How is foster care training arranged for working applicants?

For working applicants, foster care training is usually organised as a structured programme with agreed sessions, preparation tasks and opportunities to discuss how the learning applies to your circumstances. The arrangement should give you a clear view of your commitments, while allowing the fostering service to assess your understanding and readiness to care for a child.

At the beginning, your fostering adviser will usually discuss:

• which training sessions you need to attend before approval;
• the expected dates, format and approximate time commitment;
• any reading, written exercises or preparation to complete between sessions;
• how your partner or other household members will take part where appropriate; and
• how attendance and learning will be recorded as part of your application.

Training can involve a combination of group learning, guided discussion, practical exercises and independent preparation. The content is designed to help applicants understand the realities of fostering rather than simply test academic knowledge. You may explore subjects such as safeguarding, attachment, trauma, identity, behaviour, safer caring, working with professionals and maintaining appropriate relationships with a child’s family.

Working applicants should treat the training as an important professional commitment. It is not normally something to fit in casually around other tasks. You will be expected to participate, ask questions and consider how the learning relates to your home, employment, relationships and ability to meet a child’s needs. Your reflections may also help the assessing social worker understand your strengths and identify areas where further discussion is needed.

When arranging the programme, tell the fostering team about fixed work commitments, travel, caring responsibilities and any dates you cannot attend. This information helps them identify a workable plan and explain where attendance at a particular session is essential. It is also sensible to speak with your employer early, as training may require you to request leave or adjust your working arrangements. An employer is not responsible for organising your fostering training, but may be able to support you with time away from work under their own policies.

If you cannot attend a planned session, contact the fostering team as soon as possible rather than assuming that the missed learning can be skipped. They can explain whether you need to attend another session, complete additional work or discuss the subject individually. Completing every required element matters because training contributes to your preparation for approval and helps ensure that important safeguarding information has been understood.

Training arrangements can also be reviewed if your circumstances change during the assessment. For example, a change in working pattern, household circumstances or caring responsibilities may affect how you take part. Keep your adviser informed so that the plan remains accurate and any concerns can be addressed before they affect your application.

Become a Foster Family supports applicants across the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Dudley, Sandwell, Herefordshire, Telford, Wolverhampton, Shropshire, Walsall, Warwickshire, Stoke, Solihull, Coventry and Gloucestershire. Its offices are in Droitwich and Stoke, with staff based throughout the region to provide local support. Your local team can explain the specific training arrangements that apply to your application.