Do foster carers need refresher training after approval?
Yes. Foster carers normally complete ongoing refresher training after approval to keep their knowledge up to date and meet the requirements of their fostering service. The subjects and frequency will depend on the carer’s training plan, the needs of the child and any changes to guidance or regulations.
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Refresher training is generally an ongoing requirement rather than a single course completed once. After approval, foster carers continue to develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to care safely for children and young people, with learning agreed through their fostering service.
The exact programme will vary between fostering services and between households. A supervising social worker will usually discuss training needs during supervision, reviews and the development of the carer’s training plan. This helps ensure that learning reflects the carer’s experience, the needs of any child placed with them and changes in professional guidance.
Refresher learning may cover areas such as:
- safeguarding and recognising signs of abuse or exploitation;
- first aid, health and medication procedures;
- promoting positive behaviour and managing difficult situations safely;
- trauma, attachment, loss and the impact of adverse experiences;
- equality, identity, culture and helping children maintain important relationships;
- online safety, safer caring and risk assessment; and
- recording incidents, sharing information and working with other professionals.
Some subjects may need to be revisited at set intervals, while others may be arranged because of a particular placement or a change in circumstances. For example, a foster carer may need additional preparation before caring for a child with specific medical needs, disabilities, communication needs or behaviours that require specialist support. Training can also be updated when legislation, local procedures or safeguarding expectations change.
Refresher training is not limited to formal classroom sessions. It may include workshops, online learning, supervision discussions, conferences, reading, practical exercises or learning from a placement. The important point is that the activity should be relevant, recorded and linked to the carer’s development needs. A service may ask carers to complete assessments, reflective accounts or follow-up discussions to show how learning has been understood and applied.
Foster carers should keep track of their training plan and raise any concerns with their supervising social worker. If a course is missed, the service will normally agree another way to complete it or arrange a new date. Failing to complete required learning can affect whether a carer is considered ready for a particular placement and may need to be addressed through supervision or the carer’s review.
Training is only one part of post-approval support. Foster carers can also learn through supervision, peer support, placement reviews and advice from social workers and other professionals. Together, these arrangements help carers review what is working, identify gaps in their knowledge and apply new skills to the children in their care.
Before applying, it is sensible to ask a fostering service how it manages refresher training, which subjects are revisited regularly, how learning is recorded and what support is available when a carer needs additional development. This gives prospective carers a clearer understanding of the commitment involved after approval.
Refresher training after approval may not always be labelled “refresher training”. A fostering service might describe it as annual updates, mandatory learning, continuing development or post-approval training. These terms usually refer to learning that maintains and develops the knowledge required for safe, effective fostering, rather than a second approval assessment.
The terminology matters when you are checking what is expected of you. Ask whether a course is compulsory, how often it must be repeated, and how completion is recorded. You can also check whether previous experience or relevant qualifications can be taken into account. This helps distinguish routine updates from additional learning arranged for a particular placement or responsibility.
Learn more about refresher training after approval
If you are considering fostering, speak to our team about how post-approval training is planned and supported. We can help you understand what ongoing learning may involve before you apply.