Tackling the Crisis In Children's Social Care Conference: October 25th 2025
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.
It’s a common reaction to any failure in children’s behaviour or their safety to blame the parents. And yet so many issues – from education and economic to social care and mental health – arise from the failure of the state to provide adequate support to children and their families.
This edited collection brings together academics, practitioners and activists along with contributions from parents and young people who have experienced the trauma of being caught up in the process of blame. It explores the nature and causes of parent blame and interrogates its prevalence, impact and potential pathways for reform.
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 local parents and carers in dialogue to explore the issues and ways forward.
Professor Luke Clements and Dr Ana Laura Aiello, the authors of the book, 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. Come and listen, join the discussion, contribute your perspective and help define useful ways forward for us here in Herefordshire and nationally.
Luke and Ana will be joined by Mary Kidson and other parents and carers with direct experience of children’s social care. We are also pleased to welcome as speakers an expert in building constructive partnership between the state and civil society and the Dean of Hereford cathedral.
We are limited to 120 seats and the event is ticketed. If you have received an invitation directly from us, please RSVP by email asap facherefordshire@proton.me
If you haven’t received an invitation but would like to join us at the conference, please email us at facherefordshire@proton.me or tickets will be available from 25.09.2025 by clicking on the button below.
