Foster care training is a vital part of our service and we make sure that you have all the training and guidance you need to be a great foster carer.
When you foster with us, we help you feel confident and capable in your role as a foster parent with plenty of high-quality training. We even start the foster care training process before you get your first placement so you know what to expect and feel prepared from the start.
Pre-approval training – (The Skills to Foster Course)
This takes place during the assessment process and is a mandatory requirement. If the application is joint, both partners must attend.
Induction training
This is usually a one-to-one session between the foster carers and the Supervising Social Worker from Acorn House within eight weeks of approval and can take place in the foster carers home. We encourage the whole foster family to be involved with the induction where we re-enforce the key messages delivered during the assessment process and Skills to Foster.
Mandatory training – (Refreshed at set intervals throughout your foster career)
A series of courses to newly approved foster carers and an opportunity for more experienced carers to refresh their knowledge. There is a requirement that all newly approved carers will attend the mandatory training courses. This training will support carers evidence to meet the Training, Support and Development Standards for foster carers. The supervising social worker will discuss how this can be achieved with the carer. To ensure that newly approved carers can access these courses, places on mandatory training will be allocated throughout the year.
Here is a list of all our Mandatory courses:
- Safeguarding
- Safer Caring
- Safe Handling of Medications
- Paediatric First Aid
- Record Keeping, Report Writing & Good Practice in Keeping Written Records
- Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (MAPA)
- Radicalisation and Extremism
- Child Sexual Exploitation
Specialist training
Foster carers come across a vast range of topics when caring for young people that may require more specialist training. This programme offers the opportunity to understand in more detail the complexity of some of the issues which may arise. These courses are open and relevant to all carers unless specified in the course detail.
All training complements and underpins the Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care. These standards have been designed to support foster carers from approval through the first years of service. They give Acorn House a framework for carers training and professional development which will mean carers will get the highest standard of training, information and knowledge to ensure they are highly skilled and competent in their role.
On-Line training
Acorn House provides a wide range of instructor-led training at venues around the UK but also recognises that face to face training courses may not be suitable for all carers due to other commitments. Acorn House have teamed up with one of the UK’s leading on-line training providers in the Social Care sector. Our on-line training partner provides Acorn House with over 600 + training courses for foster carers. Foster carers will discuss the most appropriate courses with their supervising social workers during regular supervision sessions to determine the best courses to study. There is no limit to the number of courses that carers can sign-up to. Each course has a workbook which may be used to evidence competencies and can be used by the carer as a source of reference. The workbooks will also form part of the carers training portfolio. Each on-line course is certified.
The following training courses are mandatory and must be completed within two year’s following approval:
- Safeguarding
- Safer Caring
- Safe Handling of Medications
- Paediatric First Aid
- Record Keeping, Report Writing & Good Practice in Keeping Written Records
- Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (MAPA)
- Radicalisation and Extremism
- Child Sexual Exploitation
Ongoing Development
Acorn House will support foster carers who identify suitable and appropriate training courses, conferences, workshops, webinars etc. Foster carers should speak with their Supervising Social Worker about these in order to secure the necessary funding.