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 and other professionals working with children and families.

Details

As adoption practitioners we know that there’s no such thing as adoption without trauma. Our training and practice encourages us to continually reflect on the trauma of the adopted child and how best to respond to the resulting emotional, behavioural and relational difficulties they experience.

But what if the trauma belongs to the parent?  And what if that trauma is not vicarious or secondary in nature but instead comes directly from the challenges of parenting their child?  Is there an alternative to child-centred practice that allow us to equally recognise the needs of adopters and, if so, might this actually produce better results for the child long term?

In this training course, Adopter and Psychotherapist Fi Newood shares her experience of the false allegations, violence, coercive-control, verbal abuse, adoption disruption, professional judgement and more, that led to both trauma in the moment and PTSD years later.  She asks whether we can hold empathy for the child whilst also recognising the experience of the parent?

Throughout the course, participants will be encouraged to ‘sit with the uncomfortable’ that we might learn to offer a deeper level of support and connection to adopters.

This course will be challenging as we explore the thoughts and feeling that many adopters find hard to express to the professionals supporting them.

Learning outcomes

• To reflect on the difficult experiences that impact some adopters when caring for their children.
• To recognise the difference between what may be hard for an adopter and what may be traumatic.
• To learn how to respond to adopters ‘in the moment’ in ways that feel supportive for them.
• To consider the long-term impact for adopters and support that may be helpful.
• To hear an honest, first-hand experience of an adopter and have the opportunity to ask questions

About the trainer

Fi Newood

Fi Newood has spent more than 20 years working with care experienced young people.  In 2008 she and her wife fostered a sibling group of three who they later adopted in 2015. Fi now works as an Integrative Psychotherapist specialising in support for foster and adoptive families. She is the creator of the 3B’s Therapeutic Model (Belong, Believe, Behave) and an author of 2 books for parents and 4 therapeutic stories for 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

Throughout this session, expert trainer Hedwig Verhagen will delve into strategies for understanding and addressing the unique needs of adopters who have experienced trauma firsthand. You will gain valuable insights into trauma-responsive approaches, fostering a deeper understanding of trauma’s impact on the adoption journey.

Key topics to be covered include:

• Recognizing the signs and symptoms of trauma in adopters
• Implementing trauma-informed practices within adoption agencies and support networks
• Building resilient and supportive environments for adopters and their families
• Navigating challenges and promoting healing in the adoption process

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

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 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

Supporting adopted children and young people facing trauma, attachment disruption, and neurodiversity, including conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASC) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), requires a multifaceted approach rooted in understanding, empathy, and specialized care. Recognising the unique challenges these individuals encounter, adoptive parents and professionals must provide a nurturing environment that prioritizes stability, consistency, and therapeutic interventions tailored to their specific needs.

I absolutely loved this training! I think anyone who interacts with young people in their work in any way should complete this training. I learned various new skills to use in my interactions with young people. It has changed the way I think and communicate. Thank you so much. Denise and Zach are excellent at what they do.”– Attendee, 2023

This training course focuses on an attachment, ‘love-based’ approach which is based on techniques and strategies from The Great Behaviour Breakdown; The trainers incorporate their ideas and strategies developed from living and working with children with additional needs, as well as drawing on DDP (Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy)/PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance. Curiosity, Empathy, and theraplay) techniques.

I have found this one of the most beneficial training I  have attended. I will definitely be able to use the strategies within my work. the instructors are very knowledgeable, there is a good pace to the training,  with good examples given. I have already started to recommend this course to my colleagues.” – Attendee, 2023

This training focuses on the particular difficulties faced by children and young people in managing stress and provides a to help parents, carers and professionals manage their children’s behaviours and support their regulatory development.

You will learn practical strategies and be provided with a TOOLBOX of techniques to support parents.

Learning 0utcomes

• Core messages for Parents and Professionals
• Incorporating the Stress Model: Regulation vs Dysregulation
• Transforming the Drama Triangle into a Winners Triangle
• Techniques to deal with Transitions
• Managing Defiance and Physical and Verbal Aggression

About the trainers

Denise Golding is a senior social work practitioner and counsellor. She has 30+ years’ experience of working with children and families, including the past 25+ years working in adoption. She has worked in Child Mental Health and in Statutory as well as Independent and Voluntary Agencies. Denise now works independently as a trainer and counsellor.

