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 webinar gives an opportunity for Social Workers to explore the issue of Post Natal Depression and what can happen to prospective parents when a child becomes part of their lives. Many adults dream about becoming parents, yet the reality of having a child join them can be very different; a ready-made little person with their own personality who demands constant attention. Following transitions there is no time to stop and take stock, the child is home and the tiredness can feel unreal. Homes are open to Social Workers and other professionals and life can feel out of control.

Society accepts that new Mums (and now Dads) can suffer from Post Natal Depression, so what about new parents who are in the process of adopting or who have adopted. Post Adoption Depression/Post Placement Blues is sometimes overlooked in the assessment process and some new parents have never heard of it, yet it is estimated that 10-32% of adoptive parents suffer from PAD. Lynda has specialised in this work for over 10 years and her experience shows that this can set in from when the child arrives right through to adolescence.

In this webinar we will focus on what PAD is and how it can impact on an individual or couple. We will also look at how to prepare the adopters for the possible onset and not to be afraid to admit how they are feeling.

The webinar will provide Social Workers with a checklist of what to look out for in their assessment and after a child is placed. We will also discuss ways to include this topic in home studies and training. Psychological preparation for parenthood is necessary and this is a topic not to be avoided but talked about openly.

Learning outcomes

• To be more aware of Post Adoption Depression/ Post Placement Blues
• To understand more about the psychological impact of adoptive parenting
• To have a checklist when working with new parents

About the trainer

Lynda Graham

Lynda is a Senior Accredited Counsellor with National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society. After twenty-five years as a Social Worker and Senior Practitioner, Lynda set up a Private Counselling Practice. She has a particular interest in Post Placement Blues/Depression and has set up a Specialist Counselling and Support Service for prospective and new adoptive parents who are struggling following the placement of their child/children. Having researched this topic for her MSc in Counselling she also provides training to potential adoptive parents, Social Workers and other professionals.  Lynda is also a Counselling Supervisor and Trainer and Adoption Panel member with a local Health and Social Care Trust.

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.