INTRODUCTION

Dear Foster Carer

We are very pleased to publish the 2010 - 2011 Foster Care Training Directory.

The fostering service is very much aware of the challenges faced by our foster carers in caring for the childrenwho come into and leave the care system, which is why we offer such a comprehensive package of training to support you in this demanding task.

Like all child care professionals it is vitally important to gain knowledge and skills to enhance your own learning and practice. You may do this by attending programmes advertised in this directory or by e-learning or personal study.

Many of the courses listed in this directory have objectives which meet the requirements of the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care. These courses will help you evidence your learning in your CWDC induction workbook.

We are also pleased to add some new training courses for 2010 – 2011, which we trust will be of interest to many of you:

  • Fostering Changes: How to Improve Relationships and Manage Difficult Behaviour
  • Keeping Children and Young People Safe on Line
  • Positive Behaviour Management for Children up to 5
  • Tackling Trouble with School Age Children
  • Recognising and Managing Stress
  • Assertiveness: Empowering Professional Practice
  • On the Threshold of Independence: Practicalities

We are pleased to report that the number of foster carers attending training continues to increase year on year and we hope this continues to be the trend during this coming year.

With best wishes,


Jane Partridge
Team Manager Fostering / Brighde Boyle
Training Officer /
Linda Levitt
Group Manager Fostering

1

CONTENTS

1

INTRODUCTION

CORE TRAINING

Principles and Values in Foster Care

Safer Caring

Promoting Educational Achievement

Emergency First Aid for Foster Carers

Promoting and Safeguarding the Welfare of Children

Recording Practice for Foster Carers

Getting Started: CWDC Induction Portfolios

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

How to be Good: Shame and the Development of Social Learning

Fostering Changes: How to Improve Relationships

Keeping Children and Young People Safe On-Line

Impact of Abuse on Children and Young People

Recognising and Managing Stress

Assertiveness: Empowering Professional Practice

Introduction to Attachment Theory

Direct Work with Children

Positive Behaviour Management for Children up to 5

Tackling Trouble with School Age Children

Protective Behaviours

Good Moves: Positive Transitions for Children

Care Planning and Preparing Children and Young People for Reviews

Foster Care and Identity

Good Health for Children in Foster Care

What Happens When Foster Carers Have Allegations Made

Working Towards Successful Independence

On the Threshold of Independence: Practical Support

SPECIALIST

Contact: How Foster Carers Can Help Make it Work

Life Story Work with Foster Children

Beyond Childhood: Traumatised Children

Positive Personal Identity Building for Children and Young People

Anxiety and Depression in Young People

Drugs and Substance Abuse Awareness

Young People: Mental Health Problems

Disability Awareness

Autism - Developing an Understanding

FURTHER QUALIFICATIONS

Short Courses by E-Learning

Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce

USEFUL INFORMATION FOR FOSTER CARERS

COURSE CALENDAR

1

CORE TRAINING

These are courses all foster carers must complete during their first year following approval

CORE TRAINING

Principles and Values in Foster Care

An introduction to the basic values and methods to make the child or young person the centre of our work and provide an inclusive fostering service.

Trainers

Linda Levitt - Group Manager Fostering Team

Jennie Clarke -Senior Practitioner Fostering Team

Whoshould attend?

This course is essential for all foster carers in their first year following approval. It is also a valuable update for all foster carers as it outlines the expectations of the CWDC Training Support and Development Standards.

Course Content

  • The influence of culture and personal experience on ourselves as well as on children and young people
  • Equality and inclusion and what it means for foster carers
  • Strategies to provide good foster care which meet the individual needs of children and young people
  • An introduction to the relevant legislation and national policy, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and achieving the successful outcomes of Every Child Matters

CWDC Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care

Standard 1.2 and 3 Understand the Principles and Values Essential for Fostering Children and Young People: Equality and Inclusion and Anti- Discriminatory Practice and Person Centred Approaches

Course Duration

5 hours

Available Dates and Timings

Tuesday 2 November 20109:30 am – 2:30 pm

Tuesday 8 March 20119:30 am – 2:30 pm

CORE TRAINING

Safer Caring

To provide foster carers working with children who have experienced trauma, neglect or abuse with guidance on how to practice safer care to minimise the risk of false allegations against themselves or their family by understanding Safe Caring methods.

Trainer

Lisa Turney - Fostering Social Worker

Who should attend?

This workshop is essential for foster carers in their core trainingfollowingapproval and is specifically designed around the role of foster carers.

Course Content

  • Implications for foster carers and the child in care where the child has experienced trauma, neglect or abuse
  • Awareness of the need to avoid potentially abusive situations
  • How “family policies” and agency policies can help support both a foster child and the foster family and minimise the risk of having an allegation made against them

CWDC Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care

Standard 6 Keep Children Safe from Harm: Keeping Children Safe

Course Duration

5 hours

Available Dates and Timings

Friday 15 October 2010 9:30 am – 2:30 pm

Saturday 19 March 20119:30 am – 2:30 pm

CORE TRAINING

Promoting Educational Achievementin Children and Young People in Foster Care

An opportunity for foster carers to find out more about education and how theycan support the children and young people in their care.

