Prepare to Foster
training course
During your fostering assessment, you'll attend our Prepare to Foster training course which is a 2-3 day programme for potential foster parents.
The training is a great chance to learn about the role of fostering, as well as specific areas such as safeguarding, child development and behaviour, and the responsibilities of a foster parent. You will also have the chance to talk to real-life foster parents, and hear their experiences first hand. Overall, it gives you a great insight into the role, and families find it really valuable and inspiring, and helpful in making a decision on whether fostering is right for them.
Once you've completed the Prepare to Foster training and decide to become an approved foster carer, you'll be ready to start taking part in the more in-depth training courses that we offer. Our approach to training is always flexible and we work to provide training that fits around you and your family. This involves a blended learning programme of face-to-face, virtual and e-learning courses, so your fostering training can be completely tailored to suit your own preferences and requirements.
Topics covered
The Prepare to Foster training course has been designed to prepare you for difference aspects of caring for vulnerable children and covers a range of topics, including:
- What do foster parents do? - understanding why children come into care, their difficult life experiences and how this may have impaired their development.
- Identity and life chances - recognising the ways in which children in care may face prejudice and discrimination, and how foster parents can help promote their heritage and identity.
- Working with others - discovering the various people involved in a child's care, including the specialist team within Fosterplus and local authorities.
- Understanding and caring for children - demonstrating the types of behaviour children in care may display, exploring attachment theory and how you as a foster parent can provide a 'Secure Base' for a child without judgement.
- Safer caring - understanding why children in foster care are considered to be vulnerable and providing you with practical skills in relation to safeguarding.
- Transitions - gaining an insight into the importance of stability for children in foster care, and providing you with key skills to aid smoother transitions for children coming into your home or moving on to independence.
- My family fosters - helping you to support your own children while fostering.
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Application process
There are six steps to become a foster parent with Fosterplus, including an initial home visit, an application form, your fostering assessment and finally, panel.
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Fostering assessment
The fostering assessment takes around 4-6 months and involves a series of social work visits, background checks and references and some initial training too.
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Background checks
As part of your assessment, we’ll complete a number of background checks, including a full DBS, local authority checks and a number of references too.
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Can't find what you're looking for?
By phone
One of our team is available to talk to you over the phone to answer any of your fostering queries.
Enquire online
You can get in touch by filling out our online enquiry form with any queries that you may have.
Your local team
Find contact details for your local office team. We’re always happy for you to pop-in and chat.