The Adoption and Fostering Podcast

Al Coates & Scott Casson-Rennie

Conversation & discussion on contemporary Adoption & Fostering

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120 episodes
Updated Saturday

Episodes120

Newest first

Saturday · 45 min
Conversations - Fostering Consultation with Niketa Sanderson-Gillard
Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast. In this episode I to Niketa Sanderson Gillard, social worker, Churchill Fellow and Founder and CEO of Why Care. We chat about Niketa’s Churchill fellowship, her work that led up to it and how her organisation Why Care has influenced the DfE’s draft standards that are currently being consulted on. Niketa and discuss the standards, the consultation and more. You can participate in the consultation and read more on the draft standards 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, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
July 25 · 1 hr
Conversations - Adoptive Parent Kaitlin
In this episode of the conversations from the A&F Podcast I speak to adoptive parent Kaitlin. She shares her family's experience of adopting two boys and the challenges that they faced as a family. This was a rocky road and Kaitlin is honest in terms of the difficulties including false allegations, arrests and the catastrophic impact this had on the whole family. 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, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here
July 15 · 59 min
Episode 229 - Mark Owers and Fostering Consultation
Hello and Welcome to the A&F podcast. This week we've asked Mark Owers to come onto the podcast to talk all things fostering in light of the DfE's released consultation and changes to the national fostering standards. We cover a broad range of topics relating to fostering including reframing practice around carer's voices and experience, stewardship, recruitment and more. You can complete the consultation here. Here is a link to Mark's LinkedIn profile where you can read more of his insights and perspectives. 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, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
July 14 · 26 min
Better Me Better Us Episode 38 - People change
In this episode we explore what it means to change. Is change a natural part of growing up, or is it sometimes a response to the need to survive? We discuss identity, resilience, and whether having a secure base makes change feel more like a choice. As always you can connect with us through the following - Website- www.bettermebetterus.co.uk Instagram- BMBUltd Facebook – Better Me Better Us Email – info@bettermebetterus.co.uk
July 11 · 1 hr 6 min
Conversations - Michael Gaither a transracial adoptee
In this episode I speak to Michael Gaither, he was adopted in the US in the 1970s and moved to rural Nebraska. As a black boy raised by white adoptive parents in a majority white community Michael shares the impact of the profound differences he experienced and the lack of understanding he faced. You can follow Michael here and there are free resources for those that are interested. Michael's instagram is also 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, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here
July 4 · 46 min
Episode 228 - Adoption Apology, Preston Davey and more.
Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast. In this episode Scott and I reflect on the terrible news of the murder of Preston Davey. It broadens out the conversation in to the assessment process and power dynamics. We don't dwell on any of the details but reflect on some of the broader issues. On the day we recorded the PM delivered the long awaited historic forced adoption apology and we unpack what he said, what he promised and what it means. You can read a full transcript of the PM's apology speech 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, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
June 27 · 42 min
Conversations - Nancy part 2
Hello and welcome to the A&F podcast In this episode I speak to Nancy Mielle, we first chatted in 2023 when she shared her remarkable lived experience. Here we chat about the interplay of early adversity, trauma and neurodiversity. Nancy shares her own experience and we chat about the challenges of caring for complex children. Nancy also shares a poem, its written for those with power of decisions. You can listen to Nancy’s first podcast 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, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here
June 20 · 39 min
Conversations - Dr Claire Agius, Adopter Wellbeing
Hello and welcome to this episode of conversations from the Fostering and Adoption podcast In this episode I talk to Dr Claire Agius, she is an academic and adoptive parent who has researched the challenges faced by adoptive parents. We chat about her experience as an adoptive parent and how that led to her academic research. Claire’s hope is to affect change within the system and improvements in the service that families made through adoption receive. You can read Claire's research below. Co-creating the future of post-adoption parenting and mental health support: Exploring the parenting challenges faced by adopters who raise children with trauma histories: an adapted Experience-Based Co-Design approach 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, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here
June 13 · 30 min
Conference Special - Reframing Professional Practice on Child to Parent Abuse.
Hello and welcome to this conference report - Reframing Professional Practice on Child to Parent Abuse. It was held on the 15th May in Central London and I was asked to share my perspective on dads' experiences as well as generally. It was a great day with some perspectives that were new to me and gave me food for thought on how other communities experience children's challenging behaviour. I was fortunate to catch up with Helen Bonnick of Holes in the Wall, assistant Professor Nikki Rutter from Durham University, Freda Quinlan a Principal Social Worker with the Irish Health Service Executive, Jane Griffiths of Capa First Response and Maria Duah who organised the conference and is the Director of Silenced CIC/PhD researcher at Durham University. 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, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here I was aksed You can see Maria Duah's profile here
June 9 · 28 min
Better Me Better Us - Ep 37 Endings
This month, we're talking about change and endings. Whether planned or unexpected, transitions such as leaving school, saying goodbye to trusted adults, or changes at home can have a big impact on children and young people. As always you can connect with us through the following - Website- www.bettermebetterus.co.uk Instagram- BMBUltd Facebook – Better Me Better Us Email – info@bettermebetterus.co.uk
June 6 · 51 min
Episode 227 - Adoption Law, and much much more
