Workshops

The Impact of Shame on Children

In this training we will explore what ‘shame’ is and how it develops, in particular the toxic stress experienced by children with a background of abuse and/or neglect. As well as exploring the causes we will identify the signs and the connection of shame to trauma. We will learn to identify ‘typical’ shame responses, we will think about how parents and carers can help children regulate this big emotion and also how they can help to minimise shame-based behaviour.

3rd November 2026 9:30am-3:30pm Online Workshop

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Safeguarding for Fostering and Adoption Panels

This course offers a chance to reflect on your role at panel in relation to safeguarding children. You will revisit important legislation that governs your responsibilities. Through the use of case studies and scenarios, you will explore and discuss what safeguarding means in practice, particularly in the context of assessing and reviewing foster and kinship carers. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to reflect on your personal and professional identity and how it may influence your role as a panel member.

8th September 2026 10am-3pm Online Workshop

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Learning from Child Practice Reviews

A workshop for social workers from across the Permanency sector to come together to look at learning from Serious Case Review (Child Practice Reviews) in adoption, fostering and Special Guardianship Order placements. Looking at how this learning can impact on your work and where changes can be made to improve practice.

17th September 2026 9:30am-1pm Online Workshop

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Panel Chairs/Vice Chairs and Panel Advisors – Fostering and Adoption

A workshop for experienced or new Adoption and Fostering Panel Chairs, Vice Chairs and Panel Advisors.

The role of the Panel Chair, Vice Chair and Panel Advisor is central to ensuring that fostering and adoption panels operate effectively, fairly and in accordance with legislation, regulations and national guidance in Wales. Together, they provide leadership, oversight and quality assurance, helping panels reach recommendations that are robust, evidence-based and focused on achieving the best outcomes for children.

24th September 2026 10am-4pm Online Workshop

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Effective Annual Reviews

Coram BAAF has launched their new publication “Annual Reviews” for use in Wales with Welsh revisions and guidance written by Tracy Bowen from AFKA Cymru.

Annual Reviews are an essential part of our statutory support and supervision of foster carers. In this course, we explore how to complete an annual review well. We explore how to ensure the review meets the needs of the Fostering Service to be legally compliant, but also of carers to feel valued and supported, whilst keeping children at the centre of the process.

1st October 2026 10am-4pm Online Workshop

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Blocked Trust / Blocked Care

This workshop will consider what blocked trust is, how it develops, how it shows and why is it so important to care for foster carers in order to help the child. Participants will be looking at early trauma, insecure attachment, inner working model and perception of correction for insecure/mistrusting children. The course will support participants to identify foster carers’ own triggers and how to support themselves and others to get out of blocked care. There will also be exploration around when interventions don’t work and the child has to move on.

5th October 2026 9:30am-3:30pm Online Workshop

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AFKA Cymru Conference: Care Planning for Stability and Permanence

AFKA Cymru is delighted to be facilitating a conference in partnership with the Independent Reviewing Officers in Wales.

This conference will provide an opportunity to explore how practitioners can promote placement stability alongside the agenda to remove profit from the care of looked after children. The day will also focus on care planning for Special Guardianship Orders as a route to permanence, as well as sharing best practice examples of reunification planning.

We welcome all practitioners from across Wales who are committed to improving placement stability and delivering effective care planning to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people.

7th October 2026 - Registration 10am for a 10:30am start. Close by 4pm Novotel, Cardiff

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Kinship Foster Carer / Special Guardian Preparation Training

Equip Your Carers with the Knowledge and Skills for Kinship Foster Care and Special Guardianship.

Are you seeking to support and empower kinship or connected individuals currently in the pre-assessment, assessment, or recently approved stage of becoming kinship foster carers or special guardians? Do you want to ensure that your carers have a deeper understanding and awareness of their responsibilities and potential challenges? Are you looking to provide them with the tools to understand legal orders and set the foundations to effectively meet the needs of children who have experienced separation, ACEs or trauma?

Introducing our Kinship Foster Carer / Special Guardian Preparation Training, designed to equip your carers with the knowledge and understanding necessary to participate fully in decision-making. This course addresses the rewards, complexities, and demands of kinship foster care and special guardianship. It supports carers in their journey of developing skills to enable them to provide the best possible care to children.

Tuesday 13th October 2026 Workshop

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Workshops

AFKA Cymru are proud to work alongside: