FREE TO ATTEND – Partnership Working Conference – Fostering
VENUE: Westpoint Centre, Clyst St Mary, Exeter, EX5 1DJ
DATE: 9.30am to 4pm
DATE: 16th June 2026
The Devon Children’s Social Care Academy is offering you an opportunity to join them for an energising, practice‑focused day that brings multi‑agency partners together around one shared goal: better, more stable outcomes for children in care – through stronger relationships and shared decision‑making.
What to expect – Through a mix of conversations, shared experiences, and practical activities, we’ll explore what really helps us work well together to create stability for children, as well as hearing directly from foster carers, practitioners, and partners from across services in Devon about what makes relationships work in practice, and what can sometimes get in the way. Paul Nixon, Paul Nixon | School of Social and Political Science, an internationally recognised leader in child protection, restorative practice and Family Group Conferencing (FGC) will also be facilitating the afternoon session. Working with children and families for over 30 years, Paul Nixon has helped shape policy and practice across the UK and internationally and is able to bring real insight into what makes partnership working actually work in day‑to‑day safeguarding and fostering. Paul will bring in learning from across the UK and internationally, helping us think about how we work alongside families, strengthen their networks, and keep children’s voices at the heart of everything we do – all of which leads to better decisions and better outcomes.
You’ll leave with
- A clearer understanding of the distinct (and connected) roles we each play in fostering and safeguarding.
- Insight into the lived experience of foster carers and children in care including what helps relationships last.
- Greater confidence in key processes.
- Practical ways to use relational and restorative approaches to strengthen collaboration, even when things feel stuck.
Who should attend
Multi‑agency colleagues involved in supporting children in care and foster families including:
- social care
- education
- health
- police
- early help
- commissioning
- residential
- voluntary sector
- safeguarding leads
(If you touch the system around a child in care — you’re part of the partnership.)
Come ready to reflect, learn and strengthen the relationships that make the biggest difference to children and young people. And please share this opportunity with your colleagues.
To book your place: click on this link Partnership Working Conference –
If you don’t have a DEL account, the above link won’t work so please use this one Partnership Working Conference 16th June 2026 – Fill in form
Any queries, please email safeguardingelearning-mailbox@devon.gov.uk