Dr Paul Shuttleworth (University of Sussex) will be discussing why children's views are worthy of inclusion in research and shaping policy and practice. The seminar champions a new ‘what matters’ approach where theories, policies and practices around kinship care emerge from the starting point of children's perspectives. The seminar explores how children’s views can add new insights and reinvigorate current kinship care and child permanence debates. It demonstrates and celebrates the value of listening to children about their family lives.

The seminar will address themes of critical realism, kinship care, family, a sense of permanence, maintaining connections, recognition, relationship-based practice, and participation. It will show the importance of creating a dialogical space and outing the inner conversations of ambivalences, in-between spaces, and reflexivity.

Paul Shuttleworth on Twitter.