Zach Gomm is a foster carer and adopter; he has fostered many children over the past years and is an adoptive father to his son who he has parented using The Great Behaviour Breakdown techniques with amazing results for the past years. Zach now works as a trainer and online coach offering parenting support.

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

Our work with children from the care system and their new families inevitably means we are working at times with high levels of trauma, and just by being human our bodies and nervous systems are going to be impacted by this.

“I really enjoyed all of the session – the activities were really thought provoking. The group members contributions were interesting to listen to. It was a honest without judgement discussion that made me feel positive – that there are things that we can do to balance this.”– Attendee, April 2021

This expert-led training recognises the need for us, as helping professionals, to both heighten our awareness of the impact of stress on our bodies and find ways of looking after ourselves and resourcing our nervous systems. Understanding the impact of trauma only goes some way towards helping us make sense of our stress levels. What is needed when supporting ourselves to manage is for our bodies to be listened to. It is the body, as Van der Kolk says, that ultimately ‘keeps the score’.

“Really enjoyed it and learnt a lot. It has helped me to finally remember the difference between SNS and PNS – previously I had to always look it up to check!” – Attendee, April 2022

The body needs attention and this workshop will focus on helping the children, young people and adults learn to care for themselves, find ways to resource themselves and manage their stress responses. The workshop offers a combination of research information and psycho-education as well as practical strategies to look after ourselves.

“It was extremely interesting and relatable in both a personal and professional capacity. Good use of diagrams and exercises to bring the subjects to life.” – Attendee, June 2023

Learning Outcomes

• To think about trauma and how it is rooted in our bodies and nervous systems
• To help participants detect when there is nervous system activation/stress for children, young people and adults
• To help participants put in place ways to support children, young people and adults calm their nervous systems and stress response
• To think overall about the value of a body-based approach

About the trainer

Jay Vaughan

Jay, M.A., is a Somatic Experience Practitioner. Jay is also a state registered Dramatherapist, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapist and certified Theraplay therapist and supervisor as well as a Theraplay trainer. Jay is the Clinical Director at Family Futures CIC. Jay has been working with traumatised children since qualifying as a Dramatherapist in 1989, and passionately believes in the use of arts, play and body-based approaches in helping traumatised children and their families heal.

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

Sensory processing refers to the neurological process of how the brain receives, organises, and helps us respond to the world we live in. It is fundamental to how we survive and thrive in the world. Developmental trauma refers to adverse experiences that can interfere with healthy development, including that of the sensory systems. These experiences can disrupt the development of the nervous system, leading to sensory processing difficulties.

In this expert-led training session, together with occupational therapists from the Centre for Adoption Support, we will explore how adopted children may have experienced developmental trauma and how this can impact their sensory modulation. Using a bottom-up approach, we will consider how to best help adoptive parents to support their child’s sensory development.

“It was extremely informative and the presenters had a great deal of knowledge and experience in this area” – Attendee, 2023

You will have an opportunity to learn what Centre of Adoption Support are doing in terms of specific aspects of this work, whilst at the same time having the opportunity to deepen your understanding of sensory modulation, sensorimotor development and sensory-attachment approaches.

“There was a wealth of information that was shared along with examples which was really helpful to put it into context” – Attendee, 2023

You will be able to network with practitioners from other agencies, share best practice and glean new ideas.

Learning outcomes

• Explore the importance of Sensory Modulation: a bottom-up approach
• Understand what sensory processing challenges may look like for our adopted children
• Learn about strategies that may be useful in supporting general nervous system regulation
• Consider the possible impacts of pre-natal experiences upon the developing sensorimotor systems of the child
• Explore approaches to develop under-mature sensory systems, including sensorimotor development and sensory-attachment-intervention approaches

About the trainers

This training will be co-delivered by Helen Springfellow, Aeron Gates and Hannah McNulty, Occupational Therapists at the Centre for Adoption Support (CfAS). Gleaning upon both professional and personal experience in the world of sensory processing and adoption, they support families with adopted children, and other professionals involved in their lives, to understand the impacts of sensory modulation upon children’s regulation and daily functioning. The team have developed bespoke packages of support for families; focusing on sensory modulation, sensorimotor development (using the BUSS Model, Sarah Lloyd) and Sensory Attachment Intervention (SAI) approaches.

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

Together with Joanna Parker, a Child & Family Therapist at PAC-UK, we developed a practice webinar on therapeutic toolkits for adoption practitioners, so they can feel confident about providing good quality support to adoptive families. We will be looking at the multidisciplinary aspect of the this work, the need for a range of therapies, bolstered by some clinician lead training/group therapy and the challenges of Adoption Support Fund.

“The whole session was really creative and tapped into somethings that often get lost in the stress of day to day work” – Attendee, 2022

This webinar aims to introduce participants to a range of therapeutic tools, as a way of connecting to children and young people that they are working with. This will include use of the arts and play, as a form of communication, to help with both the expression and containment of a range of feelings and life events. This is not training participants to be psychotherapists, it is a snapshot of how to enhance engagement with children and young people who are facing difficulties.

“It was a very informative webinar, a lot of useful resources were shared and Jo the facilitator gave lots of examples/ideas/instructions on how to use the resources.” – Attendee, 2022

We will also discuss how we can best meet the changing needs of adoptive families. You will be able to network with practitioners from other agencies, share best practice and glean new ideas.

Learning outcomes

• Understand the basic principles of Trauma-informed practice working with families
• Clear understanding between the difference of therapy and communication using therapeutic tools
• Understanding the importance of developmental age – pitching to the right level
• Introduction to use of the arts as a form of communication, expression and containment.
• Have some practical tools for Improving interactions with families.
• Awareness of the limitations of their specific roles and when to refer

About the trainer

Joanna Parker is a UKCP registered Integrative Arts Psychotherapist MA and clinical supervisor (Dip) with over 20 years of working in a range of settings with children, young people, adults and families. Joanna currently works at PAC-UK with adoptive families, and she has a particular interest in attachment and the power of creative process. Alongside this role, Joanna works for Young Minds as a Professional Adviser to parents, is a member of the Child Therapeutic Wellbeing Practice Faculty at the Institute of Arts in Therapy and Education where she is a tutor and she is the co-founder of Studio 34, from which she runs a private practice. Prior to this, Joanna managed Young Oasis for 10 years in Brighton, a multi-disciplinary therapeutic service, which supports children and families impacted by substance misuse.

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

Our work with children from the care system and their new families inevitably means we are working at times with high levels of trauma, and just by being human our bodies and nervous systems are going to be impacted by this.

“I really enjoyed all of the session – the activities were really thought provoking. The group members contributions were interesting to listen to. It was a honest without judgement discussion that made me feel positive – that there are things that we can do to balance this.”– Attendee, April 2021

This expert-led training recognises the need for us, as helping professionals, to both heighten our awareness of the impact of stress on our bodies and find ways of looking after ourselves and resourcing our nervous systems. Understanding the impact of trauma only goes some way towards helping us make sense of our stress levels. What is needed when supporting ourselves to manage is for our bodies to be listened to. It is the body, as Van der Kolk says, that ultimately ‘keeps the score’.

“Really enjoyed it and learnt a lot. It has helped me to finally remember the difference between SNS and PNS – previously I had to always look it up to check!” – Attendee, April 2022

The body needs attention and this workshop will focus on helping the children, young people and adults learn to care for themselves, find ways to resource themselves and manage their stress responses. The workshop offers a combination of research information and psycho-education as well as practical strategies to look after ourselves.

Learning Outcomes

• To think about trauma and how it is rooted in our bodies and nervous systems
• To help participants detect when there is nervous system activation/stress for children, young people and adults
• To help participants put in place ways to support children, young people and adults calm their nervous systems and stress response
• To think overall about the value of a body based approach

About the trainer

Jay Vaughan

Jay, M.A., is a Somatic Experience Practitioner. Jay is also a state registered Dramatherapist, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapist and certified Theraplay therapist and supervisor as well as a Theraplay trainer. Jay is the Clinical Director at Family Futures CIC. Jay has been working with traumatised children since qualifying as a Dramatherapist in 1989, and passionately believes in the use of arts, play and body-based approaches in helping traumatised children and their families heal.

