Save the Date!

AFKA Legal Conference, Dundee - 10 November 2022

Children need the stability, security and certainty achieved by effective permanence.  Adoption, permanent fostering and kinship care offer an alternative for children who cannot live with their parents.  Policy and practice in these areas has undergone enormous change and is likely to continue to do so.

This year's conference is a timely opportunity for those involved in permanence to reflect on how we can adapt to meet these challenges.  It will be chaired by Lady Carmichael, Supreme Court judge.

Following our tradition of inviting informed and stimulating speakers we are delighted to welcome as our first guest speaker, Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division, Royal Courts of Justice, who will provide an insight into what is happening with adoption in England.

For further information and to register your interest, please contact us.

Download Your Copy: New Research Report

The disruption of adoption and permanent fostering placements: a scottish perspective

The final report for a recent research study about the disruption of adoption and permanent fostering placements in Scotland is now available.

This research was undertaken by AFKA Scotland and the University of Dundee in 2021-22, based on analysis of reports and minutes of meetings held following the disruption of permanent placements.

This research uncovered several key themes about disruption in Scotland:

1. The importance of considering the whole life-course of the child/young person;
2. Ambiguities around the helpfulness of resilience as a concept to guide decision making;
3. The question of what constitutes the ‘right’ kind of support, and what support children/young people and carers need; and
4. Losing sight of the child or young person and their experiences amidst the disruption process, as well as losing sight of the strengths of the placements.

We invite you to read the report and contact Dr Maggie Grant with any questions or comments on this research.

The Promise Scotland

Supporting relationships between brothers and sisters

Would you like to help develop and spread good practice in supporting relationships between brothers and sisters in care in Scotland?

As part of funding from The Promise Scotland, AFKA Scotland is evaluating Siblings Reunited (STAR) in Fife. STAR is a specialist service supporting family time together for brothers and sisters where local authorities are unable to provide this from within their own resources. AFKA’s research team are looking to hear from lots of people about their views and experiences of STAR. You can watch a short video introducing the research here.

You can complete the online survey if you are:

• a local authority manager involved with locality children and families services, fostering, kinship, or adoption
• are or have been a social worker or other professional working with a child who has attended STAR

• a social worker who has had no involvement with STAR
• a parent or caregiver of a child or young person who has attended STAR
• a care experienced adult who has attended STAR
• a current or former volunteer at STAR

Please look out for more information we will be sharing through social media and e-mail, and it would be very helpful if you can re-share this information within your networks. To find out more about ways that you can take part, please e-mail mark.hardy@afkascotland.org