Training and Development

As a foster carer you will have already completed some basic training.

It is important for you to continue to build on this training in order to be fully equipped to deal with the many situations you may face. The support and training you will be offered will help you to become more confident as a carer.

This support and development continues throughout your fostering career, making fostering a positive experience for both you and the child/young person.

All new foster carers must complete a workbook which shows evidence of their ability to meet the Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care, Short Break Carers or for Kinship Carers within 12 months of being approved (or within 18 months for Friends and Family foster carers).

Two foster carers’ in the same house can use the same workbook.

The standards cover the main areas of the foster carer role and what you should know, understand and be able to do.

This evidence will begin to be gathered before you are approved, through the Skills to Foster course and will continue after you are approved. All evidence will be recorded in your training and development portfolio.

There will be some mandatory training that you must attend. There will also be further training which may be identified by you or your supervising social worker through your supervision meetings and through your annual foster carer review. You will be expected to attend training regularly in order to develop your practice and stay up to date.

Your Personal Development Plan will set out how you will be supported with training and development. Your supervising social worker will also discuss any help or support needed by your own children.

Training sessions are held during the day, and occasionally during evenings or weekends. We also provide some online training via The Training Hub. You will be registered for the online training upon approval and log in details will be provided to you by your supervising social worker.

The fostering service is committed to providing tailored training and support to all its foster carers that is based on equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.

Training also comes in many forms, you may attend courses but there may also be some on-line resources/courses, books or workshops that may also be helpful.

Information about training courses is emailed to foster carers in regular training newsletters. You will also receive an annual training calendar.

Training takes place at a variety of venues across the district, so please check carefully where your course is being held.