Trainer

Sheila Mulvenny and Children in Care Education Team

Who should attend?

This course is essential for all foster carers in their first year following approvaland will support the achievement of good outcomes in education for children and young people in foster care.

Course Content

  • How to support children and young people to make the most of their potential
  • Resources and strategies to support children and young people in their education
  • The nature and structure of the current education system
  • The use of out of school hours learning opportunities

CWDC Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care

Standard 5.5. Understand the Development of Children and Young People: Support Educational Potential

Course Duration

3 hours

Available Dates and Timings

Tuesday 28 September 20109:30am – 12:30 pm

Tuesday 24 May 20119:30am – 12:30 pm

CORE TRAINING

Emergency First Aid for Foster Carers

A workshop to introduce ways to manage health emergencies in the foster home.

Trainer

Guardian First Aid

Who should attend?

This course is essential for all foster carers, including those in need of refresher training. Refresher training is recommended at three year intervals.

Course Content

  • Managing an emergency situation and summoning help
  • CPR and the recovery position
  • Emergency action for bleeding and choking
  • Basic information on children’s illnesses and life threatening illnesses

CWDC Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care

Standard 3.1 Understand Health and Safety and Healthy Care – Legislation, Policies and Procedures

Special Requirements

Please wear sensible shoes and trousers and be prepared for lying on the floor.

Course Duration

4 hours

Available Dates and Timings

Thursday 21 October 20109:30 am – 1:30 pm

Saturday 15 January 20119:30 am – 1:30 pm

Wednesday 4 May 20119:30 am – 1:30 pm

CORE TRAINING

Promoting and Safeguarding the Welfare of Children

To deepen a foster carer’s understanding of their roles and responsibilities in working with children in care, particularly those in need of protection. The basic elements of the children in care system including family support and children in need of protection will be explored.

Trainer

Lisa Turney - Fostering Social Worker

Who should attend?

This course is an introduction for new foster carers, or an update for existing foster carers, to the knowledge and procedures involved in safeguarding children.

Course Content

  • Indicators of abuse and neglect
  • Children in need of protection in the wider context of children in need
  • The foster carer’s role and responsibility if they have a concern about a child’s welfare
  • What to do if a foster carer is worried a child has been abused or neglected

CWDC Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care

Standard 6 Keep Children Safe from Harm

Course Duration

5 hours

Available Dates and Timings

Friday 19 November 20109:30 am – 2:30 pm

Wednesday6 April 20119:30 am – 2:30 pm

CORE TRAINING

Recording Practice for Foster Carers

Recording is a key activity essential to the fostering task. This course offers foster carers an overview of 'how' and 'what' to record in a smart and effective way.

Trainer

Jane Partridge – Fostering Team Manager

Who should attend?

This course has been designed specifically for foster carers and will provide the knowledge and skills necessary to complete the recording required in their role.

Course Content

  • The importance and purpose of recording
  • Key records foster carers will work with
  • Differentiating fact and opinion
  • What to record
  • Ownership of recording
  • Efficient use of the foster carer’s log

CWDC Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care

Standard 4.5 Know How to Communicate Effectively: Principles of Keeping Good Records

Course Duration

2.5 hours

Available Dates and Timings

Thursday 27January 2011 6:30pm – 9:00pm

Monday 9 May 2011 10:00 am – 12:30pm

CORE TRAINING

Getting Started: CWDC Induction Portfolios

The course forms an introduction to the CWDC Foster Carers Induction and Supervision Standards and how to assemble an induction portfolio.

Trainer

Steve Haddrell – Independent Trainer

Who should attend?

All foster carers, whether newly approved or experienced, who have not yet completed their portfolio.

Course Content

  • CWDC Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care
  • The Induction workbook
  • Linking the standards to practice and identifying evidence for portfolios

CWDC Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care

An introduction to all the standards and how to use them in practice and

Standard 7.4 Develop yourself: Meeting learning needs as part of continued professional development

Course Duration

2 hours

Course dates and timings

Friday 24 September 2010 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Further monthly workshop dates to cover all the standards will be advised.

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Like all child care professionals it is of vital importance to gain knowledge in order to enhance your own learning and practice.These courses are recommended for your professional development.

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

How to be Good: Shame and the Development of Social Learning

Discover how to help children recover from, and adapt to, acquired impairments through their development of self-regulation.

Trainer

Fiona Cadwallader - Als-Akamas

Who should attend?

This course is useful for all foster carers who wish to gain more insight into children and young people’s behaviour and who need to know how they can respond to difficulties.

