Support and training
You don’t need to have any prior training or qualifications to be a foster carer, we provide a wide range of training and support
You don’t need to have any prior training or qualifications to be a foster carer, we provide a wide range of training and support
We pride ourselves on the outstanding support we offer our foster carers and will make sure that you are fully prepared and supported to fulfil this role. Our foster carers tell us they like the excellent support and training opportunities. Feeling valued and getting support gives them satisfaction and makes them feel like they’re having a really positive impact.
If you're supporting a local child, we'll support you. We know having the right support in place is essential for you to be able to give the best possible support to the young people in your care.
By combining your own life experience with the training and support we offer, you'll feel confident making decisions whilst a child is in your care and be able to help them develop into confident, well-rounded young people.
Foster carer training will build the skills and confidence you need to tackle the challenges of this fulfilling role
We don't expect prospective foster carers to have any specific qualifications when they come to us. What we are looking for are individuals and couples who are motivated to shape the lives of children for the better.
You will need a willingness to learn about the life experiences of the children and young people you will care for, and how to support them. Foster carer training will build the skills and confidence you need to tackle the challenges of this fulfilling role. We offer a wide range of training courses to help you meet the wide range of needs of the children you may care for.
Pre and post-approval training for foster carers is provided completely free of charge and delivered in flexible ways to suit you.
When you start your fostering journey, you will be invited to attend Skills to Foster training which will provide a solid starting point for your fostering journey by introducing you to what it's like to be a foster carer. Skills to Foster training is mandatory for all prospective foster carers if they have not fostered before. If you decide to apply, you will complete it during the foster care approval process.
You'll learn about issues and challenges that might arise and ways to resolve them. You'll also learn about the experiences of children and young people who often come into care due to abuse or neglect. You will also learn how to help and support them.
Training will go into greater depth about the realities of the role, so you can begin to picture how fostering might fit into your life, and the types of foster care you'd like to be involved with. You’ll be able to ask questions and learn about how fostering works and the support and training we offer.
Skills to Foster Training is also a chance for fostering assessors to check on your understanding of the needs of looked after children and how to meet them. You’ll also have the opportunity to build friendships with others new to fostering and extend your fostering network.
The Skills to Foster Training course runs over a series of sessions. Training is held virtually, to make it accessible. We want you to be able to get as much as possible out of the course.
Once you’re an approved foster carer you’ll be able to access a range of support including:
Foster care training doesn't end once you've become an approved foster carer. Topics for training can vary depending on demand across locations, but could include subjects such as:
To help you develop, there are also opportunities to complete additional training to enable you to offer specialist types of fostering such as Parent and Child placements.
Training is offered face to face and virtually, at a variety of days, times and locations. It can be a great chance to meet other foster carers as well as expanding your own knowledge and resilience.