Post Approval Training for Foster Carers and Adopters Pre Order

To give guidance to foster carers, adopters, Managers, supervising social workers and trainers.

To provide clear guidelines to foster carers, adopters, supervising social workers, managers and trainers on the post approval training of foster carers and adopters.

All new foster carers are expected to complete the Training Support and Development Standard for Foster Carers within 12 months of approval. All foster carers approved before March 2012 were required to complete the Standards and gain the CWDC Certificate by 30 April 2011.

Nottingham City Council, Induction Standards for Children's Workforce have prepared a portfolio for foster carers to complete that will evidence training completed to the required standard.

All new adopters are encouraged to attend a variety of training to equip them as adopter’s pre order.

No courses for adopters are mandatory but adoption support social workers should help identify appropriate training during their home visits.

National Training Support and Development Standards for Foster Carers (TSD, DfE).

The Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care have been developed to ensure that all foster carers receive relevant induction, training and support, and continuing professional development. They are:

1. Understand the principles and values essential for fostering children and young people;
2. Understand your role as a Foster carer;
3. Understand health and safety, and healthy care;
4. Know how to communicate effectively;
5. Understand the development of children and young people;
6. Safeguard children and young people;
7. Develop yourself.

All new foster carers are expected to complete the Standards within 12 months of their approval.

All carers approved before March 2010 were expected to complete the Standards and gain the Certificate of Successful Completion by 30 April 2011. The CWDC developed a workbook for foster carers in which skills development can be monitored and verified. All foster carers must complete this workbook or one of similar standard.

All newly approved foster carers will receive induction training.

All training for foster carers and adopters will fit within a framework of equal opportunities, anti-discriminatory practice.

Wherever possible, training will be organised to encourage and facilitate attendance by foster carers and adopters, for example by including convenient times and venues and by providing childcare and reasonable expenses.

It is mandatory for foster carers to attend three training courses per year. The only exclusion to this is where a carer is completing the induction standards. It is not mandatory for adopters to attend three training course per year, however they can still attend pre order.

Where couples are jointly approved as foster carers, both will successfully complete all training.

Each individual foster carer will be trained in identified key areas before any child is placed in her/his home.

Attention will be paid to the training needs of particular groups, e.g. male carers.

There will be an on-going programme of training and self-development for foster carers to develop their skills and tackle any weaknesses.

Appropriate training on safe caring will be available for all members of the foster household.

Mandatory training is outlined as follows.

Mandatory training needs to be achieved by the foster carer within the first year of approval.

Specific consideration will be given to any help or support needed by the sons and daughters of foster carers.

Each carer’s annual review will include an appraisal of training and development needs. This will be documented in the review report.

The effectiveness of training will be evaluated and reviewed annually.