What training is required before I can become a foster carer?

Before approval, prospective foster carers must complete preparation training, usually called Skills to Foster , as part of the assessment process. You do not normally need a formal childcare qualification or previous fostering experience, but you must take part fully, reflect on what fostering involves and show that you can provide safe, consistent care.

Skills to Foster is designed to help you understand the responsibilities of fostering before you make a final commitment. It commonly covers:

• the role of a foster carer and how fostering differs from other types of childcare
• the needs of children who may have experienced neglect, abuse, loss or disrupted relationships
• attachment, trauma and how early experiences can affect behaviour and development
• safeguarding, safer caring and how to respond to concerns
• supporting children’s identity, culture, religion, sexuality and relationships with their birth family
• managing behaviour through appropriate boundaries, routines and positive approaches
• working with social workers, schools, health professionals and other members of the child’s support network
• recording information, maintaining confidentiality and sharing concerns correctly
• the impact of fostering on your household, relationships and daily life
• the importance of self-care, supervision and asking for help when challenges arise.

The training is interactive rather than simply a course to complete online. You may take part in group discussions, activities, case examples and exercises that help you consider how you would respond to realistic situations. If you are applying as a couple, both applicants are expected to participate. Other household members may also be included in conversations or preparation where appropriate, because fostering affects the whole household.

Training is considered alongside the wider fostering assessment. Your assessing social worker will explore what you have learned, how you have applied it to practical situations and whether you understand the responsibilities involved. They may identify areas where you need further preparation or support before a recommendation is made. Completing the course does not itself guarantee approval; the agency must also complete the required checks, references, medical information and assessment of your suitability.

Some applicants will need extra preparation depending on the children they hope to foster or their circumstances. For example, further learning may be relevant if you are considering sibling groups, children with complex health needs, teenagers, children with disabilities or children whose behaviour presents particular challenges. The precise programme and timing can vary between fostering services, so your agency should explain what applies to your application.

After approval, foster carers continue to develop their knowledge through ongoing training, supervision and experience. This may include subjects such as safeguarding updates, first aid, medication, safer caring, supporting education and therapeutic approaches. The purpose is to keep your practice current and help you respond appropriately as the needs of the children in your care change.

If you are considering applying, ask the fostering service which preparation course it uses, whether any learning is completed before or during the assessment, what attendance is expected and how additional training is arranged. This will give you a clear understanding of the commitment before you proceed.