Training and Development

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

It is important for you to continue to build on this training in order to be fully equipped to respond well to the many situations you may face. The support and training you will be offered will help you to become more confident. There will be mandatory training that you will be expected to do.

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 Family and Friends Foster Carers within 12 months of being approved (or within 18 months for Connected Persons foster carers (family and friends).

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

Training will be geared towards each carer’s needs.

The standards cover the main areas of the foster care role and what you should know, understand and be able to care for children to a safe and high standard.

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 a training and development portfolio.

There will be some standard training (core) that you must attend. There will also be further training which may be identified by you or your fostering social worker through your supervision meetings and through your annual appraisal or Foster Care Review.

Your personal development plan will set out how you will be supported with training and development. Your fostering social worker will also discuss any help or support needed by your own children.

Training sessions are held during the day, evenings or sometimes at weekends in convenient places and also online via Teams or as e learning. Travelling expenses will be paid to enable you to attend, either mileage or public transport costs.

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.

Your fostering social worker will provide you with a training programme. If you are interested in any courses, speak to them and complete the training form in order to attend.

It is important that you seek out learning and development opportunities to allow you to provide high standards of care for our children/young people. You will take pride in your learning journey and use the training and development to reflect during your supervision sessions. You should think about “how this is applied to caring for my young person?”, “what have I learnt and how can this support my person in their time living with me?” 

If you move to another fostering service, your training portfolio will be transferred if requested.