Will I need new training after transferring fostering agencies?

Whether you need further training after transferring fostering agencies depends on your existing experience, the training records you can provide, the needs of any child in placement and the requirements of the new agency. Training you have already completed will usually be considered, but the new agency must be satisfied that your knowledge remains current and meets its own policies and fostering standards.

Your training record will be reviewed. As part of the transfer, the new agency may ask for certificates, course dates, learning logs, supervision records and details of any training completed through your previous agency. It may also check whether training was accredited, whether it remains current and whether you have used the learning in practice.

The review can cover areas such as:

• safeguarding and recognising signs of abuse or neglect;
• first aid, health and safety and medication;
• safer caring, risk assessment and managing allegations;
• supporting children affected by trauma, loss or disrupted attachments;
• managing behaviour and responding to incidents;
• record keeping, confidentiality and information sharing;
• equality, identity, culture and contact with birth families; and
• training linked to the specific needs of a child placed with you.

Agency-specific learning may still be required. Even when the subject matter is familiar, each agency has its own procedures for recording concerns, reporting incidents, seeking approval for decisions, completing documentation and accessing support. You may therefore be asked to complete an induction or briefing on these arrangements rather than repeat a full introductory course.

This can include an explanation of the agency’s safeguarding procedure, complaints process, delegated authority arrangements, expectations for supervision, recording systems and policies for unplanned events. The purpose is to make sure you know how to act within the new agency’s framework.

Further training may be identified if there is a gap. This could happen where a certificate has expired, a course was not completed, the training content does not cover the new agency’s requirements or your fostering role has changed. Additional learning may also be appropriate where you are caring for a child with particular health, developmental, behavioural or emotional needs.

For example, a carer with experience of mainstream placements may need further preparation before accepting a placement involving complex trauma, harmful sexual behaviour, significant medical needs or specialist communication requirements. The training should relate to the responsibilities you are expected to undertake, rather than being repeated without a clear reason.

If you are still being assessed, the process may be different. The new agency will need to understand which preparation and assessment activities have already been completed and which remain outstanding. It may accept some evidence from the previous agency, ask you to complete parts of its own preparation programme or decide that further assessment work is needed before recommending approval. This is separate from simply refreshing training that you have already completed.

Training linked to a child in placement should be dealt with carefully. If you are transferring while caring for a child, the new agency should consider the child’s care plan, current risks and any specialist knowledge needed to provide safe care. The transfer should not leave uncertainty about who is responsible for arranging essential learning or support. Ask the agencies to confirm what has been completed, what is outstanding and how any immediate training need will be managed.

You can make the review easier by preparing:

• your full training history, including dates and course titles;
• copies of certificates and evidence of online or practical learning;
• notes showing how training has informed your care;
• details of any specialist training connected with a current or previous placement;
• your personal development or training plan, where you have one; and
• questions about the new agency’s induction and ongoing training expectations.

Before transferring, ask the new agency to explain which completed courses it will recognise, whether any learning must be updated, how training is recorded and whether any course must be completed before approval or before accepting a particular placement. You should also ask who will arrange training and how it will fit around your existing responsibilities.

In practice, transferring agencies is not normally a reason to start your whole training history again. The important issue is whether your knowledge, records and practical experience demonstrate that you can meet the requirements of the new agency and safely support the child or children in your care. Any additional training should be identified through an individual review and clearly explained to you.