CoramBAAF, the UK’s leading membership organisation for professionals in adoption, fostering and kinship care, has successfully delivered a comprehensive learning programme in Gibraltar. Developed in collaboration with the Care Agency and expert consultants, the programme was designed to uphold the highest standards of assessment, panel decisions and rigour within adoption services.

Through this initiative, social workers and panel members received specialised training to ensure the highest standards in care for children and young people.

CoramBAAF represents 94% of local authorities across the UK, and its 650+ members reflect the multidisciplinary nature of its work, ensuring that children and families receive the best possible support.

The programme has been met with excellent feedback from social workers, managers and independent panel members.

Director of Services, Safety and Standards at the Care Agency and Vice-Chairperson of the Adoption Panel, Angelo Cerisola, said: “Overseeing the implementation of the required standards under the new Act has been a significant challenge, but thanks to our team and CoramBAAF consultants Jane Poore and Alexandra Conroy-Harris, we’ve managed to address over 70 years of practice updates.”

CEO and Care Agency Decision Maker, Carlos Banderas, said: “I want to thank our dedicated team and independent consultants for their hard work in developing this robust learning programme and its implementation. Their commitment has been crucial in maintaining the highest standards of policy, assessment and rigour.”

The Minister for Health and Care, Gemma Arias-Vasquez, also praised the initiative: “I’d like to thank CoramBAAF consultants, the Care Agency and its staff, for their exceptional work in updating 70 years of practice and legislation in a short timeframe. This programme strengthens our adoption services and marks Gibraltar as one of the first jurisdictions to adopt the revised Child Permanence Report framework.”