Foster Care Training and Development: Why Support Makes All the Difference

When someone decides to become a foster carer, they’re stepping into one of the most rewarding yet challenging roles out there. From the very start, we make sure that no one feels unprepared or unsupported. For us, it’s not just about placing children in homes, it’s about building a foundation of trust, safety, and therapeutic support for both carers and the children in their care. That journey begins with thorough, compassionate, and relevant foster care training.

Because we operate as a not-for-profit charity, our focus is always on what’s best for children, not shareholders. This means our training for foster care is designed to equip people with the right tools to truly make a difference, especially for those children who may have faced difficult early experiences. It's why we place such a strong emphasis on development. Because great carers are made, not born, and we’re here to support that journey every step of the way.

Our foster care training courses aren’t just box-ticking exercises. They are built with lived experience, psychological insight, and therapeutic approaches that reflect the real needs of children today and will ultimately result in the carer receiving a introductory level 2 qualification in therapeutic parenting. Every training session is underpinned by the same values that shape everything we do: integrity, courage, creativity, and community. We recognise that fostering isn’t a one-size-fits-all role, so we provide bespoke training that prepares carers to support children across a range of needs and circumstances. We also encourage carers to identify their own learning needs and what they need to grow in a personal capacity before helping them to achieve that next level of growth.

Why Ongoing Training Matters in Foster Care

Initial training is only the beginning. What truly matters is the ongoing development that supports carers throughout their journey. Whether someone is fostering for the first time or has years of experience, learning never stops. That’s why our foster care training classes are continuous and adaptive. They reflect the evolving challenges in children’s social care, including attachment difficulties, trauma, and complex emotional needs.

Many of our carers have told us that the training we offer is what gave them the confidence to say "yes" to fostering in the first place. Others have shared that the training helped them understand the ‘why’ behind certain behaviours, leading to greater empathy and more effective support. This sort of insight is crucial, especially when caring for children who’ve experienced neglect, loss, or instability.

Personalised Support and Local Focus

We’re proud to offer training that feels close to home, because it literally is. We run foster care training courses within reach of our regional offices in Gloucester and Lancaster, with support also available in Royal Wootton Bassett, Workington and the surrounding areas to both of these towns.  Our carers are never more than an hour away from tailored support. And we don’t rely on generic online modules, our sessions are interactive, trauma-informed, and delivered by real professionals who understand the challenges our carers face.

Support doesn’t stop at the classroom door either. We make sure that carers have access to supervision, reflection time, and a sense of community with others who are on the same journey. This makes our training feel less like a requirement and more like a communal place to grow, share, and recharge.

Meeting the Training, Support and Development Standards

Every carer who joins us is guided through the “training, support and development standards for foster care” as set out by the government as part of our level 2 qualification in therapeutic parenting. We view these standards not as a hurdle to clear, but as a framework that helps ensure all children in care receive consistent, high-quality support. Our team ensures these standards are met thoughtfully, without carers feeling overwhelmed. Through mentorship, workshops, and self-reflection tools, we help everyone meet the requirements while still feeling heard and supported.

We understand that training can sometimes feel daunting, especially for those who haven’t been in formal education for some time. So we’ve made it our mission to ensure these standards are met in a way that feels encouraging, never patronising. Our goal is to help carers succeed—not just pass.

What Our Training Covers

Our courses cover a wide range of topics designed to support the complex needs of foster children. These include safeguarding, behaviour management, understanding trauma, therapeutic parenting, and cultural competency. We also explore themes around identity, diversity, and mental health. Our carers regularly tell us they feel better equipped and more confident after completing each course, knowing that they have the tools to provide not just care, but healing.

Because we serve communities across Cumbria, Wiltshire, Lancashire, and Gloucestershire, we ensure our training reflects the regional challenges and community values. This local focus helps foster a sense of connection between carers and the children they support, and it strengthens the community-based ethos we’re so passionate about.

Building Confidence Through Development

Fostering is a deeply human role. It asks people to open their hearts and homes, and to face some of life’s most complex emotional challenges. It’s only fair that we, in return, offer training that’s just as human-rooted in empathy, delivered with care, and rich with experience.

We know that when carers feel competent and confident, children feel safer and more secure. It’s why we invest so much time and care in making our training personal, engaging, and relevant. And it’s why carers often stay with us long-term. They feel valued, respected, and continually supported by our community that we’ve spent time carefully building.

Final Thoughts

There’s no ‘perfect’ foster carer, but with the right training, there are many great ones. By prioritising foster care training, development, and real support, we’re creating stronger families and brighter futures for children who need them most. Whether you're just starting to consider fostering or already supporting a child, we’re here to walk that journey with you; every training session, every question, every breakthrough moment.

For more on our values and approach to fostering, visit our Our Values page. You can also read more about the government standards for foster carers at The Fostering Network, which is a UK-wide charity supporting foster care.

And if you’re thinking about becoming a carer, we’re always here to talk. Because with the right support, anyone can make a lifelong difference.