As a potential foster carer we recognize that you will bring experience that will help you understand the needs of children. Fostering brings additional challenges and we will provide you with a programme of training to enable you to meet the demands of caring for children in care.

This is how it works;

You’ll be invited to join a two-day course. ( The Skills to Foster Course) Here you will meet members of the team and people who are already fostering for Blue Sky. You’ll learn about what’s really involved in looking after children who are in care and have the opportunity to learn with others who are also making an application to foster.

As you continue your preparation to become a foster carer you’ll have the opportunity to attend a whole number of workshops to enhance you skills and understanding. These include;

• LAC process and Child’s experience of coming into care
• Hellos and Goodbyes and working with professionals
• Attachment issues for LAC
• Managing Challenging Behaviour
• Sexualised children and Safe Care
• Contact issues and working with birth parents
• Survival techniques for carers
• Panel preparation and portfolio ideas
• Your fostering agreement
• Placement process and finance and respite

So by the time you have undertaken all this learning you’ll be ready for the task of fostering! Once you’ve been approved as a foster carer you will have the opportunity to undertake more in-depth training to boost your skills.

You will undertake the Children’s Work Development Council’ Induction Standards. This will enable you to develop your skills as you begin your fostering career. There are also plenty of other opportunities to develop your skills.

After you have completed your induction we will invite you to undertake an NVQ Level three (children and young people).

There are lots of opportunities for learning and we will help you balance any time spent on training with the demands of caring for a child.

People learn better when they enjoy the training and when it is directly related to the job of fostering; so we Endeavour to use a variety of trainers with considerable experience and expertise in their chosen field.