Workshops, seminars and conferences

Attachment & Child Development

rhyl@baaf.org.uk — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 14:05:22 +0000

Theme - working with the child in mind

One-day workshop

Location: Cardiff

Date: 30 Sep 2014

Venue:

BAAF Office

Booking forms:

Booking Form

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This one day course will provide a framework for all practitioners and managers working in children’s services by adding to their toolkit of knowledge of attachment theory and developmental trauma when completing assessments and making care plans for children and young people

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of the day participants will have:

Acquired knowledge of attachment theory and developmental trauma
Acquired knowledge of child developmental milestones
Explored how developmental trauma can impact children’s development
Considered how attachment and child development can be used to inform care planning, placement planning and assessment of children and young people
Started to consider issues of resilience.

Contact details

Email: cardiff@baaf.org.uk
Telephone: 029 2076 1155

1, 2, 3, or 4? Could I? Should I? Adopters Considering Sibling Groups

Kate.McAtackney@baaf.org.uk — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 09:01:41 +0000

One-day workshop

FULLY BOOKED

Location: Belfast

Date: 10 Jan 2015

Venue:

BAAF Office, Belfast

Conference time: 9.45am - 4.15pm

Booking forms:

Registration Form in Word

Registration Form in PDF

Due to popular demand we are now running this workshop again.

Thinking about adopting siblings?

Wondering about extending your current approval to more than one child?

This one day workshop will consider the benefits for brothers and sisters of sharing an adoptive family and the potential challenges for both adopters and children.

Quote from previous participant:

“The entire course really got me thinking about sibling dynamics and issues around contact for sibling groups. This is really the best training we have had specifically regarding siblings.”

Who should attend?

This workshop will be of benefit to prospective adopters approved for a sibling group, those currently undergoing assessment and considering a sibling placement, and those considering providing a placement for a sibling of an existing adopted child.

Contact details

Email: ni.training@baaf.org.uk
Telephone: 028 90 315494

Making good adoption assessments

Mon, 11 Aug 2014 10:44:36 +0000

Two-day workshop

Location: Bristol

Date: 14 Jan 2015 - 15 Jan 2015

Venue:

CCS Bristol, 162 Pennywell Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0TX

Conference time: 10.00am

Booking forms:

Booking form in Word

Assessing social workers need to meet the requirements of adoption panels. Applicants want to know that their ‘story’ is represented fairly and accurately, and at the same time there is a duty to safeguard vulnerable children. How is this process conducted and managed so that the best outcomes are achieved for all?

Learning outcomes:

Explore best practice in the completion of the Prospective Adopter’s Report.
Offer clarity around the two stage assessment framework
Improve understanding of the need for rigorous checks and references
Explore ways of assessing what is motivating applicants to adopt
Introduce a range of tools for use in assessments
Address issues of difference and diversity
Explore the impact of personal values and assumptions on the assessment process
Apply learning to current practice
Apply learning in the context of current Adoption Agencies Regulations, statutory adoption guidance and National Minimum Standards for adoption

Who should attend?

Adoption social workers, adoption team managers and adoption panel members.

20 places available.

Contact details

Email: southern.events@baaf.org.uk
Telephone: 0207 421 2672/70

Aiming higher – Improving educational outcomes for children and young people in care

Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:01:54 +0000

Conference

Location: London

Date: 21 Jan 2015

Venue:

Woburn House Conference Centre

20 Tavistock Square

London WC1H 9HQ

Conference time: 10.00am - 4.00pm

Closing date for booking: 20/01/2015

Booking forms:

Booking form in word

Programme and booking form in pdf

Theme

Educational outcomes for children and young people in care are often deemed to be unacceptably low. But is this an accurate or helpful representation of the evidence? There are a number of core questions that need to be answered:

What do we know about what works well in helping children learn and achieve?
How can foster carers identify learning and education as core to their role?
How can we help more children in care get into higher education?
What can we learn from specific local projects that focus on looked after children and young people of all ages?
What has been the impact and lessons from virtual head teachers?

The conference will be relevant to all of those who are involved in running or developing services with an education focus. It will bring together leading experts in the field to discuss these and other matters, share best practice and focus on practical ways to help children achieve their full educational potential. Delegates will have the opportunity to network with peers, and be inspired by real life examples of good practice.

Chair

Dr John Simmonds, Director of Policy, Research & Development, BAAF

Speakers

Julia Alfano, Educational Psychologist (Looked After Children Lead),Hampshire County Council
Collette Isabel Bentley
Professor David Berridge, Head of Centre for Family Policy & Child Welfare, University of Bristol
Michael Gorman, Headteacher of Bath & North East Somerset Virtual School for Children in Care
Emma Gore Langton, Educational Psychologist & Head of Education Service, PAC-UK
Rose Griffiths, Senior Lecturer in Education, University of Leicester
Sonia Jackson, Emeritus Professor, London University, Institute of Education & Swansea University
Cara Osborne, Psychology Research Associate, Hampshire County Council
Richard Parker, Director of Centre for Education Policy in Practice, Bath Spa University
Professor Judy Sebba, Director Rees Centre for Research in Fostering & Education, University of Oxford

Aims

This conference will consider:

what is known about educational outcomes of children and young people in care from UK and further afield
how foster carers can promote educational achievement and how they can be supported in this respect
the role of virtual schools and how they can operate in the best interest of the children and young people they serve
creative ideas for promoting learning for children and young people in care

Fees

Full or associate BAAF member: Standard rate £185 + £37 VAT total: £222.00

Individual BAAF member or student: Standard rate £135 + £27 VAT total: £162.00

Non member: £250 + £50 VAT total: £300.00

Contact details

Email: conferences@baaf.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7421 2640/2637
Fax: 020 7421 2601

Panel administrators: their role in adoption & fostering panels

Mon, 11 Aug 2014 11:14:58 +0000

One-day workshop

FULLY BOOKED

Location: London

Date: 23 Jan 2015

Venue:

BAAF Head Office, Saffron House, 6 -10 Kirby Street, Farringdon, London, EC1N 8TS

Conference time: 10.00am

Effective adoption and fostering panels are crucial to the delivery ofa good adoption and fostering service, and play an important part in services for looked after children.

