July 2012

Minister praises “safety net” PAC at opening of new premises

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families, Tim Loughton MP praised PAC's work and stressed the need for adoption support when he opened our newly expanded premises on Monday 18th June.

“The worst thing that can happen for a child who’s already been through a series of placements, being pushed from pillar to post, is then to have an adoption break down as well, and organisations like PAC are the safety net to make sure that that adoption is much more likely to work” said Mr Loughton in his address.

Guests at the ceremony included Mayor of Camden Councillor, Heather Johnson and PAC patrons Matthew Fort (see item below) and Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey OBE.

Building work was recently completed on PAC's new premises development, which has seen the merging of our home for over 20 years, 5 Torriano Mews, with neighbouring building number 4.

Full report here. View photos from the opening here and read the full text of the minister’s speech here.

PAC presents evidence to Lords Select Committee

PAC’s Chief Executive Peter Sandiford and our Head of Child & Family Service Franca Brenninkmeyer provided evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on Adoption Legislation this week.

Areas that Peter and Franca were questioned on included the:

• length of time it takes to assess and prepare future adopters
• training needs of potential adopters
• needs of birth parents and their families
• needs of adopted children including the specific needs of transracially adopted children
• gaps in support available to adoptive families
• changes required to legislation in order to improve adoption support to all parties to adoption

The Lord Chairman, Baroness Butler-Sloss requested that PAC provide written information to the committee - this will be posted on our website in due course.

DfE attends PAC subscriber meeting

A representative from the Department for Education was present to hear clear messages from practitioners at PAC’s most recent regular meeting with subscribing local authority staff in June.

The meeting provided a forum for feedback on changing adoption support needs in the wake of the publication of the government’s Action Plan for Adoption. 

PAC’s next subscriber meeting on Tuesday 9 October will be attended by the government’s ministerial advisor on adoption, Martin Narey. If you are an adoption/permanency professional in one of PAC's subscribing local authorities and would like to attend please email subscriber@pac.org.uk.

New patron cuts the mustard!

We are delighted to welcome our newest patron, the food writer and critic Matthew Fort.

The Guardian’s Food and Drink editor for over ten years. Matthew currently appears as a judge on the BBC television series Great British Menu.

An adoptive parent, Matthew’s family was supported by PAC almost 25 years ago. His daughter Lois wrote about her experience at PAC in this 2004 Guardian article.   

Matthew, whose books include Rhubarb and Black Pudding (1998), about the traditional foods of Lancashire, and Eating up Italy: Voyages on a Vespa (2004), was the catalyst for our highly successful fundraising Gala Dinner last November.

Matthew and Lois are pictured here at our premises opening on 18 June.

Participants sought for Young People’s Advisory Group

PAC is putting together an advisory panel of adopted 18 to 25 year olds to help shape and develop our services for young people.

The group will meet twice a year to explore issues arising out of their adoption or permanent placement and is open to any adopted or permanently placed young person, not just those who may have attended sessions at PAC. We hope that the group will be a fun and creative space which will be both supportive and stimulating for everyone involved!

If you’re interested in taking part get in touch with Kate Newton on 020 7284 0555, email kate@pac.org.uk. 

Enhancing Adoptive Parenting programme ready to roll! 

PAC now has 15 staff members trained as parent advisers ready and able to deliver the Enhanced Adoptive Parenting (EAP) programme!

EAP is an individualised parenting programme for recent adopters and permanent carers facing challenging problems in children aged three to nine. The programme was developed in partnership with PAC by trustee Professor Alan Rushton and Dr Helen Upright.

Further details of the EAP programme and the resources it draws on can be found here. Download an EAP flyer here .

Call our Advice Line on 020 7284 5879 or email advice@pac.org.uk for further information.

On 12 October PAC is providing training in the delivery of the EAP programme for social workers and other child and family professionals – details here.

Parenting Forum – can you help?

PAC is seeking a volunteer to help us set up and maintain an online parenting forum where adopters and other permanent carers will be able to share experiences and advice.

If you think you fit the bill, we’d love to hear from you! Please get in touch with either Kate or Lyndsey on 020 7284 0555, email kate@pac.org.uk or lyndsey@pac.org.uk.

We’d also like to hear your ideas for possible forum topics, plus your views on the positives - and pitfalls - of online forums!

Forthcoming PAC training

Professionals

Working with attachment issues in adults Tuesday 25 September 2012

Evidence-based practice in adoption Monday 1 October 2012

Understanding the psychological effects of trauma Thursday
11 October 2012

Enhancing adoptive parenting Friday 12 October 2012

Adoptive parents and other permanent carers

Parenting children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder
(ASD) in adoption and fostering Wednesday 11 July 2012

Managing difficult behaviours in children
and siblings Wednesday 26 September 2012

Pubic seminars

Why is this child so different? Dissociation in children and adolescents Thursday 12 July 2012

New directions in sensorimotor treatment Tuesday
23 and Wednesday 24 October 2012

All training events take place at NCVO, Regents Wharf, 8 All Saints Street, London N1 9RL.

For further details of PAC’s training programme visit our training pages here call 020 7284 5872 or email training@pac.org.uk.

BAAF conference: orphanage care, adoption and afterwards

This conference on 11 October compares the British Chinese and the English Romanian adoption studies and includes leading contributions from PAC trustee Professor Alan Rushton.

Details here.