What training is provided for kinship foster carers?

Kinship foster carer training is a structured programme of preparation, assessment and continuing development designed for relatives or connected people caring for a child who cannot live with their parents. It helps you understand the responsibilities of fostering, prepare for the child’s particular needs and work safely with the fostering service, social workers, education professionals and the child’s family.

The exact training plan depends on the fostering service, the type of placement and the child’s circumstances. A planned kinship placement will usually involve more preparation before the child moves in. Where a child needs somewhere to stay urgently, some training may take place after approval and placement, with priority given to the knowledge needed immediately.

Training before approval

During the assessment and preparation stage, you will normally be expected to attend an introductory fostering course or complete equivalent preparation. This gives you an opportunity to understand:

• what fostering involves in practice, including the difference between being a foster carer and being a private family carer;
• how decisions are made about a child’s care, placement plan and longer-term future;
• the role of the supervising social worker, child’s social worker and other professionals;
• how fostering may affect your household, relationships, routines and existing children;
• what information must be kept confidential and when information may need to be shared;
• how to raise concerns, record incidents and ask for additional help; and
• the expectations around professional conduct, boundaries and cooperation with the child’s parents.

The course is also an opportunity to consider whether kinship fostering is suitable for your family. Training is not simply a test that you pass. Your participation, understanding and ability to apply what you learn may form part of the fostering assessment and the recommendation about approval.

Learning tailored to kinship care

Kinship placements can have features that differ from unrelated placements. Training may therefore explore how to care for a child while managing existing family relationships. For example, you may need to understand how to remain focused on the child’s welfare when you have strong feelings about what has happened, how to communicate with the child’s parents without escalating disagreements and how to maintain appropriate boundaries between your role as a relative and your role as a foster carer.

You may also be helped to think through practical situations such as family members asking for information, disagreements about routines, unplanned contact, changes in the child’s behaviour after visits or pressure from other relatives. The aim is to support consistent decision-making based on the child’s care plan rather than informal family arrangements.

Training linked to the child’s needs

Once the child’s circumstances are understood, the fostering service may identify additional learning for you. This could include training relating to medical needs, disability, communication difficulties, identity, culture, education, emotional wellbeing or experiences of loss and disruption. If the child has particular risks or requires specialist care, you should be told what preparation is needed and who will provide it.

Not every carer will complete the same modules. A training plan should reflect the child placed with you, your existing experience and any areas where you need more confidence. You can ask for clarification if a course does not appear relevant, but you should also tell your supervising social worker when you do not feel ready for a specific responsibility.

Practical and safety-related preparation

Training may include practical instruction where this is relevant to the child’s care. Examples include administering prescribed medication, responding to a medical condition, using specialist equipment, supporting communication or following a risk-management plan. Practical skills may need to be demonstrated rather than learned only through reading or online material.

You should receive clear information about what to do in an emergency, who to contact, how to record what happened and when professional advice is required. If another adult in your household will regularly provide care, the fostering service may decide that they also need appropriate information or training.

Training after approval

Approval is not the end of the learning process. Foster carers are generally expected to maintain a personal development or training plan and complete the learning required by their fostering service. This may involve refresher courses, group sessions, online modules, guided reading, supervision discussions or learning from particular events.

Continuing training allows you to review what is working, identify gaps in your knowledge and adapt as the child grows or their circumstances change. It may also be needed when a new placement brings different responsibilities. Your supervising social worker should discuss your development during supervision and reviews, including any training you have completed and any further support you need.

How training is delivered

Training can be delivered in several ways, depending on the provider and the subject. You may be asked to attend group sessions, join an online course, complete exercises between sessions or take part in discussions with other carers. Some learning is assessed through attendance and participation, while practical subjects may involve showing that you can follow a procedure safely.

Tell the fostering service about any accessibility, literacy, language, technology or caring needs that could affect your participation. The purpose of preparation is to make sure you understand the information and can use it in practice, so it is important to ask questions rather than assume you are expected to manage without clarification.

Questions to ask about your training

• Which courses must be completed before approval and which can be completed afterwards?
• What training is required before a particular child moves into your care?
• Will training be adapted to the child’s known needs and your previous experience?
• What learning is expected from other adults who help care for the child?
• How will attendance and completed training be recorded?
• Who should you contact if you need further guidance after a course?

Your fostering service should explain the requirements that apply to your circumstances. If you are considering kinship fostering, ask for a clear training plan at the beginning of the assessment so you know what preparation is expected and can identify any support you may need before the placement begins.