Conversation & discussion on contemporary Adoption & Fostering
Episodes
Saturday May 13, 2023
Saturday May 13, 2023
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
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
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Friday May 12, 2023
Friday May 12, 2023
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
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
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Saturday May 06, 2023
Saturday May 06, 2023
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
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
Google here
Saturday Apr 29, 2023
Saturday Apr 29, 2023
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
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
Google here
Saturday Apr 22, 2023
Saturday Apr 22, 2023
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
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
Google here
Wednesday Apr 19, 2023
Wednesday Apr 19, 2023
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
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
Google here
Saturday Apr 15, 2023
Saturday Apr 15, 2023
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
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
Google here
Saturday Apr 08, 2023
Saturday Apr 08, 2023
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
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
Google here
Saturday Apr 01, 2023
Saturday Apr 01, 2023
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
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
Google here
Saturday Mar 25, 2023
Saturday Mar 25, 2023
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
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
Google here