November 26, 2022
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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November 19, 2022
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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![#Wednesday Webcast with Rebekah Pierre]()
November 17, 2022
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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November 12, 2022
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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November 11, 2022
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
November 5, 2022
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.
October 29, 2022
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
October 22, 2022
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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October 22, 2022
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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![Adoption Conversations - Adoptee Saul]()
October 20, 2022
It's National Adoption Week so we thought we'd re -release a few voices from the adoption community for new listeners to hear and perhaps remind ourselves of the complexity and nuance that contemporary adoption navigates.
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
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
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