Life Story Work Conference 2007 | FCA Fostering News

September 03, 2007

left to right: Roger Walker, Tony Ryan,
Afshan Ahmad & Suzanne McGladdery

For the second year in succession, Foster Care Associates (FCA) is staging its national Life Story Work conference aimed at developing skills of social care practitioners working with looked after and adopted children.

Entitled ‘Roots and Branches’, this year’s FCA Conference will be staged on October 4, at Reading Town Hall and on October 16, at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. The day will consist of keynote speakers and workshops covering the history and development of life story work as well as exploring issues from carer and looked after child perspectives.

Conference organiser and FCA life story work co-ordinator, Afshan Ahmad explained: “As life story work plays an increasingly important role in working with looked after children, we hope this Conference will provide a platform to share experience and develop positive practice.

“By staging two events we aim to provide centralised locations for all interested delegates from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.”

Guest speakers Tony Ryan and Rodger Walker will open the sessions by taking an historical look at the reasons for writing their first book on Life Story Work in 1985 and what they see as the developments since then.

Further speakers include Edith Nicholls author of The New Life Work Model, a practical guide, and Judith Foxon who has written the Nutmeg series of books aimed at helping children to talk about their feelings. Talking from a carer perspective, John Sullivan will map out his journey from being in care to becoming a foster carer. Leonie Martin will give a personal account of entering the care system at 14 years of age.

The Conference programme starts at 9.30am and runs through to 4pm. Delegate booking forms are available by writing to: Perspectives on Life Story Work, FCA Central Services, Malvern View, Saxon Business Park, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 4AD. Or email Afshan Ahmad at afshan.ahmad@thefca.co.uk.