What training do kinship carers receive?

Kinship carers do not all receive the same training. The preparation provided depends on the legal arrangement, the local authority’s requirements, the child’s circumstances and the carer’s previous experience. A relative or friend approved as a kinship foster carer will usually complete formal preparation and assessment, while someone caring under an informal family arrangement may receive advice rather than a structured training course.

Where a child is placed with a relative or friend by the local authority, the prospective carer will normally be given information before approval. This helps them understand what fostering involves, the standards expected in their home and the responsibilities they will take on. The preparation may form part of the assessment process, so the carer can discuss their learning, ask questions and identify any areas where further help is needed.

Training commonly covers the practical responsibilities of caring for a child who is not living with their parents. This can include:

• how to work with the child’s social worker and other professionals;
• how to keep appropriate records and share relevant information;
• confidentiality, boundaries and safe communication with family members;
• the expectations around contact with the child’s parents and wider family;
• how to contribute to meetings, reviews and care planning;
• the carer’s responsibilities under the relevant legal arrangement; and
• how to recognise when extra advice or professional intervention may be needed.

Training may be delivered through group sessions, one-to-one discussions, online learning, written guidance or a combination of these. Some preparation takes place before the child moves in, but learning does not stop once the arrangement begins. A local authority or supervising organisation may agree a development plan with the carer and review it as part of regular supervision or placement reviews.

Kinship foster carers are generally expected to complete further learning after approval. This may include induction to the fostering service, training linked to the child’s individual plan and refresher learning where procedures or circumstances change. The exact programme varies, so carers should ask the child’s social worker or fostering service which courses are required and how completion is recorded.

Additional training may be considered when a child’s circumstances become more complex. For example, a carer may need help understanding new professional advice, managing a change in contact arrangements, supporting a transition to another placement or preparing for a move towards independence. The purpose is not to make the carer a specialist therapist or teacher, but to ensure they know their role, understand when to seek help and can work effectively with the professionals involved.

Training is also an opportunity to identify support needs for the carer. A kinship carer can discuss caring responsibilities, family relationships, employment, household arrangements and the effect of the placement on other children in the home. These conversations may lead to practical guidance, a referral to another service or a request for additional support, depending on the local authority and the child’s plan.

If the arrangement is being considered under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or another legal route, the training offered may be different from that provided to an approved foster carer. Ask the local authority what preparation is available before agreeing to the arrangement. You can also request clear information about compulsory courses, optional learning, who provides supervision and what support remains available after the child moves in.

Before starting, it is useful to ask:

• Which training must be completed before the child is placed?
• What learning will be required after approval or placement?
• Will the training be specific to the child and their care plan?
• Who can provide advice between formal reviews?
• How should concerns, incidents or changes in the child’s needs be reported?
• What preparation is available for other members of the household?

Training should give kinship carers a clear understanding of their role and a route to further guidance. If information is unclear, ask the child’s social worker, kinship team or fostering service to explain what applies to your particular arrangement before making a decision.