The simple answer to that is yes. You get training before you begin. You get more training to build the skills every foster carer needs. And you get lots of support from lots of sources, so you never feel as though you’re alone. In this post, we’ll break all of that down.
If you’re thinking of applying to be a foster carer in Manchester, chances are you’ve got some (if not lots) of experience with children. You might wonder why you need training at all.
To help build your skills: The reality is that fostering isn’t like raising your own children. Young people who need looking after have often been through some sort of trauma. They may be vulnerable. They might have specific needs. They may exhibit challenging behaviours. Training can help you prepare for all of that.
To meet legislation: There are formal, regulatory standards to meet. You’ll need some training to be able not just to look after children in your care, but to do it in a way that meets required safeguarding (and other) standards.
To stay up to date: If, as most carers discover, fostering becomes a way of life, you’ll find yourself caring for a range of children over time, each of whom has different needs. Ongoing training helps to make sure you’re always up to speed with best practice, so you’ve got the best possible ‘toolkit’ for looking after them.
Even before you’re approved as a foster carer, you’ll need to complete the ‘Skills to Foster’ course, which will help you not only prepare for the fostering role but also decide whether fostering is right for you.
The course takes place in the evening or at weekend and helps you understand and prepare for fostering. You’ll also meet other people planning to become foster carers.
Once you’re approved as a foster carer, your training doesn’t stop. There are some mandatory modules that you’ll have to complete (on things like first aid and behaviour management). But there are also voluntary modules that can help you build skills that will help you care for a larger selection of children needing support.
The broader the pool of children you can care for, the greater the chances you’ll always have a child in your care.
Something that’s very different about fostering in Greater Manchester compared to being a parent or guardian, is that as a foster carer, you’re part of a team all working to give a child the best start in life you possibly can.
Your social worker is the main link between you and Foster for Greater Manchester. They’ll visit you regularly and have a dual role as supervisor of the fostering relationship and as your source of advice and support. If you have specific issues with a looked after child, if you feel you need training in a specific area, or if you have a family emergency (such as a bereavement), your social worker will be on hand to help. That’s why foster families build such close relationships with their social workers.
Formal training and guidance is important. But when something’s happened and you just need to chat to someone about it, the support of other foster carers can be just as important.
Lots of foster carers build their own networks, often with people they know locally or with other carers they’ve met on courses. Your social worker will probably arrange meets for the carers they support too. We advertise our ‘formal’ Greater Manchester fostering events here but lots of this is arranged over social media. You can find our Facebook feed here, which has details of our upcoming events, but you’ll probably find yourself a part of a few other friendly, informal and always approachable groups.
And then there’s Mockingbird. Mockingbird is a nationwide network of fostering hubs that’s designed to connect foster carers living locally. Each hub of foster families supports each other and helps out with things like babysitting and ensuring foster carers can occasionally get away and enjoy a short break. Lots of hubs plan social events together for their foster families too.
When you foster with us, we’ll connect you with your local hub.
Want to ask a question about fostering in Greater Manchester? We’re always happy to answer any question, and we promise you won’t be committing yourself to anything when you get in touch. Talk to us here.