Training and development for a professional career

You don't need any special qualifications to apply to be a foster carer. In fact, all of the specialist training you will need to become a fostering professional is provided free of charge. 

Foster carer training starts with Skills to Foster, which prospective foster carers attend during their application. The training helps you to understand the realities of the role, explore the types of fostering you may be most suited to and gives the opportunity to meet and build connections with other applicants.

Once you have become an approved foster carer, you will be able to access the continuous professional development programme delivered by your local authority. 

Fostering training is designed to help you build specialist knowledge, expand your skills and allow you to understand the experiences, behaviours and needs of the children and young people in your care so you feel prepared for the challenges ahead.