2019, followed by a Distinction in her MSc in Brain and Behaviour (Neuroscience) in 2020. She was awarded a Vice-Chancellor scholarship to undertake a PhD in the School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science. Shaunna’s PhD is titled, “Pathways to Social Connectedness in Care Experienced People” explores how early life experiences, including experiences of the care system, can influence sensitivity to social connectedness.  

In addition to her academic work, Shaunna joined the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) in February 2025 as a Programme Support Officer. In this role, she leads the Inspire pilot and contributes to a range of wider NNECL projects. Shaunna has been a keen advocate for care experienced people and has advocated for children's rights through her membership on several boards and organisations. This includes the Local Authority Corporate Parenting Board, Unite Foundation sounding board, Become’s widening participation projects, and LJMU Care Experienced and Estranged Board. 

Pasco Fearon is a developmental and clinical psychologist. He holds the endowed chair in Family Research at the University of Cambridge, and is Director of the Centre for Child, Adolescent and Family Research there. He is past-President of the Society for Emotion and Attachment Studies, and his work focuses on the role of early experience in child and adolescent development. He is Director and co-Director of the UK’s two major birth cohort studies, the Children of the 2020s Study and Generation New Era.