What happens if I cannot attend a pre-service foster care training session?

Missing a pre-service foster care training session does not usually mean that your fostering application must end. The appropriate next step depends on why you were absent, which part of the programme you missed and whether the session included information that must be completed before your assessment can continue.

Tell your fostering team as soon as you can what happened. They can check your training record, explain which learning has been missed and confirm the most suitable way to complete it. For example, you may be asked to attend the same session on another date, join an equivalent session or complete agreed catch-up work. An alternative will depend on the training arrangements and the content covered, so it should be agreed with the team rather than assumed.

Some sessions cover connected topics, meaning that missing one part may affect your understanding of later material. Your fostering team may therefore recommend completing the missed session before attending a subsequent one. This helps ensure that you have covered the same essential areas as other applicants and have had an opportunity to ask questions about the responsibilities involved in fostering.

If you miss a session because of illness, a family emergency, work or another household commitment, explain the circumstances clearly. This information helps the team distinguish between a one-off absence and an ongoing difficulty attending. Where attendance is likely to be challenging, discuss your circumstances so that the training plan can take account of your household arrangements, rather than leaving the missed content unresolved.

Attendance and completion are normally recorded as part of your pre-service training. The record helps your assessing social worker and fostering team identify what you have completed and whether any further preparation is needed. It is not simply a matter of being present: you may also need to participate in activities, discussions or checks of understanding connected with the session.

Before your assessment progresses towards approval, any required training gaps should be addressed. If you repeatedly miss sessions or do not complete the agreed replacement work, this may delay the assessment because the fostering service may not have enough evidence that you are prepared for the role. Your team can explain how an absence affects your individual timetable and what needs to happen next.

After missing a session, ask your fostering team:

• which subjects or activities you missed;
• when and how you can complete them;
• whether you should attend a later session only after catching up;
• how the absence and completed replacement work will be recorded; and
• whether there is anything you should read or consider before the next session.

Keep any agreed dates, instructions and learning materials together so that the outstanding training is easy to track. If you are considering fostering with Become A Foster Family, your regional team can explain the specific process that applies to your application.