Date:  Friday 19 June, 2020

Venue:  Double Tree by Hilton, Dundee

Please note, bookings made before 31 March 2020, will receive an early bird discount of 10%

With decision making about continuing contact remaining one of the most complex and contested areas of practice, the focus for this year's conference will be on the child's relationship with their birth family
during and after the Permanence process. The conference will bring together an outstanding group of speakers to highlight what research and practice tells us works best for the child and what the legal considerations are, in order to inform and guide practitioners involved in making and applying the
decisions in this highly emotive area of permanence and adoption.  Speakers on the day will include:

Sheriff Aisha Anwar, Sheriff, Glasgow and Strathkelvin Sheriff Court - will provide a view from the bench

Professor Elsbeth Neil, UEA - foremost academic in this field who will discuss her longitudinal study, Contact after Adoption

Dr Katherine Edward, Clinical Psychologist - will return due to popular demand to share her thoughts from the child and family's perspective.

Jackie McRae, Practice & Partnership Lead, Children’s Hearings Scotland who will look at considerations in decision-making in children’s hearings

The day will again be chaired by Lynda J Brabender QC, who specialises in family and child law and public law as it relates to children.  For more information and to download a booking form, please click here

Following the publication of the new PAR-S template that replaces the form F (Adoption and Permanence), we are running a two-alternative workshop (1-day and 2-day) to support workers to make best use of the new materials.

(1-day workshop) - 19 February, 2020 - Foxglove Offices, The Shore Training Suite, 14 Links Place, Edinburgh

The one-day workshop is targeted at workers who are experienced in making assessments using the previous form. It will provide an opportunity to update and refresh thinking about the assessment process, become familiar with the new PAR-S format and consider how it can be adapted if necessary to particular situations.  To download a booking form, click here

(2-day workshop)-  25 & 26 February, 2020 - Radisson Blu Glasgow, 301 Argyll Street, Glasgow

The two-day workshop is targeted more towards those who are relatively new to undertaking assessments of prospective adoptive parents or permanent carers, and will provide an opportunity to develop knowledge, skills and practice in completing these assessments using the PAR-S template.  To download a booking form, click here

Date:  23 April 2020

Venue: Foxglove Offices, The Shore Training Suite, 14 Links Place, Edinburgh

In Scotland, it takes on average over 2 years between a decision for permanence being made and a legal order being granted. This is too long in the life of a child.

This workshop will tackle reasons for drift and delay and importantly what we can do to reduce these.

Delegates will have a safe and informed forum where they can share views and experiences with other workers by taking part in group work, case scenarios and discussion. Plenary sessions will provide up-to-date factual information on the responsibilities of all of us in promoting our individual role in taking control of these timeframes.

Innovatively, delegates are invited to submit beforehand anonymised case experiences so that a practical solution can be explored to see how the system can be child driven.

Looking at case planning from the outset, information recording, report writing, preparing for and presenting at Children’s Hearings and Courts, decisions about contact and moving to permanence, court decisions, research and theory and understanding legal requirements will inform and enable delegates to find the best way forward for children and families.

This workshop is as suitable for the seasoned practitioner as for those new to the field, and for those who specialise in Permanence as well as the worker who may occasionally deal with such cases.

It will also be of invaluable interest to Safeguarders, panel members, foster carers and anyone involved in promoting and planning for permanence for children.

For further information and to download a booking form, please click here 

Date:  Tuesday 4 February, 2020

Venue:  Foxglove Offices/Gf2, 14 Links Place, Edinburgh EH6 7EZ

Life story work with children who are fostered or adopted is universally recognised as fundamental to helping them understand their history and form a positive sense of identity. This in turn can provide the protective factor of a coherent story as a foundation for better emotional health in adulthood. Despite its importance, in today’s pressurised working environment it has become increasingly difficult to give this area of work the priority it deserves. This workshop will help busy practitioners think about what life story work means in their work setting and how best to go about it. The emphasis will be on providing practical ideas and techniques for social work staff undertaking this work.  For further information and to download a booking form, please click here