| Training for foster carers is a priority because | | | | Examples include training on legal matters and child |
| increasingly more is expected of them in terms of the | | | | care policy covering legal routes to care and foster |
| complexity of children's needs. | | | | carer's contribution to care plans for such children, |
| Preparation training is a pre-requisite of approval as a | | | | updating carers on the current policy requirements of |
| foster carer and this agency runs a four day "Skills to | | | | Local Authorities who place children in fostercare. We |
| Foster" course which provides a basic introduction to | | | | have also run training for carers wishing to have |
| fostering. The course includes topics such as how | | | | parent and child placements, (normally young mums |
| children come to be looked after, the care "system", | | | | and their babies) who need a period of assessment |
| practical advice on managing behaviour and what | | | | and monitoring or just educating in terms of routines |
| needs to change within a household when they start | | | | and meeting the baby's needs. The course focuses on |
| fostering, particularly focussing on "safe care". The | | | | the special requirements of such a placement in terms |
| course also gives applicants a chance to explore | | | | of the observation of mum and baby and recording |
| attitudes to discipline, valuing difference and diversity, | | | | their progress. Another popular course this year was |
| working with professionals, their own life experiences | | | | "disability awareness" when students from a special |
| and how these can impact on the fostering task. | | | | needs college delivered a training course devised by |
| Core training for newly approved foster carers | | | | themselves to help people gain a better understanding |
| consists of 5 main subject areas : attachment, | | | | of disability. We have also run a drug awareness |
| supporting children's health needs, supporting children in | | | | course to help carers stay aware of the latest |
| education, safer caring and dealing with contact. These | | | | recreational drugs used by youngsters, what harm |
| are broad areas and within these, carers learn about | | | | they can cause and how to help a youngster avoid |
| managing behaviour, working with special needs | | | | using them. Also covered in this course is alcohol |
| children health and safety in the home understanding | | | | abuse and prescribed drug misuse. One of the most |
| the importance of the child's family. Mandatory courses | | | | contentious issues for foster carers these days is use |
| within the first year are "Management of Aggression" | | | | of technology and the internet. Youngsters are always |
| including strategies to divert a child from aggressive | | | | one step ahead in terms of the technology and we |
| behaviour and basic First Aid. | | | | need to help our carers keep up in order to keep their |
| This agency has offered various other specialist | | | | youngsters safe. |
| training opportunities for carers during the past year. | | | | |