Stage Two
Here you will find details about the workshops you can attend during the Stage 2 section of your adoption assessment. To book a place on any of our workshops, please speak to your allocated social worker about availability and specific venue locations (*dates are subject to change).
Virtual Reality
Adoption East Midlands are at the forefront of modern technology in adoption and are using virtual reality (VR) to help our adopters develop greater connection to the lived experiences of our children. During your Stage 2 assessment home visits you will be given the opportunity to experience this immersive experience using a virtual reality headset.
The VR content follows the experiences of a little girl called Rayleigh and gives prospective adopters a unique perspective on the world through Rayleigh’s eyes and will help you develop greater understanding of the experiences some of our children have been through in their early life, and how this can have an impact on their brain development, behaviour, attachments & relationships. These sessions are facilitated by your assessing social worker who will fully discuss the content and support you before and after the VR session. You will also revisit Rayleigh’s story as part of the Therapeutic Parenting Workshops to develop your learning about the impact of trauma.
Therapeutic Parenting
This virtual and ‘in-person’ workshop will build on the information already learned in Stage 1 of the process around Therapeutic Parenting. To begin with we will look at the impact of trauma on the developing brain and then we will explore PACE, reparative parenting and practice practical techniques to aid in meaningful attachment with your adopted child/ren.
Dates (*subject to change) | Times | Venue |
Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 January 2026 | Day One virtual on Microsoft Teams 10am-1pm | Derbyshire |
Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 February | Nottinghamshire | |
Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 March | Derbyshire | |
Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 April | Nottinghamshire | |
Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June | Nottinghamshire | |
Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 July | Derbyshire | |
Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 September | Derbyshire | |
Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 October | Nottinghamshire | |
Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November | Derbyshire |
Linking, Matching and Transitions
Facilitated by the Family Finding team, this virtual session will help you to understand how adopters are linked and matched with a child/ren and the pathways to get there, whilst discussing the lead up to Matching Panel, meeting your child/ren and how best you can help their transition into your care.
Dates (*subject to change) | Venue | Time |
Thursday 22 January 2026 | Virtually delivered via Microsoft Teams | All 10am-1pm |
Thursday 23 April | ||
Thursday 16 July | ||
Thursday 15 October |
Parenting Brothers & Sisters
This workshop is designed to help you think about parenting more than one child. We will consider the positives, as well as the challenges, of supporting the individual and collective needs of sibling groups and will explore the impact and practicalities of parenting brothers and sisters. We'll encourage you to consider your own support network and think about what you have to offer a sibling group and the ways in which you are realistic, resourceful & resilient. Each session includes time set aside to meet and talk with an experienced sibling adopter.
Dates (*subject to change) | Venue | Time |
Thursday 8 January 2026 | Virtually delivered via Microsoft Teams | All 10am-1pm |
Thursday 5 March | ||
Thursday 7 May | ||
Thursday 2 July | ||
Thursday 3 September | ||
Thursday 5 November |
Early Permanence
Building on a foundation of learning following the CATCH FFA webinar, the AEM workshop will revisit what FFA is in theory as well as introduce the rewards and challenges of early permanence. It will include the pathway as well as the practicalities and expectations of initially being a foster carer. You will also have the opportunity to hear about the lived experience of early permanence and FFA, and to reflect on whether this could be the right route to adoption for you.
Dates (*subject to change) | Venue | Time |
Thursday 5 February 2026 | Virtually delivered via Microsoft Teams | All 10am-1pm |
Thursday 16 April | ||
Thursday 4 June | ||
Thursday 20 August | ||
Thursday 1 October |
Family and Friends
This webinar helps the nominated people from your support network to understand the adoption process. It is an open space for dialogue of what their feelings, expectations, fears and hopes are of their friend/family member adopting. It discusses the experiences and subsequent needs of children who are adopted and explores how they can best support you and your child/ren both now and in the future.
Dates (*subject to change) | Venue | Time |
Wednesday 7 January 2026 | Virtually delivered via Microsoft Teams | 6pm-8.30pm |
Wednesday 4 March | 12pm-2.30pm | |
Wednesday 6 May | 6pm-8.30pm | |
Wednesday 1 July | 12pm-2.30pm | |
Wednesday 2 September | 6pm-8.30pm | |
Wednesday 4 November | 12pm-2.30pm |
Moving in, Coming Home
This workshop delivered by adopters will help guide you through the moving in – coming home stage of your adoption journey. Through the five senses, we will explore some of the insights into what your child will be experiencing and how to make this important transitional stage flow as naturally as possible. This peer led session is ideal for applicants who are at the end of Stage 2, have already been approved at panel and are in the matching stages, or approved adopters who have been matched and are waiting for their child to come home.
Dates (*subject to change) | Venue | Time |
Tuesday 12 May 2026 | Derbyshire | 10am-2pm |
Wednesday 8 July 2026 | Derbyshire | 10am-2pm |
Tuesday 22 September 2026 | Derbyshire | 10am-2pm |
Thursday 12 November 2026 | Derbyshire | 10am-2pm |