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, Managers, Social Workers (Voluntary Adoption Agencies, Regional Adoption Agencies and Local Authorities), Children’s Social Workers, Support Workers and Independent Professionals.

Details

Sensory processing refers to the neurological process of how the brain receives, organises, and helps us respond to the world we live in. It is fundamental to how we survive and thrive in the world. Developmental trauma refers to adverse experiences that can interfere with healthy development, including that of the sensory systems. These experiences can disrupt the development of the nervous system, leading to sensory processing difficulties.

In this expert-led training session, together with occupational therapists from the Centre for Adoption Support, we will explore how adopted children may have experienced developmental trauma and how this can impact their sensory modulation. Using a bottom-up approach, we will consider how to best help adoptive parents to support their child’s sensory development.

You will have an opportunity to learn what Centre of Adoption Support are doing in terms of specific aspects of this work, whilst at the same time having the opportunity to deepen your understanding of sensory modulation, sensorimotor development and sensory-attachment approaches.

You will be able to network with practitioners from other agencies, share best practice and glean new ideas.

Learning outcomes

• Explore the importance of Sensory Modulation: a bottom-up approach
• Understand what sensory processing challenges may look like for our adopted children
• Learn about strategies that may be useful in supporting general nervous system regulation
• Consider the possible impacts of pre-natal experiences upon the developing sensorimotor systems of the child
• Explore approaches to develop under-mature sensory systems, including sensorimotor development and sensory-attachment-intervention approaches

About the trainers

This training will be co-delivered by Helen Springfellow, Aeron Gates and Hannah McNulty, Occupational Therapists at the Centre for Adoption Support (CfAS). Gleaning upon both professional and personal experience in the world of sensory processing and adoption, they support families with adopted children, and other professionals involved in their lives, to understand the impacts of sensory modulation upon children’s regulation and daily functioning. The team have developed bespoke packages of support for families; focusing on sensory modulation, sensorimotor development (using the BUSS Model, Sarah Lloyd) and Sensory Attachment Intervention (SAI) approaches.

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

This day is suitable for practitioners who are interested in supporting parents of adopted children who have experienced trauma within their family of origin.

Details

Neuroscience has greatly increased our understanding of the nervous system and how trauma impacts on its development and functioning. For example, Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory helps us to understand how our autonomic nervous system responds under conditions of perceived threat and perceived safety. Deb Dana explores ways of applying this theory to practice and Jon Baylin and Dan Hughes have considered how an understanding of the neuroscience can enhance our DDP interventions.

“Very useful to have a more focused look at DDP. Although I have been aware of it and the principles, my knowledge was not in depth. It was helpful to have the links to attachment, intersubjectivity and neuroception theory and research and to think about DDP as an attitude. I also like the idea of story-telling and co-creating stories.” Attendee, 2020

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) was developed by Dan Hughes as an approach to helping children who have experienced trauma from within the family. This is both a therapy offering therapeutic support to the child, supported by the parent and a model for parenting and practice. DDP as a therapy and informing parenting and practice helps parents and practitioners to emotionally connect with their children in ways which increases feelings of safety and security. Understanding and regulating our own nervous system is an important starting point for both parents and practitioners to remain open and engaged to the child who has experienced developmental trauma and to return to this state when the impact of this trauma is pulling us all into defensive states.

“Kim was a brilliant, engaging trainer. Her expert knowledge of the subject was clear, making her explanations and examples very clear” Attendee, 2022

The training will provide a clinician’s perspective on understanding and managing our own nervous systems allowing the child to also become less defensive. We will experientially explore how this insight into the nervous system can be used within DDP interventions, thus increasing sense of safety and security for the children.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the nervous system and how it responds under conditions of perceived threat and safety
• Develop ways of recognising when we and others move into defensive responding
• Learn ways of returning to open and engaged states at times of defensiveness
• Understand how this learning can enhance DDP interventions

About the trainer

Kim Golding

Kim is a Clinical Psychologist living in Worcestershire, UK. Kim worked with children and families within the NHS for thirty years, specialising in working with parents or carers to develop their parenting skills tailored to the particular needs of the children they are caring for. She was involved in the setting up and evaluation of the Integrated Service for Looked After and Adopted Children; providing support for foster, adoptive and residential parents, schools and the range of professionals around the children growing up in care or in adoptive families. Kim now has her own business providing training, consultation and supervision.

