What training is required before I can start fostering?

Before approval, prospective foster carers normally complete preparation training alongside the wider fostering assessment. The training helps you understand the realities of fostering, consider how it may affect your household and identify the skills you will need to develop before a child is placed with you. You do not usually need a childcare or teaching qualification to begin the process.

Training is generally delivered through a combination of group sessions, discussions, activities and practical examples. Your fostering service will explain its own programme, as content and arrangements can vary according to the type of fostering you are considering and the needs of the children you may care for.

As well as introducing the role, preparation training may explore:

• attachment, loss, separation and the effects of trauma on children’s behaviour;
• how children may communicate distress, manage strong emotions and respond to boundaries;
• safer caring, privacy, appropriate touch, household routines and risk management;
• recording information, maintaining confidentiality and sharing relevant concerns;
• the role of health professionals, schools, social workers and other members of the child’s professional network;
• contact with a child’s parents, relatives and other important people;
• equality, identity, culture, religion and helping a child maintain a positive sense of self; and
• how to respond if a child makes an allegation or if you are concerned about their welfare.

Training is not considered separately from the assessment. Your assessing social worker will consider how you take part, reflect on the subjects discussed and apply them to your own circumstances. You may be asked to think about your parenting experience, relationships, support network, home routines and how you would respond to realistic situations. This is not about having perfect answers; it is about demonstrating openness, learning from guidance and recognising when to seek help.

Everyone who will have a significant role in the household may need to be involved in preparation in an appropriate way. This can include a partner, other adults living in the home and, where suitable, children already in the family. Their views and understanding matter because fostering affects household routines, privacy, relationships and responsibilities.

Completing preparation training does not by itself mean that you are approved. The service will also need to complete the required assessment, checks, references, medical information and home-based discussions before making a recommendation about your suitability. Your application is then considered through the fostering service’s approval process. You should not expect to accept a placement until approval has been granted and the necessary arrangements are in place.

Training continues after approval. Foster carers usually complete an induction before or around the time they begin caring, followed by further learning during their fostering career. Later training may be matched to a child’s needs, such as supporting particular behaviours, health requirements, communication needs or experiences of trauma. This means you are not expected to know everything before your first placement, but you are expected to engage with learning and use the support available.

When speaking to a fostering service, ask:

• what preparation training is included and how it is delivered;
• which members of your household are expected to attend;
• what happens if you miss a session or need additional help with a subject;
• how training fits alongside the assessment and approval process;
• what learning is required before a first placement; and
• what ongoing training and development will be available after approval.

The important requirement is not a particular qualification held before applying. It is your willingness to learn, reflect honestly on the responsibilities involved and keep developing your practice as a foster carer.