Adoption West

Q&A Session
2022-03-02 18:00 - 19:00, 2022-02-22 18:00 - 19:00, 2022-02-10 13:00 - 14:00, 2022-02-02 11:00 - 12:00, 2022-01-05 18:00 - 19:00, 2021-12-14 16:00 - 17:00, 2021-12-07 18:00 - 19:00, 2021-12-01 16:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London) and 4 more dates | Virtual Session
Pre-Stage 1
This stage starts when you are ready, you are welcome to view our Information Videos at any point and then book onto one of these Q&A Sessions.
The Q&A sessions allow you to have your questions answered and we may also ask some of you. At the end of the session, you will be given the option to book a personal Initial Enquiry call with a worker.
Please follow this link to book onto the Q&A Session; Adoption West Events | Eventbrite

Adopter Advisory Board - Focus Group
2022-01-31 20:00 - 21:30 | Virtual Session
We Need Your Voice…
Adopter Voice is seeking your views on your family’s experience of contact with birth families, how do you feel about letterbox arrangements and sharing of information.

What’s your experience?
What has worked?
What hasn’t worked?
What would your recommendations to other families be?
What would help?

Please join Adoption UK and local Adopter Voice Champions Vicky and Sarah for our latest online Focus Forum, to discuss contact.
Monday 31st January at 8pm
To book a place* please use the Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/adopter-voice-adoption-west-focus-forum-contact-tickets-228240321947
If you are not able to attend the meeting but would still like to share your view, please also register and a Contribution Form will be sent to allow your contribution.
*Booking closes 8pm 30/1/2022 event and a links to a Teams meeting will be shared by midday on the event day.
Further queries (or a contribution form) please contact adoptervoice@adoptionuk.org.uk

10 Online Week Therapeutic Parenting course - for existing adopters
2022-01-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Session
Do you sometimes find your child’s behaviour hard to understand? Do some of your parenting techniques seem ineffective?
We are running a course for our adoptive parents looking specifically at the impact of children’s early experiences on their behaviour and emotional well-being. We will be exploring alternative parenting ideas and strategies.

The course runs for 10 weeks, from the 24th January 2022 to 5th April, (with a break for half-term on the 22nd February), from 10am until 12pm and will be held online.
We are running this course for families whose children have been been living with them for at least 6 months and who are aged between 3 and 10 years old.

Contact claire.jarvis@adoptionwest.co.uk for more details

Friends and Family Training
2021-12-20 13:00 - 16:00, 2021-11-22 13:00 - 16:00, 2021-10-04 10:00 - 13:00
This three hour virtual session will allow the friends and family of people that are adopting to gain an oversight and basic understanding of the following areas;

the backgrounds of children placed for adoption
attachment theory and how children placed for adoption can form healthy attachments

Which will hopeful enable you to feel better prepared and more understanding of the role you can play in supporting the adoptive parents and their children
on their life long adoption journey.
**N.B. This course needs to be booked by a social worker and is intended for the relatives and friends of those already in the assessment process**

Stage 1 Early Permanence (part of Prep. Course)
2021-12-20 09:30 - 12:30, 2021-11-22 18:00 - 21:00, 2021-09-27 09:30 - 12:30 | Virtual Session
**N.B. This course needs to be booked by your social worker and is intended for those already in the assessment process**
Adoption West believe that Early Permanence provides the best possible futures for children, we therefore give all our prospective adopters the chance to explore this option through training. The majority of adopters are approved as Early Permanence carers, so that our children experience fewer moves in their lives and can be placed with a family as early as possible, however it is a personal choice and you will be given the option to opt out of becoming an Early Permanence carer to follow a more traditional adoption journey.

Stage 1 Training
2021-12-13 10:00 - 16:00, 2021-11-15 10:00 - 16:00, 2021-10-18 10:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Session
Preparation course – Stage 1
**N.B. This course needs to be booked by your social worker and is intended for those already in the assessment process**
Throughout Stage One and Two of the process, you will be invited to attend a four-day preparation course; applicants are required to attend every session and to participate fully throughout. The preparation course is an interactive course, with personal experiences of adopters and children in care. We cover subjects such as child development, how our own experiences and relationships influence our parenting, contact with birth families, telling your child about adoption and understanding and managing behaviour.
We will encourage regular opportunities to discuss any issues that may arise. We hope this helps prepare you for the journey ahead.

Stage 2 Training
2021-12-02 10:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Session
**N.B. This course needs to be booked by your social worker and is intended for those already in the assessment process**
Stage 2 of the Prep. Course covers three days; Thursday 2nd,9th, 16th December.
Stage 1 must have been completed in advance.
We encourage regular opportunities to discuss any issues that may arise. We hope this helps prepare you for the journey ahead.

Stage 2 Early Permanence (part of Prep. Course)
2021-11-25 10:00 - 16:00, 2021-09-23 10:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Session

Stage 2 Training
2021-11-04 10:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Session
**N.B. This course needs to be booked by your social worker and is intended for those already in the assessment process**
Stage 2 of the Prep. Course covers three days; Thursday 4th, 11th 18th November
Stage 1 must have been completed in advance.
We encourage regular opportunities to discuss any issues that may arise. We hope this helps prepare you for the journey ahead.

Interested in adopting siblings? Want to know about direct contact?
2021-10-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual Session
**Open to anyone wanting to know more about the reality of adopting siblings and establishing direct contact with birth parents**
This virtual event (hosted on Teams), is an opportunity to find out more about adopting siblings, from the people that have actually done it.
There is a growing need for adopters to consider siblings, according to the most recent data (provided nationally) out of 2,030 children waiting to be adopted, 890 are in a sibling group. Here at Adoption West, we are very keen to talk to people that may be considering siblings.
This event is designed to be low-key and informal and offers potential adopters the chance to have their questions answered. We will also have one of the assessment social workers on hand to answer your questions, about the adoption assessment process and beyond.
N.B. You only need one ticket per household.

To register please follow this Eventbrite Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/talk-to-an-adopter-live-qa-siblings-and-contact-tickets-189654891887

Interested in adopting siblings? Want to know about direct contact?
2021-10-20 14:30 - 15:30 | Virtual Session
**Open to anyone wanting to know more about the reality of adopting siblings and establishing direct contact with birth parents**
This virtual event (hosted on Teams), is an opportunity to find out more about adopting siblings, from the people that have actually done it.
There is a growing need for adopters to consider siblings, according to the most recent data (provided nationally) out of 2,030 children waiting to be adopted, 890 are in a sibling group. Here at Adoption West, we are very keen to talk to people that may be considering siblings.
This event is designed to be low-key and informal and offers potential adopters the chance to have their questions answered. We will also have one of the assessment social workers on hand to answer your questions, about the adoption assessment process and beyond.
N.B. You only need one ticket per household.

To register please follow this Eventbrite Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/talk-to-an-adopter-live-qa-siblings-and-direct-contact-tickets-191576830457

Stage 2 Training
2021-10-07 10:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Session
Preparation course – Stage 2
**N.B. This course needs to be booked by your social worker and is intended for those already in the assessment process**
Stage 2 of the Prep. Course covers three days; Thursday 7th, 14th, 21st October.
Stage 1 must have been completed in advance.
We encourage regular opportunities to discuss any issues that may arise. We hope this helps prepare you for the journey ahead.