To be honest there was so much news that we missed over the last month or so we thought we should catch up. We unpack the significance of the Supreme Court judgement in the matter of matter of X and Y [2026] UKSC 13 (click here to see the Coram analysis). What does this mean for the future of adoption and while the Law remains constant are we all in a very different place. We also bandy around the issues of DfE communication and that promo! , Kinship changes, Scott's human trafficking and much much more. There may have been swearing! 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, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here
May 30 · 40 min
WwF - Rachel Braverman - 'unhelpful help'
Hello and welcome to the AandF podcast. In this episode we’ve a recording of a Walking with Families peer support group sessions with adoptive parent and NVR practitioner Rachel Braverman. Rachel has broad experience of working with and supporting families using NVR and in this mini session titled ‘unhelpful help’ she unpicks the challenges many parents face working with professionals and families and some strategies to get around that. You can connect with Rachel at the NVR Consortium here. If you’re an adoptive parent and would like to join the community. Below is the link to the joining form, we meet weekly online on Monday lunchtimes as well as during the month in the evenings. https://forms.office.com/e/drdn16BLZ2 We also have a FB group that will be part of the community and you can join that here. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1620682492650215/ 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, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here
May 23 · 58 min
Episode 226 - CPV and Practitioner Anxiety + FASD Ireland Conf
Hello and welcome to this episode, it's action packed and we reunite after Scott's many travels! We start with a consideration about the recent FASD Ireland conference and the radio documentary that Scott commissioned in Ireland. It's well worth a listen and you can do that here. Al has been talking to practitioners working with families living with challenging and violent behaviour over the last few weeks and we unpack why there's low confidence in the workforce and nervousness around how to support and help. 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, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here
May 16 · 35 min
Converstations - US Foster Carer Corey
In this episode I speak to former foster carer Corey Mckinney from the United States, he shares his experience of being a foster dad and the challenges he faced with his family and the rewards of being a foster carer. You find his book ‘Foster Dad’ here and view his website 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, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here
May 12 · 25 min
Better Me Better Us Episode 36 - Are we connected or disconnected?
In a fast-paced world where we have an increasing number of connections, how meaningful are our relationships really? This episode explores the contradiction of being more digitally connected than ever whilst feeling increasingly disconnected as humans. From social media and boundaries to unsafe relationships, and the impact on young people’s social skills, we reflect on what real human connection looks like in today’s world. As always you can connect with us through the following - Website- www.bettermebetterus.co.uk Instagram- BMBUltd Facebook – Better Me Better Us Email – info@bettermebetterus.co.uk
May 9 · 17 min
Conversation with Sarah Fry and Claire Murphy from the Belay Foundation
In this episode I spoke to Sarah Fry and Claire Murphy from the Belay Foundation. They are launching a new support service to support adoptive families access DLA and PIP and we chat about how they can help and the challenges that many families face in navigating the process. If you want to find out more about the work of the Belay Foundation you can visit their website here Or find out more about Walking with Families 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, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here
May 4 · 42 min
Conversations - Virtual Memory Box with Christian Brock
Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast. In this episode I speak Christian Brock from Virtual Memory Box and he shares the vision and hopes behind the digital system for storing and sharing memories of children who have been in the care systems. They’ve now broadened their work to support families impacted adoption and help maintain links safely. You can find out more 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, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here
May 2 · 39 min
Churchill Fellowship Report Part 2: Walking with Families - Interventions and Recommendations
To mark a year since I completed and released my Fellowship Report I'm re releasing the podcast. Since then I've partnered with Beacon Family Services and we've put into place some of the recommendations in the Walking with Families peer support community. You can find out more or sign up here. Hello and welcome to this second episode of Al's Churchill Fellowship. You can read the full report here. Developing the themes in Part 1 this podcast considers how parents and carers are supported by focused organisations. Rather than look at specific models of intervention, of which there are many, it considered how families interacted and accessed the interventions and specifically how they were delivered to the families. Again, drawing heavily from Interwoven Connections based in Ontario, Canada the interplay of parent/carer, peer supporter and clinical staff is highlighted. ‘It’s never about whether a parent is doing a great job. They’re doing the very best they can with what they’ve got.’ Lillyth Quillin, Parents of Children with Conduct Disorter, California, USA
April 25 · 1 hr 27 min
Churchill Fellowship Report - Walking with Families Practitioner Event.
To mark a year anniversary of Al's Churchill Fellowship report we've released a recording from the release event for practitioners from last year. I shared reflections from my Churchill Fellowship Report on Walking with Families. Looking at models of support and intevention for families drawn from the Canada, US, Ireland and Austrailia. I offer areas for practice development in the UK to offer ongoing support for families that often struggle to find effective and ongoing support while caring for vulnerable children that have care experience having experiened high levels of adversity. Churchill Fellowship Report Event - Walking with Families Practitioner event April 23rd 2025 You can read the report and listen to the audio library of many of the interviews here. https://alcoates.co.uk/churchill-fellowship
April 25 · 15 min
Maria Duah Director Silencecd CIC - Reframing Professional Practice in the Child to Parent Abuse arena
On the 15th May Maria Duah is delivering a conference at Coram in London looking to Reframe Professional Practice in the Child to Parent Abuse arena. In this short chat Maria shares her experience as a profession supporting families and children, her vision behind the conference and who is speaking. You can sign up here and and connect with Maria here and we hope to record some of the sessions as well. 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, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here