Training

[Hippocalipo]

Hi again

So ive completed my stage 1 and 2 training days and I've just been emailed regarded a voluntary first aid course and they've also mentioned a "family and friends adoption training"

Do my family and friends have to do this course? I'm not sure they'd be too keen and most of them live far away?

Any advice? Thanks

Hello!

We found our family and friends loved rhe course, it was a few hours, virtually one Saturday last year. It gave them a good understanding of issues and parenting styles, and was great for our social worker to see our support network.

For what its worth our friends and family were more than keen to do it-why do you think yours wouldnt be?

I wasn't offered a first aid course but I've signed myself up to one with St John's Ambulance because I think it's helpful.

The family and friends course is really helpful - in ours they discussed possible parenting strategies we'd be using.
They also talked about attachment and why they advise to keep your world small at the beginning and that was really helpful as it stopped our families being pushing to hurry up and meet LO when they got here.
Plus, it's an open forum so they can ask any awkward questions they have and the social worker will handle them for you.

Our course was done via Teams as some of our family are far away and my best friend was on a work trip.
I think if you say none of your family or friends are willing to do the course it will likely lead to some questions, especially if you've presented them as your support network.

I’ve been to one as a supporter of someone adopting before I adopted my wee one and it was really useful. They went over trauma and behaviours we might see, how we can support, why we shouldn’t get too close too quickly and things like that. Gave a realistic picture. Also we could ask anything without fear of judgement which was great. I’d recommend it if it’s offered; it wasn’t when I adopted and I think my family were a bit disappointed they couldn’t do it for me to support me.

Oh its online!! That does make a difference.

Not normally mandatory I don’t think but really useful! We had a few people who were thrilled to do it & a few who declined - the difference in understanding & support was like night & day. Some of this was probably personality but I do think a big part of it was increased understanding for the people that did it!