The Crisis In Children's Social Care Conference: October 25th 2025

Watch and join the discussion: has parent blame contributed to the crisis in children’s social care?

Understanding Parent Blame: Institutional Failure and Complex Trauma was published in July 2025 by Policy Press.

There is little dispute that children’s social care in the UK is in crisis. The problems are national and systemic. The way these issues have played out in Herefordshire has been well documented by Ofsted, the BBC and other media. The conference in October brings together leading academics, professionals, and parents and carers from across the country to explore the issues and ways forward.

Professor Luke Clements and Dr Ana Laura Aiello, the authors of Understanding Parent Blame, will be our keynote speakers at the conference:

Luke Clements is the Cerebra Professor of Law and Social Justice at the School of Law, Leeds University.

Ana Laura Aiello is a Research Assistant in Law & Social Justice at the School of Law, Leeds University.

Understanding Parent Blame makes the case for change and points to ways forward.

Bryony Shannon, author of Rewriting Social Care, will join a panel discussion on ways forward.

Mary Kidson, author of Legally Abducted, will talk about her experiences of being falsely accused of FII and Beverley Ward, author and inspiration behind the Write to be Heard project, will talk about parent blame in the Family Court. We also welcome as speakers an expert on building constructive partnership between the state and civil society and the Dean of Hereford cathedral.

The conference was covered by the Hereford Times article on 8th November 2025 “Calls for enquiry into Herefordshire children’s services”.

Unable to join us at the conference, please watch the recording below.