The efficient administration of panels, including the provision of clear and accurate minutes, is a skilled and complex task that is essential to the smooth and effective operation of panels.

Learning outcomes:

To consider the regulations and the national standards in relation to the work of adoption and fostering panels
To give administrators and minute takers a full understanding of the role of the panel and their part in it
To consider the work involved in the whole panel process including preparation and follow-up action
To appreciate the skills and knowledge needed in taking clear, accurate and helpful minutes

Who should attend?

Administrators and minute-takers of adoption and fostering panels.

20 places available.

Contact details

Email: southern.events@baaf.org.uk
Telephone: 0207 421 2672/70

Preparation Course for Prospective Adopters Interested in Concurrent Care

Kate.McAtackney@baaf.org.uk — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 13:03:11 +0000

One-day workshop

FULLY BOOKED

Location: Belfast

Date: 24 Jan 2015

Venue:

BAAF Office, Belfast

Conference time: 9.45am - 4.15pm

Booking forms:

Registration Form in Word

Registration Form in PDF

BAAF is working closely with the “Home on Time” Project being delivered across Northern Ireland and commissioned by the HSCB. The concurrent planning project is funded under the Early Intervention Transformation Programme.

This workshop will provide an opportunity for prospective adopters to explore what becoming a concurrent carer involves enabling them to make an informed decision about whether this option is right for them and their family.

Who should attend?

This workshop will be of interest to prospective adopters, both pre and post approval including dual approved carers, considering a concurrent placement or who are interested to learn more about what this option involves.

This workshop is funded by the HSCB and is offered FREE to prospective adopters.

Contact your local Trust Adoption/Family Placement Team to reserve a place.

Contact details

Email: ni.training@baaf.org.uk
Telephone: 028 90 315494

The Reality of Post Adoption Contact - Part 1

janeg — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 11:31:31 +0000

Half-day seminar

Location: Law Society House, Belfast

Date: 28 Jan 2015

Conference time: 3.00pm - 5.00pm

Closing date for booking: 26/01/2015

Booking forms:

Booking form in PDF

Booking form in Word

This seminar will consider the reality of how post adoption contact works in practice from the perspective of the adoptive parents. Findings will be discussed from a recent research study which sought to explore the question of what it means for them in their role as parent in the context of an open adoption, supporting their child in maintaining connections to birth family members. The seminar will also hear from an adoptive parent of their experience of facilitating post-adoption contact and will conclude with a legal perspective. This is part one of a two part seminar on Post Adoptive contact. Part two (April 2015) will focus on the reality of Post Adoption contact from a birth parent’s perspective and that of an adopted young person.

Contact details

Email: ni.training@baaf.org.uk
Telephone: 02890315494

Supporting Children's Learning

rhyl@baaf.org.uk — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 13:23:27 +0000

One-day workshop

TO BE RESCHEDULED

Location: Cardiff

Date: 10 Feb 2015

Venue:

BAAF Office

Closing date for booking: 09/02/2015

Booking forms:

Booking form in Word Format

Are you working with looked after children? This practical workshop will develop their emotional and social skills. By the end of the day participants will have had the opportunity to build up a range of materials and knowledge that will enable them to help foster carers to:

Understand learning
Create a space to learn
Help young people to develop skills that underpin learning

Contact details

Email: cardiff@baaf.org.uk
Telephone: 029 2076 1155

Life Story Work, Child Appreciation Days & Later Life Letters

rhyl@baaf.org.uk — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 13:55:28 +0000

Theme - working with the child in mind

One-day workshop

FULLY BOOKED

Location: Cardiff

Date: 11 Feb 2015

Venue:

BAAF Office

Booking forms:

Booking form in Word

Who should attend:

Social Worker Practitioners, Professionals undertaking life story work.

Learning objectives

Reflect on (1) the purpose of preparing a life story book for children and (2) the purpose of later life letters for children who are adopted
Consider sources of information for the life story book and how to present relevant and age appropriate material
Practice a creative assortment of useful techniques and exercises for direct work with children to inform the life story book
Consider and critique a number of later life letters to inform best practice
Develop your professional confidence and expertise in writing later life letters: this will include looking at the subjects to be covered and opportunity to practice giving difficult and emotive information to children about their past and the reasons why decisions were made.
Consider the value of holding child appreciation days.

Contact details

Email: cardiff@baaf.org.uk
Telephone: 029 2076 1155

Supervision Skills for Managers Supervising Social Work Practice

Sarah.Carless@baaf.org.uk — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 13:53:09 +0000

Two-day workshop

TO BE RESCHEDULED

Location: Birmingham

Date: 12 Feb 2015 - 13 Feb 2015

Venue:

Dolphin House, 54 Coventry Road, Birmingham B10 0RX

Conference time: 9.45 am - 4.30 pm

Closing date for booking: 09/02/2014

Supervision plays a crucial role in safeguarding children and young people and promoting positive outcomes. Supervisors need to be clear of their role and responsibilities in the supervision process and competent within this role. This two-day workshop will fully explore the process of supervising social workers’ practice and the key elements associated with this supervisory role. This workshop will be of interest to Managers responsible for supervising the practice of social workers. The workshop is relevant for managers in any field of social work.

Contact details

Email: midlands@baaf.org.uk
Telephone: 0121 7532001
Fax: 0121 7537799