Life Journey Work Resources for Professionals
This section provides guides, toolkits, and current research to support all professionals involved in life journey work; to help ensure the child has access to good quality, meaningful information and materials that allow them to make sense of their story.
For professionals working in adoption, Life Journey Work plays an important role in supporting children and families to explore their story over time. It helps ensure that children receive clear, thoughtful information about their past and the people who are important in their lives.
If you are an Adopter or a Family Member, please visit the Life Journey Work for Adopters and Family Members page.
LJW Framework
Guidance to support consistent, high-quality Life Journey Work across Wales.
LFW Framework
Research on Life Journey Work
Explore research and evidence that can help inform life journey work with children and young people.
View research
LJW newsletters and bulletins
Updates, practice guidance and focused bulletins on specific Life Journey Work themes.
LJW newsletters and bulletins
Life Story Guides and Toolkits
Access practical guides, templates and toolkits to support life journey work with children and young people.
Life Story Guides and ToolkitsWhen to ask for support
Life Journey Work can raise complex questions for children, adopters and professionals. It may be helpful to seek additional support or discussion if:
• Families feel unsure about what information to share or when.
• A child begins asking new or challenging questions about their history.
• Conversations around identity, loss or relationships feel difficult to navigate.
• There are questions about how contact with birth family or siblings connects to a child’s life story.
Adoption teams and colleagues across the National Adoption Service can provide support, guidance and shared learning to help professionals approach Life Journey Work in a thoughtful and consistent way. We also welcome your ideas - let us know if there are topics you’d like to see on the website or areas of Life Journey Work you’d like to learn more about.
Need more support?
If you would like to discuss Life Journey Work, access further resources, or explore support for families you are working with, you can contact your local adoption service or the National Adoption Service for guidance.
