Do I need previous fostering experience to become a therapeutic foster carer?

Previous fostering experience is not usually a prerequisite for becoming a therapeutic foster carer. Approval is based on your suitability, skills, circumstances and ability to meet the needs of children who may have experienced trauma, loss or disrupted relationships. Some therapeutic fostering programmes may prefer applicants with particular experience, especially for more complex placements, so this is considered during the initial discussion and assessment.

Experience outside fostering can be highly relevant. This might include parenting, caring for children or young people, teaching, youth work, health and social care, counselling, support work or working with children who have additional needs. Experience of supporting a child does not need to come from paid employment. However, having children of your own is not an automatic qualification: the assessment considers how you understand children’s behaviour, respond under pressure and reflect on your own approach.

Therapeutic fostering involves more than providing day-to-day care. Carers are expected to look beyond behaviour and consider what a child may be communicating through it. You may need to help a child develop trust, manage strong emotions, cope with change and build healthier relationships. This requires patience, consistency, clear boundaries and a willingness to use advice from professionals rather than relying only on previous experience.

During the assessment, the fostering service will explore areas such as:

• your reasons for wanting to foster and your understanding of therapeutic care;
• your experience of caring for, communicating with or supporting children;
• how you manage stress, conflict and challenging behaviour;
• your ability to provide predictable routines and safe boundaries;
• your capacity to reflect, learn from feedback and adapt your approach;
• the support available from people in your household and wider network; and
• your ability to work with social workers, schools, health professionals and the child’s family where appropriate.

The assessment also includes the required suitability checks and discussions about your health, home circumstances, relationships and safeguarding responsibilities. These checks are not intended to test whether you have already done the job. They help establish whether fostering is suitable for your household and whether you can provide the level of care required.

You will normally complete preparation training before approval, followed by further learning throughout your fostering career. Therapeutic training can cover the effects of trauma and disrupted attachment, emotional regulation, positive behaviour support, safer caring, de-escalation, record keeping and working as part of a professional team. Training gives you a framework for understanding and responding to behaviour, but it does not replace the need for ongoing supervision and reflection.

If you have not fostered before, ask how new carers are prepared for their first placement and how support is provided when a child’s needs are complex. You should also discuss the type of placement that may be appropriate at the beginning of your fostering career, as matching decisions take account of both the child’s needs and the carer’s experience and preparation.

The most useful preparation is to be open about what you have done, what you found difficult and what you still need to learn. A lack of fostering experience can be addressed through training and guidance, but therapeutic fostering requires a genuine commitment to learning, accepting professional support and providing consistent care over time.