Foster Care Training With Swiis

Foster carer reading to young person

Fostering is a rewarding career and we will help you develop your knowledge and skills to become an exceptional carer. Swiis want to give you the opportunity to make the best impact possible on the children you look after.

Fostering with Confidence

We are committed to providing our foster carers with the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills through a comprehensive, varied programme of training as well as access to regular local workshops and support groups.

Comprehensive foster parent training with Swiis Foster Care

Your Training Programme With Swiis

Swiis’ Pre-approval Training

‘Toolkit for Fostering’ is our preparation training package for prospective foster carers and provides you with four days of mandatory training, prior to and during the assessment process. This programme covers every aspect of the role of a foster carer, and is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed in your role as a foster carer.

  • Day 1 of Training. Day 1 training serves as an introduction to fostering and Swiis Foster Care. This is delivered following a successful telephone interview and after the Initial Home Visit process has been completed. The training is provided to you prior to the assessment commencing and is pivotal in ensuring that you fully understand the fostering role and what this will mean to you and your family before the assessment begins.
  • Days 2 and 3 of Training. Delivered approximately half way through the assessment process, these sessions focus on a range of subjects and encourage you to further explore the fostering task and deepen your understanding of some of the challenges faced by children looked after. It will also cover your role in ensuring successful outcomes for children and young people in your care and the support available to you from Swiis.
  • Day 4 of Training. The final training day focuses on understanding the behaviour of children and young people and how to de-escalate situations and anxieties within the household.

Post-approval Training

Following your approval to become a foster carer, you will complete core training which includes 7 core elements:

  • Safeguarding and Child Protection
  • Culture, Diversity and Equality Awareness
  • Understanding Attachment
  • Understanding Challenging Behaviour
  • Safer Care and Managing Allegations
  • First Aid
  • Child Development

All above core training is linked to the TSD Standards for Foster Carers.

The frequency of the training is dependent on the skills of the carer and type of training. Some training is undertaken annually whereas some is required only every 3 years.

Additional specialist training is provided to support foster carers who work with or have a desire to support challenging placements, placements with complex health needs, disability placements or specialist parent and child placements.

96.5%
PLACEMENT STABILITY OVER 6 YEARS
98.3%
THE AVERAGE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OF SWIIS CARED-FOR CHILDREN DURING 2016-2017
92%
OF CHILDREN ACHIEVE OR EXCEED EXPECTED OUTCOMES IN RELATION TO THEIR HEALTH

Training Team

Laura Evans Training Team Leader

Laura Evans

Bryony Ferris Senior Training Coordinator

Bryony Ferris

Harry Benfield Training Coordinator

Harry Benfield

Mathilda Squadrone Training Coordinator

Mathilda Squadrone

Jordan Murdoch

Jordan Murdoch

Independent Trainer Jill Cutter

Jill Cutter

Independent Trainer Julia Tiplady

Julia Tiplady

Independent Trainer Jackie White

Jackie White

Independent Trainer Nicola Hanley

Nicola Hanley

Independent Trainer Claire Connors

Claire Connors

Start Your Fostering Journey

With thousands of children coming into foster care in the UK everyday, we urgently need foster carers more than ever.

Father and foster child fishing

Refer a Friend

Do you know anyone who would be a fantastic foster carer who has the skills and compassion to support a child or young person in need of a loving home?

Boys celebrating soccer goal