What training is needed to become an emergency foster carer?

Emergency foster carers complete preparation and assessment training before they can be approved to accept an emergency placement. The training is designed to help you make safe, informed decisions in a fast-changing situation, while also preparing you for the wider responsibilities of fostering.

There is not one separate national qualification called an “emergency foster carer certificate”. Instead, your fostering service will set out the preparation programme required for its carers. The content may vary according to the age range you want to foster, the type of approval being considered and your previous experience. You will be told which elements are compulsory and which additional learning may be recommended.

Training commonly includes practical subjects that apply to the whole household, not only the main applicant. These can include:

• safer caring plans, household boundaries and appropriate physical contact;
• confidentiality, information sharing and accurate record keeping;
• health and safety within the home, including safe use of medication where relevant;
• first aid and responding appropriately to accidents or illness;
• online safety, phones, social media and the use of photographs;
• allegations, complaints and how to report concerns about a child or adult;
• the responsibilities of foster carers within the wider care team; and
• how to look after your own wellbeing and recognise when extra help is needed.

Emergency placements require particular preparation because information may arrive in stages and plans can change. You may learn how to receive a placement referral, identify the information you need before agreeing to care, prepare a child’s bedroom and belongings, and establish clear routines without making assumptions about the child. Training should also explain what to do when important details are not yet available and who to contact if a concern develops.

Applicants are usually expected to take part in discussions, exercises and practical scenarios rather than simply read information. These activities help you consider how you would respond to situations such as a child arriving distressed, refusing everyday routines, asking difficult questions about home, or needing contact with people important to them. They also give the assessing team an opportunity to understand your judgement, communication style and ability to work safely within agreed plans.

Training is only one part of the approval process. You will also complete an assessment covering your household, relationships, health, experience, home circumstances and ability to provide suitable care. Checks and references are carried out separately. Completing a course does not by itself mean that you are approved, and approval does not mean that every emergency referral will be suitable for your household.

People who have not worked in childcare can still explore fostering. Relevant experience of parenting, caring, education, health, youth work or supporting someone through difficult circumstances can be useful, but the assessment looks at your overall capacity to care rather than a single qualification. Be open about what you know and what you need to learn; training is intended to identify and develop skills, not to test whether you already know everything.

Learning continues after approval. Foster carers receive further training and guidance as their experience develops, with subjects selected around the children they care for and the situations they encounter. Keeping a record of completed learning, reflecting on placements and discussing questions with your supervising professional are important parts of maintaining safe practice.

When you speak to a fostering service, ask for a clear outline of its preparation programme, any household members who must attend, how learning is delivered, what happens if you need additional support, and which training must be completed before an emergency placement can be accepted. This will give you a realistic understanding of the commitment before you apply.