What should local fostering training include before approval?

Pre-approval fostering training should give you a realistic understanding of the role, develop the knowledge needed to care safely for a child, and help you decide whether fostering is right for your household. It is normally a mixture of structured learning, group discussion, practical exercises and time to reflect on how fostering could affect your daily life.

A good training programme should cover the following areas:

• The role and responsibilities of a foster carer: This should explain what day-to-day care involves, how foster carers contribute to plans for the child, and where responsibility remains with the fostering agency, local authority and other professionals.
• Children’s individual needs: Training should look at developmental stages, health, education, identity, culture, religion, relationships and contact with birth family. It should help you understand why children of a similar age may need very different types of care.
• Health, safety and emergencies: You should learn about safe sleep, household risk management, medication, accidents, first aid arrangements and what to do if you are concerned about a child’s immediate welfare. The agency should also explain any additional safety considerations for your home.
• Professional boundaries: Foster carers work as part of a wider team. Training should explain appropriate boundaries with children, birth relatives, schools and professionals, including the use of phones, social media, photography and online communication.
• Allegations and complaints: This is an important area for prospective carers to understand before approval. Training should explain how concerns are reported, what happens if an allegation is made, how carers are supported during enquiries and why accurate records and prompt communication matter.
• Working with the whole household: Everyone who lives in the home should have an opportunity to consider the changes fostering may bring. This includes privacy, routines, belongings, relationships, visitors, pets, family time and the possible effect on birth children or other household members.
• Matching and placement decisions: You should be shown how information about a child is considered alongside your skills, experience, household circumstances and practical limits. Training should make clear that accepting a placement is a serious decision and that carers can ask questions before agreeing.
• Practical and financial considerations: The agency should explain its allowances, fees or other financial arrangements, as well as likely costs and record-keeping expectations. It should also signpost applicants to appropriate advice about tax and benefits, since personal circumstances differ.

Training should not be limited to presentations. Case studies, role play and guided discussions can show how a carer might respond to a difficult conversation, a missed contact session, a change in behaviour or a disagreement with another professional. These exercises are not designed to test whether you can give a perfect answer. They help you think through decisions, recognise when to seek advice and understand the importance of following agreed procedures.

The programme should also explain how learning is assessed during the approval process. This may involve participation in sessions, written reflections, discussions with your assessing social worker or consideration of how your views have developed. The purpose is to identify strengths and any areas where more preparation is needed, rather than to expect applicants to arrive with specialist knowledge.

Ask the agency how the training is delivered, who needs to attend, what happens if a session is missed and whether reasonable adjustments can be made. It is also useful to ask whether you will receive written materials, how questions are followed up and how training links to the home assessment and references. If another adult in your household will be closely involved in caring, their understanding and participation should be included rather than treating fostering as the responsibility of one applicant alone.

Before approval, you should finish training with a clear understanding of both the demands and the support involved. The agency should identify any further preparation required before a recommendation is made and explain what learning continues after approval. Foster carers normally undertake ongoing training as children’s needs change, new responsibilities arise and professional guidance develops, so pre-approval training is the foundation rather than the end of the learning process.

When comparing local fostering agencies, look beyond the name of the course. Consider whether the content is practical, whether trainers welcome challenging questions, whether the programme reflects the types of placements being considered and whether it prepares you for working in partnership with professionals and families. Clear, honest training is an important part of making an informed decision about applying to foster.