Choosing to become a foster carer puts you in the unique and special position of being able to make a significant positive difference in the lives of children and young people. You will be providing a safe and secure home, as well as a nurturing and caring bond, in circumstances where children are unable to live with their birth parents.
The care, support and guidance that a child receives whilst in foster care can have a significant, long-lasting, and life-changing impact on them. Therefore, foster carers must have the right training and support to develop their skills and knowledge to offer the best level of care possible to children and young people.
Training and Development:
One of Ascent’s values is our commitment to being a learning and development organisation. This means that we are passionate about the whole team around the child being offered high-quality training and access to development opportunities in their respective roles. Each year foster carers are supported to think about their learning and development needs through a Personal Development Plan (PDP) that is reviewed every six months. Although the National Minimum Standards and Fostering Regulations outline fostering services as the minimum requirements and expectations for carers, we have high expectations of our carers’ commitment and dedication to the fostering task. Part of this is their commitment to their learning and development so they are equipped with the necessary skills to support and nurture the children and young people in their care. This year, over half of our carers completed double, and seven of our carers completed three times the required amount of training.
Prospective foster carers are provided with training through the assessment process called Skills to Foster to help them understand and be prepared for the fostering role. Thereafter, Ascent provides a wide breadth of training to foster carers, this includes mandatory courses such as safeguarding or first aid but also how to support a child’s cultural, ethnic or religious needs. Ascent also provides a variety of therapeutic parenting courses and therapeutic workshops which provide carers with an understanding of their children’s early life experiences and how this may have impacted their emotional, physical, social and psychological development. It also provides them with strategies and tools for how best to support the children in their care.
By providing a child with a secure and therapeutic environment, children and young people can commence on their journey to recovery, which then gives them the very best prospects on a long-term basis. Therefore, through foster carers being committed to their continued training and development, they can provide improved outcomes for children, reaffirming feelings of security, trust, and safety. Consistency in care and gentle guidance allows them to thrive. Training gives you the necessary skills to provide this.
Conclusion:
By engaging in regular training opportunities and workshops, foster carers are given the necessary tools and knowledge needed to help children and young people in a variety of situations from a diverse range of backgrounds. You will also have access to peer support from experienced foster carers, supervision and support from your Supervising Social Worker, and access to Therapeutic Consultants.
Fostering is an all-encompassing and welcoming family community. Your commitment to helping children and young people grow and thrive is matched by our commitment to helping you learn and deliver.