BACK TO BLOG
Choosing to become a foster or kinship carer is an important decision, one that deserves the very best preparation, support and understanding right from the start.
Any person who is considering foster or kinship care needs to complete a pre-approval course, the aim of which is to provide applicants with the skills, knowledge and confidence they will need for a positive fostering future.
Now, fostering regulations don’t stipulate exactly what pre-approval training needs to cover, which means that courses vary from service to service. At FosterTalk, we run the Journey 2 Foster course, the UK’s leading training course for pre-approval foster carers. It was built to be concise (we know most families don’t have a lot of time on their hands!), informative and welcoming.
In this blog, we’ll introduce you to Journey 2 Foster and its unique trauma-informed, child-centric approach.
What’s covered in Journey 2 Foster?
Written and delivered by experienced social workers and carers, Journey 2 Foster is a training course like no other. It provides learners with an introduction to the fundamentals of becoming a foster or kinship carer, delivered in a group setting, allowing for reflection, debate and participatory exercises.
We’re here to develop an understanding of themes and topics associated with fostering, children and their families. Journey 2 Foster includes six modules, providing a balance of theoretical, legislative and practical learning in areas that underpin the fostering task, all informed by the views of children and foster carers alike.
By outlining the approval process, we prepare potential carers, ensuring that any of their questions are answered. The course covers:
- Developing a better understanding of what the foster/kinship carer role entails
- An introduction to attachment theory and secure base
- How to support a child or young person through the transition into care
- Understanding your new professional network and when to seek support
- Laying the foundations of safer caring, supporting the understanding of allegations
- The importance of a child’s identity and how foster/kinship carers can help them develop a positive sense of self
Journey 2 Foster is a fully interactive 3-day course, delivered either virtually or in a classroom.
Why do foster carers love Journey 2 Foster?
Journey 2 Foster was created with support from foster and kinship carers at different stages in their journey. We also learned from talking with those with lived experience of care, and with a wide variety of fostering sector staff. It is the most comprehensive pre-approval course on the market and is regularly reviewed to reflect the changing fostering landscape.
Here’s what some of our recent attendees said about their experiences with Journey 2 Foster:
“Excellent course and would happily join other Foster Talk professional courses.”
“Personally, the information I gained will be most useful for me not only in becoming a carer but as a professional in education and as a mother.”
“Journey 2 Foster was amazing… I’ve learnt so much about what to expect and how to prepare for the first steps in my fostering journey. It’s helped to confirm that I made the right decision, and I look forward to opening my home and providing the love and support needed for my foster children.”
Carers, both pre-approval and those who have been so for years, all agree that Journey 2 Foster provided exactly what they needed, when they needed it (and in a format that was easy to digest!).
What makes Journey 2 Foster stand out?
We’re not here to reinvent the wheel – the fostering sector set the expectations for pre-approval training – but Journey 2 Foster builds on the fundamentals to offer a more current, reflective and emotionally intelligent experience:
- Trauma-informed and child-centred – From day one, we explore how trauma impacts children and how this informs a carer’s approach
- Co-created with lived experience – Journey 2 Foster is developed alongside foster/kinship carers and care-experienced young people,ensuring this informs the very foundation of what we do.
- Flexible & accessible – Our open courses allow multiple fostering services to join, making training easier to access for all.
- Consolidated learning – The 3-day model gives participants the time to absorb key messages and reflect on their future role.
By looking at foster care through the eyes of a child, we provide unique insights, preparing those wishing to care for children.
Who is Journey 2 Foster for?
While, at its core, Journey 2 Foster is designed for pre-approval carers, we can also consider training:
- Returning foster carers looking for a refresher course
- Local authority/independent agency staff looking to up-skill (train the trainer)
We have made Journey 2 Foster into the most convenient, flexible course possible. We work closely with fostering services to ensure that the course is running at a time and place that works for everyone.
Giving foster carers the best possible start
If you’re a local authority/independent fostering agency looking to improve your foster carer recruitment and onboarding process, we’d love to hear from you.
At FosterTalk, we’ve seen first-hand the difference that carefully planned training can make in the lives of foster/kinship carers, equipping them with the knowledge needed to truly thrive and make a positive difference in the lives of children in care.
If you’ve got any questions, or you’d like to talk to our specialist training team about Journey 2 Foster, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today for a no-obligation chat about your needs.