Course Content

  • Infant attachments in developing self-regulation
  • Brain development and the seven steps of attachment
  • Relationships between self-regulation of stress, mood and impulse to behaviour throughout childhood
  • Strategies to promote resilience and enable children to recover from acquired developmental impairments

CWDC Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care

Standard 5.1 and 5.2 Understand the development of children and young people, attachment and the stages of development and resilience

Course Duration

1 day

Course Dates and Timings

Thursday 30 September 20109:30 am – 4:30 pm

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Fostering Changes: How to Improve Relationships and Manage Difficult Behaviour

This course will give foster carers skills and strategies to work more effectively with foster children in the two to twelve year age group. It will also provide the opportunity to share a group learning experience over a number of weeks.

Trainers

Jane Partridge - Fostering Team Manager, Linda Levitt - Group Manager

Who should attend?

All foster carers who wish to develop a better relationship with their foster child but sometimes struggle to deal with tantrums, rudeness or aggression or who find a child often plays up to get attention.

Course Content

  • How to maintain positive relationships with the children in your care
  • Ways to support your children in school
  • How to manage difficult behaviour
  • Effectiveskills forlistening to your children
  • How to help children to express their feelings
  • Being a more confident carer

About Children’s Behaviour

  • The context of behaviour
  • Praise
  • Positive attention
  • Rewards
  • Giving instructions and ignoring
  • Setting limits
  • Natural and logical consequences and "time out": Managing thoughts and feelings
  • Endings and taking care of yourself

The course was developed is response to foster carers’ requests for more practical solutions to problems they experience managing children. The programme is behaviourally based and derived from research into parenting skills, attachment and educational attainment and progress of looked after children. The programme is supported by the Department of Children Schools and Families and the National Academy of Parenting Practitioners.

For further details see:

CWDC Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care

Standard 5.1 to 5.7 Understand the Development of Children and Young People: Attachment and the Stages of Development.

Course Duration

This course takes place on one morning per week for twelveweeks. There are breaks for school mid term and holidays.

Course dates and Timings

Thursday 14 October 2010 09:30am – 12:30pm

Thursday 21 October 2010 09:30am – 12:30pm

Thursday 4 November 2010 09:30am – 12:30pm

Thursday 11 November 2010 09:30am – 12:30pm

Thursday 18November 2010 09:30am – 12:30pm

Thursday 25 November 2010 09:30am – 12:30pm

Thursday 2 December 2010 09:30am – 12:30pm

Thursday 9 December 2010 09:30am – 12:30pm

Thursday 16 December 2010 09:30am – 12:30pm

Thursday 13 January 2011 09:30am – 12:30pm

Thursday20 January 2011 09:30am – 12:30pm

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Keeping Children and Young People Safe On-Line

To promote awareness and understanding on how electronic communication is used and highlight the positives and the risks associated with its use.

Trainer

LawrenceJordan – Family Intervention Project

Who should attend?

This course is designed to give foster carers an opportunity to discuss some of the difficulties and solutions in maintaining a child or young person’s safety, whilst respecting their privacy and understanding the technology.

Course Content

  • Current trends on how children and young people behave when on-line.
  • Child Exploitation and on-line Protection (CEOP) presentation for Parents/Carers.
  • On-line risks for children/young people and to know how to report online abuse.
  • Resources/additional information that can be used by foster carers and child/young person

CWDC Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care

Standard 6.2Keeping children safe

Standard 6.3Recognising and responding to abuse

Standard 3.4 and 5 Personal safety and security

Course Duration

3 hours

Course Dates and Timings

Tuesday 12October 2010 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Impact of Abuse on Children and Young People

This course explores the key issues in working with children and young people who have been abused and the factors that influence their recovery.

Trainer

Chris Kent - Trust for the Study of Adolescence

Who should attend?

Foster carers who work with children and young people who have been abusedor who may have been abused.

Course Content

  • Issues for children and young people and the message they have received from adults
  • Behaviours and patterns that indicate poor or difficult early relationships and continued distress
  • A summary of factors that increase or decrease vulnerability-specific issues for young people regarding "race", ethnicity, sexuality, gender, class, disability status, culture, religion and language
  • Strategies for responding as a protective adult and building recovery

CWDC Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care

Standard 5.6 Understanding the development of children and young people: Understanding contexts

Course Duration

1 day

Course Dates and Timings

Tuesday 11 January 20119:30am - 4:30pm

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Recognising and Managing Stress

We accept that caring can be stressful but can we understand and manage the stress to our advantage? This course examines the causes of stress in caring and what can be done to manage it.

Trainer

Chris Anderson – Independent Trainer

Who Should Attend?

This course is useful to all foster carers.

Course Content

  • Stress in foster care
  • Sources of stress in foster care
  • How stress can be managed
  • Recognising stress and identifying when support is needed
  • Using and managing resources available
  • The value of supervision

CWDC Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care

Standard 7 Develop Yourself; Using Support and Supervision to Develop Your Role

Course Duration

5 hours

Course Dates and Timings

Monday 11 October 2010 9:30am – 2:30pm

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Assertiveness: Empowering Professional Practice

This course provides an opportunity for foster carers to develop an understanding of the issues and learnhow to use assertive behaviours in their professional role.

Trainer– Independent Trainer

Chris Anderson –Independent Trainer

Who Should Attend?

This course is specially designed for foster carers.