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

During this bespoke training session, we will unlock a deeper understanding of gender diversity in adoption. This comprehensive webinar covers essential topics, including sex, gender, and various gender identities, providing a solid foundation for adoption practitioners. We will learn the basics of trans history and gain insights into the legal landscape surrounding gender diversity.

We will explore the latest research and apply the findings on the day-to-day experiences of gender diverse individuals, discovering the unique strengths they bring to the world of adoption and fostering. We will hear firsthand from gender diverse adopters, foster carers, and the social workers who assessed them, offering valuable perspectives that enrich your knowledge and practice.

You will be also equipped with the knowledge to support young people who are gender diverse, and access resources for ongoing support. We will learn how to seamlessly apply your newfound understanding to your role, creating an inclusive environment for all individuals involved in adoption and fostering.

This is a great opportunity to enhance your expertise, foster inclusivity, and contribute to a more supportive adoption and fostering community.

Learning outcomes

• Understand sex, gender and various gender identities. ​
• Know basic Trans history​
• Understand the law​
• Be aware of current research about the lived day-to-day experiences of gender diverse people ​
• Understand the specific strengths that gender diverse people bring to adoption and fostering​
• Hear from gender diverse adopters and foster carers and the social workers that assessed them​
• Have a basic understanding of how to support young people that are gender diverse and where to find more support​
• Know how to apply their learning to their role
• Understand benefits of New Family Social membership and how they, and their gender diverse adopters and foster carers, can use New Family Social

About the trainer

Tor Docherty

Tor has over 20 years’ experience working in charities as a Chief Executive, and at a senior level, in diversity, equality and inclusion. She has extensive experience in strategic development, project management, fundraising, operational management, staff management, crisis management, finance, governance and policy work at local, regional and national level. Her interests are in diversity, equality and inclusion includes expertise in LGBTQ+ issues, disability, Deafness and neurodiversity. She has a law degree, a diploma in fundraising and a level six qualification in British Sign Language (BSL).

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 info@cvaa.org.uk. 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.

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

During this bespoke training session, we will unlock a deeper understanding of gender diversity in adoption. This comprehensive training covers essential topics, including sex, gender, and various gender identities, providing a solid foundation for adoption practitioners. We will learn the basics of trans history and gain insights into the legal landscape surrounding gender diversity.

We will explore the latest research and apply the findings on the day-to-day experiences of gender diverse individuals, discovering the unique strengths they bring to the world of adoption and fostering. We will hear firsthand from gender diverse adopters, foster carers, and the social workers who assessed them, offering valuable perspectives that enrich your knowledge and practice.

You will be also equipped with the knowledge to support young people who are gender diverse, and access resources for ongoing support. We will learn how to seamlessly apply your newfound understanding to your role, creating an inclusive environment for all individuals involved in adoption and fostering.

This is a great opportunity to enhance your expertise, foster inclusivity, and contribute to a more supportive adoption and fostering community.

Learning outcomes

• Understand sex, gender and various gender identities. ​
• Know basic Trans history​
• Understand the law​
• Be aware of current research about the lived day-to-day experiences of gender diverse people ​
• Understand the specific strengths that gender diverse people bring to adoption and fostering​
• Hear from gender diverse adopters and foster carers and the social workers that assessed them​
• Have a basic understanding of how to support young people that are gender diverse and where to find more support​
• Know how to apply their learning to their role
• Understand benefits of New Family Social membership and how they, and their gender diverse adopters and foster carers, can use New Family Social

About the trainer

Tor Docherty

Tor has over 20 years’ experience working in charities as a Chief Executive, and at a senior level, in diversity, equality and inclusion. She has extensive experience in strategic development, project management, fundraising, operational management, staff management, crisis management, finance, governance and policy work at local, regional and national level. Her interests are in diversity, equality and inclusion includes expertise in LGBTQ+ issues, disability, Deafness and neurodiversity. She has a law degree, a diploma in fundraising and a level six qualification in British Sign Language (BSL).

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 info@cvaa.org.uk. 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.

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

In this training session will look in detail at assessing prospective adopters with complex mental and health issues as a critical aspect of the adoption process. The assessment process must consider a wide range of issues, including Body Mass Index (BMI), unhealthy lifestyles, long-term medical conditions, and mental disorders to ensure prospective adopters are able to successfully parent a child and provide a safe and stable home.

Together with Ellie Johnson, a health consultant at CoramBAAF, we will get to the nitty gritty of the assessment process to consider the prospective adopter’s ability to manage their condition, and their ability to provide a secure and supportive environment for a child.

As part of this training, we will consider how to best ensure that prospective adopters receive appropriate treatment and support, so they can meet their adopted child’s needs.

Learning 0utcomes

• Understanding the importance of considering complex mental and health issues in the adoption process
• Awareness of the potential impact of high BMI, unhealthy lifestyles, long-term medical conditions, and mental disorders on an individual’s ability to parent
• Understanding the importance of considering an individual’s ability to manage their condition and provide a stable environment for a child
• Awareness of the importance of ensuring prospective adopters receive appropriate treatment and support
• Understanding the relationship between mental and physical health and its impact on the adoption process

About the trainer

Ellie Johnson

Ellie graduated from Manchester University with a nursing degree and worked as a nurse, midwife, health visitor and specialist public health practitioner in the NHS for 25 years. She was a designated nurse for looked after children for 14 years and chaired a regional LAC nursing network. During this time she was also involved in a joint project with the National Children’s Bureau focusing on inequalities in health experienced by looked after children.

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 info@cvaa.org.uk. 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.

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

This training session with Adoption Matters will focus on the importance of considering a child or young person’s needs within their family before an adoptive child is placed. It emphasizes that adoption is a decision that involves the whole family, not just the prospective adopters.

“I liked that there was a good balance of research, practice and personal experience – all which I can actually use to improve my practice” – Attendee, 2021

Research has shown that disruptions in adoptions can occur due to the relationship between the adopted child and the existing children in the family. Therefore, it is essential to involve all children in the adoption process and empower them to express their thoughts and feelings. The training will discuss how to ensure that the child or young person has a realistic expectation of the adoption and how to provide appropriate support and advice to the family.

“Always find CVAA training beneficial and insightful which is what today was.” – Attendee, 2022

The session will also explore the importance of capturing the voice of the child and using good practice and tools to engage children. The training will draw on research and learnings from serious case reviews and disruptions to highlight the significance of doing effective work with children already in the family during adoption assessments

Learning 0utcomes

• Understanding of the context for the work with children.
• An understanding of the need to do high quality work with children already in the family
• A good understanding of the need to capture the voice of the child in adoption assessments.
• Confidence to work with children and contribute to the PAR assessment.

About the trainers

Irene Redshaw, Jan Stokes, Gemma Williams and Claire Dale

Irene is a team manager for Adoption Matters’, working in the Durham office, and has 16 years’ experience in the field of Adoption.

Jan is a social work assistant also working from the Durham office, she is experienced at undertaking direct work with children in the prospective adopter’s household.

Gemma is a social work assistant working from the Blackburn office, she is experienced in undertaking direct work with children in the prospective adopter’s household.

Claire is a Social Work Therapist working in the Centre for Adoption Support she has 26 years’ experience as a social worker and 19 years as a Play Therapist.

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 info@cvaa.org.uk. 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.