Training
We run a Skills to Foster training course over two weekends to help you fully understand what fostering is all about. This includes scenarios, roles and expectations of foster parents, social workers, case studies, behaviours and safeguarding.
Each family is allocated a named, experienced and qualified Supervising Social Worker. They will work with each family to identify relevant training to help develop your skills and experience to meet the needs of looked after children. Your personal Training and Development Plan is reviewed annually to make sure you are aware of opportunities available and how they are relevant.
We recognise that foster parents are usually busy people and there is no point training for training’s sake, it’s about being selective and keeping an open mind. Training is designed to be accessible to a wide range of people, the focus is on developing understanding as to why children behave in certain ways and explore practical approaches to best meet their needs. Knowledge is power and the better understanding you have the more positive experience for children and yourselves as foster parents.
Support
The role of the Supervising Social Worker is to support the foster parent to enable them to meet the needs of children and young people to the best of their ability. They are also required to monitor progress and promptly address any concerns that may arise. Our team get to know all our foster parents so even if the named worker is not available there is always someone who knows the foster parents.
Our staff also get to know the children and young people we work with. We need to be able to advocate for them so it’s essential to form professional, positive working relationships to do this effectively. It also helps our social worker support foster parents.
Out of hours support
We run an on-call service 24 hours a day, seven days a week so an experienced, qualified social worker who knows you is available at all times. Most foster parents don’t need this but it’s reassuring to know the service is there whenever it’s needed.