The Adoption and Fostering Podcast

Foster Carer Stories #3 Marie

In this Episode Marie shares her story of her decision to foster as a single woman with challenges and new experiences

Foster Carer stories is a place where foster carers can share their experiences, good, bad and everything in between with no agenda or filter.

If you'd like to share your story then please get in touch through the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's facebook page here, or our twitter feed here.

Episode 51 - An interview with Isabelle Trowler

In this episode Al put on his best shirt and headed up to the Department for Education to speak to Isabelle Trowler England's Chief Social Worker for Children and Families. There had been a few questions sent in so they were synthesised into some talking points including professional development for social workers, the support available for kinship carers and the trial of a permanence service in Peterborough that looks at the children first. We also touched on her role and what that actual involves.

It's been a while since the last podcast and we've a lot of other stuff to catch up with including the AUK conference, Scott's house move, Al's unfortunate incident with a psychologist and there is a slight unravelling when the subject of the recent Giff Gaff advert* was brought up and Al shared a forthright view on the matter. (he openly acknowledged that other opinions are available and he's also comfortable to be dismissed and disagreed with)

As always a cheeky review on iTunes here would be appreciated. 

 

*The advert depicted a fictional 'Adams family' style family where their child looked to be adopted as she didn't like her home life. It then portrayed her new adoptive family as ultra straight in contrast to her original family and then they tried to coerce her into signing adoption papers. She eventually returned to her biological family accepting their difference. 

Adopter Stories - #5 Lisa

Adopters Stories is a short podcast where adopters tell their own stories. There's no filter or edit, no motive for recruitment or drive to raise a specific issue. 

In this edition of #AdopterStories we speak to Lisa. With her husband they adopted three children. Lisa shares her reasons for adopting, her experiences, the hard bits and the best bits.  

If you want to share your story then please do get in touch, DM us through our Twitter account or Facebook page

Adopter Stories - #5 Frances

In this episode Frances shares a unique story of adopting a little girl through the New Zealand Social Care system. The language is shared but practice and underlying values and ethics contrast the UK's. 

Stories are potent and can expand our understanding, listening to Frances her story asks us to question our assumptions around parenting other people's children and where the boundaries of family lie. 

As always, if you enjoyed this and would like to share your story then please do contact us through Twitter or Facebook. 

If you're feeling really warm and fluffy towards us a review on iTunes here would help share the joy. 

Adopter Stories - #4 Louise

Adopters Stories is a short podcast where adopters tell their own stories. There's no filter or edit, no motive for recruitment or drive to raise a specific issue. 

In this edition of Adopter Stories Louise shares her experience of adoption with her wife though the concurrency route (Foster to Adopt). 

If you want to share your story then please do get in touch, DM us through our Twitter account or Facebook page

Podcast Special: National Adoption Week

This is episode we recorded a few thoughts on National Adoption Week as we sat on a wall outside the National Adoption Awards at the Foundling Museam in Central London. We also managed to grab the winner of the Adoption Blogger of the Year, Adoption BlogFox, for a short interview. 

It's a shorter episode as we're all caught up with half term and the business of family and stuff. We will be back to normal in the next episode.

As always thank you for listening, give us a share and if you're inclined a review on iTunes here. 

Foster Carer Stories #2 Ema

In this Episode Ema share her story of how, with her husband Blair, they started fostering as a family with their own young children. She describes looking after teenagers as well as the challenges of moving children onto adoptive parents. 

Foster Carer stories is a place where foster carers can share their experiences, good, bad and everything in between with no agenda or filter.

If you'd like to share your story then please get in touch through the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's facebook page here, or our twitter feed here.

 

Episode 50 - Childhood Challenging, Violent & Aggressive Behaviour (AKA CPV)

This week we're celebrating two years of podcasting, however there was no cake. We take a bit of time to unpack some of the develping knowledge in relation to  Childhood Challenging, Violent & Aggressive Behaviour (CCVAB) otherwise known as Child on Parent Violence (CPV). There's a mini interview with Social Worker and CPV campaigner Helen Bonnick who has been raising awareness of the issue over the last decade. See her website for excellent resources Holes in the Wall.

We don't get time to discuss the full #CPV2018 survey report but manage to discuss some of the key features such as the significance in the change from CPV to CCVAB, definition, underlying causes, sibling violence and strategies. You can read a summary of the survey here or but the full report here

As the discussion progresses we get onto World Mental Health Day, National Adoption Week and banter. 

Again, thanks for listening, sharing and downloading. If you're inclined a wee review on iTunes is always welcome. 

 

Adopter Stories - #3 Katherine

Adopters Stories is a short podcast where adopters tell their own stories. There's no filter or edit, no motive for recruitment or drive to raise a specific issue. 

In this edition of #AdopterStories we speak to Katherine. With her husband Simon they adopted Donny in 2012. She shares their story. 

If you want to share your story then please do get in touch, DM us through our Twitter account or Facebook page

Episode 49 - An interview with Dr Lucy Peake

This week we speak to Dr Lucy Peake the Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus.  

It was a really interesting and thought provoking discussion in relation to the unique and shared challenges that kinship carers and special guardians face. We cover a wide range of issues including some earlier campaignes Lucy worked on in fostering such as Staying Put as well as the significant issue of support of kinship carers and special guardians. The unique challenges that kinship carers face is discussed and the children that that they care for including issues of age, poverty, stigma and the Lack of Lack campaign. 

There's a little banter as usuall and the terrible story of the dead cat is shared. 

As always thanks for listening and share your comments if you wish.