Kim currently sits on the board of the DDP institute and is involved in accrediting and training other professionals in this approach. She is also one of the directors of the Community Interest Company: ‘DDP Connects UK’. Amongst her books, Kim co-authored: ‘Healing Relational Trauma with Attachment-Focused Interventions Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy with Children and Families’ with Dan Hughes and Julie Hudson, published January 2019.

Kim has additionally developed two DDP-informed programmes. ‘The Nurturing Attachments Training Resource’; and ‘Foundations for Attachment Training Resource’ Kim’s ‘Everyday Parenting with Love and security’ has been written to accompany Foundations for Attachment.

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 and Local Authorities) and Independent Professionals.

Details

In this expert-led training session delivered by specialist practitioners at Body & Soul we will learn about the neuroscience of intergenerational trauma and some practical evidence-based skills and approaches for adoption practitioners to help adoptive families who are struggling become more resilient over the long-term.

“I loved the whole webinar – one of the best I have attended. Loved the style of the practitioners delivering, loved the content, loved that there was a section of practical activities to take away – I’ve already done 2 of them with a young person and family I’m supporting.” – Attendee, 2022

We aim to provide you with robust information about intergenerational trauma so you feel more empowered in supporting families who are struggling, but also some really practical evidence-based skills/approaches that you can use themselves to make their frontline work that little bit easier in the moment.

“Clear topics, well explained, use of the videos also supported understanding. It was really interesting to think about epigenetic trauma. It made me reflect on the relevance of this as other risk factors to also consider in matching children with adopters.” – Attendee, 2022

In this session, we will provide a forum for sharing and validating all the existing expertise and experience of people who are attending the training, and to reflect together on what we bring to our work as individuals and how this shapes our responses to colleagues and clients.

Learning outcomes

• A better understanding of intergenerational trauma and the key biological, emotional, psychological and social processes that shape it.
• The neuroscience of toxic stress and the impact of early trauma on child development – and then how this impacts on your approach to parenting in adult life.
• The impact of repetitive trauma (think neglect, racism, structural discrimination etc) and all the systemic factors that compound and reinforce it (think poverty, marginalisation, etc).
• Practical skills for regulating your emotions and for tolerating distress – which social workers can demonstrate to parents, so that the parents feel liberated and skilled-up to help their children in moments of high anxiety, upset, anger etc.
• A wider picture of how children find a pathway to healing and some strategies for helping adoptive families become more resilient over time – e.g. the power of validation, of positive reinforcement, of enhancing a variety of protective factors rather than focusing exclusively on the most obvious risks.
• Reflecting together on what we bring to our work as individuals and how this shapes our responses to colleagues and clients.
• A forum for sharing and validating the existing expertise and experience of people who are attending the training.

About the trainer

David Bell

David is a DBT facilitator and specialist practitioner, with 25 years’ experience of working with young people and families who are experiencing grave challenges, in prisons, in hospices and in frontline charities.  He has worked as a consultant with leading clinical organisations to help develop training, most recently with the Anna Freud Centre, to enhance the experience of children who might need to talk to an adult about abuse and other worries they have, and with RSPH, to support a wider community of employers who wish to implement trauma-engaged working practices.  He is also Head of Research at Body & Soul, currently overseeing several multi-year projects in collaboration with UCL, Wellcome Trust and The Royal Statistical Society.

Hilary Marling

Hilary is an integrative counsellor and DBT facilitator, with over 30 years’ experience of working with parents and families under stress, in charities and in the NHS.  Currently, she is advisor and group therapist within Body & Soul’s adoption programme for adoptive families who have been referred to us by social services because the relationship is at risk of breaking down.  She also leads our ‘Positive Parents’ Place’, a programme of group work for parents who are living with complex 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 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.