The Adoption and Fostering Podcast

This week we have the second part of the interview with Hugh Thornbey the outgoing CEO of Adoption UK.

Scott and I indulge in a little banter and bring a lighthearted skew to all things adoption. 

This is the first part of an interview with Hugh Thornbery the CEO of Adoption UK. Hugh is retiring at the end of March and I took this opportunity to discuss some specific isssues in relation to the Adoption Support Fund and other issues that have been addressed during his tenure.

The second half will be released on the 26th March 2017 with Scott on tap to offer insight and whit.

 

This is a Special Podcast to recognise LGBT Adoption & Fostering Week - 2017.

 

Al has taken a well deserved week off... kind of... so I locked the door to the studio, twiddled a few knobs and hey presto here you go!

 

I talk to Ruth, a lesbian mum and Calvin, a gay dad about some of the ups and downs of both becoming an LGBT Adopter and parenting as one.

 

Al and I will be back next week as usual. Enjoy this Special and share it far and wide... we still need more LGBT adopters and foster carers. 

In this episode we interview Jane Pickthall the incoming Chair of the National Association of Virtual School Heads (NAVSH) and discuss the needs of children and the role of the Virtual Heads. This is a cracking interview and an insight to professionals that work with and influence many schools as they educate and care for vulnerable children. 

Scott and I hit our stride and enjoy the cut and thrust of our usual banter, enjoy. 

Here are the links to NAVSH website and twitter handle.

http://www.navsh.org.uk

@NAVSH_UK

 

This week we have an interview with Dr Marie Kershaw. She is an Senior Chartered Clinical Psychologist with almost 15 years experience working with adopted and fostered children and young people specifically in relation to attachment and trauma.

Scott and I struggled to rise to our usual giddy heights of banter but fear not we'll be back.

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

 

 

 

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.

 

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. 

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.

 

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