The Adoption and Fostering Podcast

Episode 9 - An Interview with Maria Catterick from the FASD Network UK

In this episode I speak to Maria Catterick, Social Worker, Foster Carer and founder of the FASD Network. We discuss her journey to setting up the network, Feotal Alcohol Spectrum Dosorder (FASD) and the challenges that parents and carers face as the care for children who live with the preventable condition. 

As always Scott Casson Rennie and I dicuss the interview and other matters including the recent Adoption Support Fund announcement all interspersed with whit and banter. 

The FASD Network can be found here:

http://www.fasdnetwork.org

 

 

 

Podcast Special - Improving Adoption Services & Support Conference Talk

I was invited to speak at a recent one day conference to review the Adoption Reforms laid out in the Government's report 'Adoption: A vision for Change'

I'm not a spokesperson for the Government so spoke as a critical friend and gave my perspectives on the objectives outlined in the report. 

I thought I'd upload it as it may be of interest to some.

 

Episode 8 - Preparation and Assessment (interview with John Simmonds and Jon Hyde)

This week we talk focus on the preparation and matching process for adoptive parents. 

Scott and I speak to a recently approved adopter, Jon,  who discussed his experience and thoughts on the process and preparation. I then chat to John Simmonds, Director of Policy, Research and Development, who worked on the assessment formats that adopters in the UK go through. 

As always there's a raft of banter and chat between Scott and I and we reflect on the process and preparation in a wider sense. 

Episode 7 - Fostering & Adoption Podcast - An interview with Blair Mortimer Adoptee, Foster carer and Social Worker

This episode has an interview with Blair Mortimer, an adult adoptee,  Foster Carer and Social Worker. 

Blair discusses his experience of adoption, looking for his birth family and the work he does with other adult adoptees. 

Scott and I discuss our aims behind the Podcast as well as thoughts the hearing the voices of adoptees and future hopes.

 

Episode 6 - Hannah Meadows, Suddenly Mummy & an alternative Christmas Message from a special guest.

In a, hopefully, Christmassy episode Scott & I meet Suddenly Mummy and talk Foster Care finances and unionisation and Hannah Meadows raises the issue of Self Care.

Is 'Self Care' a rational approach to caring for children who have experience loss and trauma or just namby pamby fluff and nonsense? We ask the questions so you don't have to.

As always Scott adds wisdom, insight and banter. 

We finish with an alternative Christmas message from a very special mystery guest. 

I appologise for the coughs, Internet bother, ringtones and general chaos as we experimented with the tecnology to have three way conversations. 

I hope you have a smashing Christmas break.

Here's the links for more info. 

@hlmeadows           hannahmeadows.com

@gayadoptiondad    gayadoptiondad.com

@suddenly_mummy suddenlymummy.blogspot.co.uk

@sallydwrites          sallydonovan.co.uk

@nadjasmit             alcoates.co.uk

 

Episode 5 - An interview with Andrew Christie Head of the Adoption Leadership Board

This week Andrew Christie, the new head of the Adoption Leadership Board, discussed the funtion of the board, and its aims and objectives. 

If you want to contact him and share your thoughts or views he kindly gave the following email address 

Gina.DENNETT@education.gov.uk

As usual there's a little adoption, and non adoption, chat, banter and thought from Scott Casson Rennie and me and we discuss the survey on Child Parent Violence, which can be found here

http://www.alcoates.co.uk/2016/11/child-on-parent-violence-survey_24.html

If you want any further information you can contact me through Misadventures of an Adoptive Dad blog here

alcoates.co.uk 

Episode 4 - An interview with Brid Featherstone about the BASW Adoption Enquiry

A conversation with Brid Featherstone in about the ongoing Adoption Enquiry and a catch up with Scott Cassion-Rennie and a reflection on some of the issues raised. As always a bit of banter and a little bit of thought provoking. 

The review runs through til May 2017 and completed surveys will still be accepted after the closing date

https://www.basw.co.uk/adoption-enquiry/

You can find more exciting and interesting stuff here

alcoates.co.uk

Episode 3 - An interview with Helen Bonnick about CPV

This is an interview with Helen specifically looking at the issue of Child on Parent Violence (CPV). Questions and topics were drawn from discussions on Twitter and considered the impact on families and the professional response. 

If you want further information Helen can be contacted at www.holesinthewall.co.uk or through Twitter @helenbonnick

Episode 2 - Part 2 of the interview with Scott Casson Rennie and chat

This is the second part of an interview with Scott and we discuss LGBT adoption, Child Parent Violence and working in adoption. I also recap on a few things I've been up to this National Adoption Week.

Episode 1 - Conversation with Scott Casson Rennie - Part 1

Welcome to the first podcast. In this episode I have a conversation with Scott we stray into topics such as the latest adoption figures and the benefits of Adoption Panels. We talked for so long that we had to split the podcast.