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Training

We invest in our foster carers: you will have the best training and opportunity to develop the relevant skills to equip you to look after children with a variety of needs and who come from various situations often including neglect or abuse.

Pre-approval training:  As part of the assessment process every applicant must attend the Preparation Groups. You will be invited to these if both you and the social worker who conducts your initial visit are happy that you will be suited to the fostering task.  The prep-groups take place over three days including a Saturday.

You will be given the opportunity to look at issues relevant to fostering and to talk these through with other potential foster carers as well as supervising social workers and foster carers and talk about anything which may be concerning you. It also gives you another opportunity to decide whether or not you are ready for the challenges of fostering.

Post-approval training:  We offer a wide variety of training courses once you are approved. You will be expected to complete 30 hours of training each year as part of your own personal development as a foster carer. As you will see in the financial support section, training hours are linked to moving up the fee payment ladder and working towards becoming a level 4 foster carer.  The courses include first aid, drug and alcohol awareness, safe caring, attachment, working with birth families and talking to young people about sex.

You may also be given the opportunity to undertake an NVQ level 3 qualification.

CWDC:  The Training, Support & Development Standards for Foster Care consist of seven standards that all newly approved foster carers have to meet, within one year of approval. This is to ensure that all foster carers are equipped with the knowledge & skills needed to provide a high quality of care for the children & young people they look after. All Foster carers are given the necessary support to develop skills and relevant knowledge that will ensure appropriate opportunities for career development. Supervising social workers will support Foster carers to completing the standards in conjunction with carers attending relevant training courses and workshops.

Short break carers have their own set of standards which they are required to complete.