Foster Carer Training
Promoting the training and development of foster carers is an essential part of delivering an excellent fostering service.
The children we look after deserve the best possible care and this is best achieved by having well supported and well trained foster carers.
The task of fostering can be very complex and demanding and the challenges faced when caring for children are ever changing.
The training and development of foster carers can be split into different phases:
Pre Approval - using the "Skills to Foster" training pack during the assessment process.
Induction − drawing on the Childrens Workforce Development Council (CWDC) standards and workbook.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) − ongoing training, provided throughout your time as a foster carer.
The Pre Approval stage is self contained prior to approval and by the time you receive this guide will already be familiar to all approved carers. The training described below will be relevant to carers at different stages of the induction and CPD phase.
Some of our training will not be relevant to everyone and training needs will change depending on the age and stage of development of the child cared for.
All Derbyshire foster carers are required to undertake regular and ongoing learning.
We expect three elements of learning to be completed each review year.
Your Supervising Social Worker, as they are sometimes referred to, will complete an Annual Training and Development Plan which will help identify the learning that is most appropriate to your own circumstances and skills level. This plan will be considered at the foster carer's annual review.
Following a successful year of fostering and completion of the learning identified in the Annual Training and Development Plan, all foster carers are entitled to a Review Bonus.
Any training attended should be recorded in your Training Record and be presented at your annual review. Your Supervising Social Worker will need to prepare a report on the training you have undertaken, so it is important you keep a record of any dates and certificates of attendance.
There is a wide range of training opportunities available to new and experiences carers.
Related documents
The following documents are in Portable Document Format (PDF). You can download the PDF software for free from the Adobe website (opens in a new window)
The following document is in Word format. You can download the Word software for free from the Word viewer page (opens in a new window) of the Microsoft website.