How long does pre-service foster care training take?

Pre-service foster care training is completed over the course schedule set by the fostering service, rather than within one standard period. The timetable may involve a concentrated course, several scheduled sessions, or a blended format combining taught learning with activities to complete between sessions. Your assessing team will confirm which elements apply to you and how they fit into the wider assessment.

Attendance time is only part of the commitment. You may also need to allow time for:

• pre-course reading or preparation;
• reflection on how the learning relates to your household;
• group discussions and practical exercises;
• questions arising between sessions; and
• any agreed follow-up learning or clarification.

The training covers the knowledge and practical understanding needed to consider fostering responsibly. This can include children’s experiences before entering care, safeguarding, attachment, behaviour, safer caring, working with professionals, and the effect fostering may have on household relationships. The course is not simply a set of presentations, so participation in discussions and activities forms part of the time commitment.

Your household circumstances can affect how the timetable is arranged. For example, the assessing team may need to consider the involvement of a partner, other adults in the home, children, work commitments, caring responsibilities, accessibility requirements, or additional support needs. These factors do not necessarily change the learning that must be completed, but they may affect how it is organised and what preparation is needed.

If you are unable to attend a session, tell the assessing team as soon as possible. They can explain whether the missed content can be covered through another session, agreed learning, or a suitable catch-up arrangement. Completing only part of the course may leave important subjects unaddressed, so the assessment should not be treated as complete until the required training has been covered and your participation has been recorded.

Training completion is considered alongside the other parts of the fostering assessment. Attending every session does not by itself result in approval, because the assessment also considers your skills, understanding, circumstances, household and ability to provide safe, consistent care. Further learning may also be identified if your assessing team believes a particular area needs more attention.

When planning, ask for a written outline showing the session dates, expected preparation, attendance requirements and what happens if a session is missed. This gives you a realistic view of the full commitment and helps you identify any practical issues before the training begins.