Bridging Gaps Fostering Agency will provide all training in line with the aims, objectives and guidance of the Training, Support and Development Standards (TSD).
Foster carers and social workers will attend joint training sessions wherever this is feasible.
The training provided will be regularly reviewed and appraised to ensure it meets the needs of those for whom it’s aimed at.
All of Bridging Gaps Fostering Agency training and development will be delivered within a framework of valuing and respecting diversity, equal opportunity, and anti-discrimination.
Bridging Gaps Fostering Agency is committed to making all training as accessible as possible, and therefore will provide training venues and times to maximise carer attendance. This may include day and evening courses as well as at weekends.
Training will be delivered in groups or on a one to one basis. The agency will place its yearly training plans on its website.
All carers are encouraged to identify their own training and development needs and discuss them during their formal supervision process mid-year reviews, annual review and their personal development portfolio.
Aims:
To improve knowledge and develop skills to enable carers to undertake their roles with greater competence.
To ensure that all Bridging Gaps carers are skilled and confident in protecting children and in practising safe caring.
To establish a clear values framework within Bridging Gaps that guides the work of all carers and staff, promoting equality of opportunity and valuing diversity.
To ensure the quality standards of the agency.
Once the applicant’s progress is approved they will be issued with a copy of their Foster Carers handbook. This contains essential and relevant information which conforms to current legislation, good practice, and sets the standards which the agency expects from its carers. This material will be referred to throughout training and provides carers with the ability to undertake home study.
The handbook also has a selection where the carers are to keep records of the training they have attended and to keep course handouts for future reference. It’s essential that this information is maintained to a good standard, as it will provide evidence of competencies to help them complete their TSD Training and any future training they may wish to peruse.
Pathway Training Courses
Online pathway training is for newly approved Foster carers, to enable them to complete training courses that will give them the knowledge and skills to support them in fostering.
These are basic online courses that cover day to day issues such as ‘Safe Caring’ and ‘Behaviour’. These courses provide newly approved Foster carers with an insight into what their new fostering roles will include.
These courses can be completed in Foster carers own time – on a flexible basis to allow Foster carers to balance their new fostering role, their day to day life and their development.
Pace Training (Parents against child Sexual Exploitation)
We have recently teamed up with Pace to commission training related to Child Sexual Exploitation.
Pace provided specialist training about Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) for professionals from a variety of agencies, both statutory and voluntary.
Life Coaching
We have commissioned a life coaching programme as part of a developmental programme for our foster carers. Topics are based around ‘The National Fostering Changes Programme’ and range from improving performance to building self-confidence.
All foster carers are offered 3 one to one sessions to start and further sessions as required.
