From Theory to Practice: Refreshed Trauma-Informed and Attachment-Based Approaches to (not only) Adoption Work

Who this is for

Adoption practitioners and managers (Voluntary Adoption Agencies, Regional Adoption Agencies, Local Authorities, and independent social workers), children’s social care services, children and family social workers, foster carers, kinship carers, designated teachers, and other professionals working with children and families.

Details

Throughout this session, expert trainer Hedwig Verhagen will delve into strategies for understanding and addressing the unique needs of adopters who have experienced trauma first-hand. You will gain valuable insights into trauma-responsive approaches, fostering a deeper understanding of trauma’s impact on the adoption journey.  The focus will be on trauma-informed practice, up-to-date attachment theory frameworks, and how these apply in real-world practice — including early adverse experiences, attachment, and how best to assess and support families through a trauma-informed lens.

Hetty was very knowledgeable and she responded to discussions by giving clear explanations and examples. – Attendee, 2023

Key topics to be covered include:

• Early adverse experiences and attachment
• How best to assess and support families through a trauma-informed lens.

It gave a lot of food for thought and left me wanting to read more around this and follow up on some of the references. – Attendee, 2023

These learning outcomes will be achieved through a combination of theoretical input, small group discussions and reflection on a case study.

It felt like a safe space to learn. – Attendee, 2023

Learning 0utcomes

• Considering the benefits of trauma-informed and trauma-responsive practice in adoption service
• Exploring models of trauma-informed practice
• Exploring attachment patterns and the potential impact of traumatic experiences on attachment behaviours
•  Planning next steps in the process of increasing trauma-responsiveness for practitioners, teams and the organisation

About the trainer

Hedwig Verhagen is an independent therapeutic social worker and a social work lecturer at the University of Leeds. She has an MSc in Therapeutic Interventions for Psychological Trauma. She has worked in adoption and special guardianship support services for many years and was part of the small team that set up the Centre for Adoption Support in Warrington. Hedwig has a special interest in attachment, sensory processing and body-focused approaches to working with trauma.

Instructions

A member of staff will be in touch with attendees one week prior to the event to share a pre-event delegate pack.

If you have any questions regarding this webinar, please contact us at [email protected]. We will aim to answer your query within two working days.

CVAA accept online payments only. In case you do not have instant access to your company card, we suggest using your personal card instead to book a training event and claim it back with your agency in your expenses. Requesting an invoice to pay for our standard practice events is not possible.