Adoption & Fostering journal #17 | Allegations of abuse in care: The experiences of foster carers
Welcome back to CoramBAAF Conversations! In this episode, we’re diving into a powerful discussion drawn from the 'Adoption & Fostering' journal. Host Dr Dennis Golm, Editor-in-Chief, and Production Editor Vicky Walker are joined by two leading voices in fostering research and practice to talk about one of the sector’s most challenging issues—allegations of abuse in care.
Professor Damien Riggs is a researcher based at Flinders University in South Australia. Damien's research focuses on family diversity, and to date has included studies of public attitudes to family diversity, transgender parents, fertility preservation, heterosexual first time parents, surrogacy, foster care, and embryo donation for formation.
Sarah Thomas is the CEO of The Fostering Network and a qualified social worker. She has worked with children with additional needs in education settings and with young people in residential care. Following a successful career in local authority practice, Sarah programme managed the work of the National Fostering Framework through to the launch of Foster Wales in 2021. She has previously served as Service Manager for AFKA Cymru, Director for England and Wales at The Fostering Network and was appointed CEO of The Fostering Network in 2023.
Read the article that inspired this episode: Allegations of abuse in care: The experiences of South Australian foster carers.
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Episode 42 | The secure base model with Professor Gillian Schofield
In this episode, Anne Horne talks with Professor Gillian Schofield to unpack the Secure Base model - a framework grounded in attachment research that supports children and young people in care. Together, they trace the model’s development, break down its five key caregiving dimensions, and discuss how it has been adapted for foster care, kinship care, adoption, schools, and residential settings. Listeners will also hear about practical training approaches, updated resources, and the model’s growing international reach.
Gillian shares valuable tips for implementing Secure Base across teams and services, along with guidance on where to find books, tools, and further training to put the model into practice.
Find out more: https://corambaaf.org.uk/episode-42-secure-base-model-gillian-schofield
Book your place at our upcoming training course: https://corambaaf.org.uk/introduction-secure-base-model-and-its-role-assessment-and-support-practice
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Episode 41 | Undertaking a Kinship Care Assessment
In this episode, Clare Seth, CoramBAAF’s Kinship Consultant, author, and practicing social worker, joins Jo Francis, Publications Manager at CoramBAAF, to discuss Undertaking a kinship care assessment, the newly updated guide designed to support social workers in planning their conversations with prospective kinship carers, that has been co-authored with job share partner, Ann Horne.
This revised edition replaces the previous guide, Undertaking a Connected Person/family and friends assessment, and is affectionately known by many practitioners as the "green bible." It provides a structured approach to kinship assessments, reminding professionals of the key topics to explore and the importance of triangulating information, thinking carefully about what you need to know, when to gather it, and who to speak to.
The latest edition includes a new chapters on care planning and its vital role in the assessment process, support planning as well as updated information about safeguarding reviews and kinship policy and research.
What’s covered in the interview:
The key differences between Form C and Form K.
Recent updates to the Undertaking a kinship care assessment guide, including how it supports social workers in asking the right questions.
Examples from current research and best practice suggestions, including anti-racist and anti-discriminatory approaches.
How the guide aligns with and incorporates the principles of the National Kinship Care Strategy.
Find out more on the CoramBAAF website.
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Adoption & Fostering journal #16 | Vol.49 Issue 2 introduction with Dr Dennis Golm and Vicky Walker
Welcome to the latest episode of the Adoption and Fostering Journal podcast. In this episode, hosts Vicky Walker and Dr. Dennis Golm discuss the contents of Volume 49, Issue 2, released in July 2025.
This episode delves into various articles featured in the journal, including a compelling scoping review by Jenny Conrick and colleagues on direct-to-consumer genetic testing. The episode highlights why adopted individuals might seek genetic tests to understand their health risks and familial connections.
Additionally, the podcast explores the topics of allegations of abuse in foster care settings, the experiences of South Australian foster carers, and findings from cross-jurisdictional legal cases involving kinship adoption and revoking adoption orders.
Listeners will also hear about innovative practices such as the Blue Hill Care Arrangement in Norway and hear about the importance of early diagnosis of neurodevelopmental conditions in fostered and adopted youth.
Find out more on the CoramBAAF website!
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'Adoption & Fostering' journal #15 | Looking past the stereotypes – Disabled people as foster carers
There is a great need for more foster carers in the UK. The lack of foster carers means that children who need foster homes have less choice about where they might live, often meaning they are not fostered near to their families and schools. In recent years, foster care organisations have recruited more and more foster carers from ethnic minorities, single foster carers and non-heterosexual foster carers.
However, Disabled people do not seem to have been reached out to as potential foster carers. This research study set out to explore why Disabled people have not been recruited, especially as many would be likely to have the types of skills that fostering requires.
In this episode, Peter Unwin and Becki Meakin discuss their research into the underrepresentation of disabled people as foster carers, highlighting the systemic barriers and stereotypes that prevent their inclusion. They outline how fostering agencies can better recruit and support disabled carers through inclusive practices, training, and a shift away from deficit-based thinking.
Read the article: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/03085759251314508#:~:text=A%20web%2Dbased%20review%20of,successful%20fostering%2C%20indicating%20the%20extreme
Our podcast series is dedicated to exploring topics related to adoption, fostering and kinship care. We invite children’s social care professionals and experts by experience to join us to share best practices, their experiences and knowledge.
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