Professionals Gather to Strengthen Healthcare Practice for Children in Care
Birmingham, UK – Over 50 healthcare professionals from across multiple agencies convened for a one-day event aimed at advancing best practices and knowledge sharing in the field of adoption, fostering, and the health of children and young people in care.
The event, held under the guidance of medical advisors, paediatricians, social workers, and mental health specialists, focused on a series of critical topics impacting care-experienced children. With an emphasis on learning, collaboration, and peer support, the day brought together a network of Designated and Named Doctors for Looked After Children (LAC), Medical Advisors, and child health practitioners from across the region.
Session Highlights:
The day opened with Mubina Jaffer, Senior Social Worker at Adopt (Birmingham Children’s Trust), who explored what prospective adopters seek from medical advisors. The conversation helped frame the importance of clear, compassionate communication and transparency in the adoption process.
Flynn Pharma, represented by Pardeep Samra, provided the first sponsor presentation before attendees engaged in a Peer Review session—a critical space for discussing complex cases and refining practice standards through collaborative feedback.
Lynn Snow, Community Paediatrician and Designated Doctor from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, provided a valuable update from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and partners, highlighting key policy and clinical developments.
Rebeka Adair from Birmingham Children’s Trust’s EMPOWERU team delivered a powerful talk on serious youth violence through a critical lens, underscoring the need for trauma-informed approaches and early intervention strategies.
Dr Ataf Sabir, Consultant Clinical Geneticist at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, led a session on recent developments in genetics relevant to adoption and fostering.
The afternoon sessions included a second sponsor presentation by Proveca, followed by an in-depth discussion on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) by psychologists Sarah Saveker and Charlotte Cucciniello. Their session provided practical tools for identifying and supporting children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure.
The final presentation, by ST8 Paediatric Neurology Registrar Simon Gosling, offered a comprehensive literature update on antenatal drug exposure and its neurodevelopmental impacts.
Purpose and Outcomes:
The event was designed to update medical professionals on emerging research and policy, support the dissemination of good practice, and foster consistency across regional healthcare services for looked-after children. A dedicated Peer Review session and breakout networking opportunities allowed attendees to collaborate, problem-solve, and enhance their professional appraisals.
The leads of the network aim for the forum to not only deepen knowledge but strengthen the connections between professionals committed to improving the lives of children in care.
As the day concluded with feedback and reflections, participants left with renewed insight and practical strategies to apply within their respective roles.
Thank you to our Sponsors Flynn Pharma and Proveca for your continued support for the LAC forum.
