Training Available for foster carers
Could you foster Jerome?
We are looking for foster carers for Jerome. Could you be his new foster carers? Why not find out more?
Social services departments and other fostering agencies invite prospective foster carers to introductory courses on fostering. The main intention of these is to give you as much information about what is involved in being a foster carer as they can. This allows people to make a more informed decision about the kinds of fostering they might be interested in and the "types" of children that might be suitably placed with their families.
Many of these courses are based upon the nationally recognised course designed by the Fostering Network called "The skills to foster". It used to be called "Choosing to Foster". These introductory courses will usually take place over a number of weeks and social workers and foster carers should lead them together. Some of these course leaders are likely to have been specially trained to conduct this training course (for more information on this see below) It is highly desirable for experienced foster carers to be involved in all aspects of these courses.
Topics usually covered in this course include:
What is fostering about
Listening to young people
Working together
Fostering skills
Fostering and your family
Moving on
Valuing heritage
Sex and sexuality
Team work
Managing difficult behaviour
HIV and AIDS
Most people attending this course find them to be of very real value in getting to know what is involved in becoming a foster carer and in helping them prepare for the challenges and the difficulties that might lay ahead.
"The skills to foster" Leaders Course
Some foster carers may be invited to attend a week long course run by the Fostering Network which prepares them to join with social workers in leading an introductory course for potential foster carers. These courses run throughout the year at various venues around the country. If selected your expenses and the cost of the course will be paid by the agency you are fostering for.
Further Training
There are numerous opportunities for foster carers to attend training courses on a very wide range of subjects. Some of your needs for training will probably have been highlighted in your foster carer assessment. You may also be interested in attending training sessions on your way to acheiving an N.V.Q. qualification.
You should try to make sure your support worker knows that you are interested in attending training courses and in what particular topics. Remember that you need to keep reminding them of your interest and ask them to consider you for any courses they come across. You may also be able to attend courses which your placement agency arranges for their own staff.
In certain circumstances an agency may be prepared to send you on a course being run by a recognised training organisation. One of the criteria for agreeing to this will be the likely benefit to any child that is currently placed with you. You are unlikely to be financed to attend courses that interest you, but is unlikely to have any benefit for a child currently placed with you.
