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Information about the training we offer our foster carers.
We'll give you training so you can learn more about fostering, and build your fostering skills, both during the application process and after you've joined our team.
Training during the application process
As part of your application to become one of our foster carers, you'll come along to the Skills to Foster preparation training.
This is a training course for potential foster carers, approved by the Fostering Network Go to https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/ (opens new window), the UK's biggest fostering charity.
The course runs over three days, during weekday evenings and weekend daytime.
The course is delivered by experienced foster carers and members of our fostering team. Sessions include:
- What foster carers do
- Identity: valuing the heritage and promoting positive identities for young people
- Safer caring: why children in foster care are considered particularly vulnerable, and how to protect them and your family
- Understanding children: how the experiences of children in care might make them behave differently to other children and how to manage this behaviour
Our carers always give us very positive feedback on this course. They often say that the people they meet on the course become valuable friends in their fostering role.
Training after you've joined us
When you foster with us, you and your social worker will look at how we can develop your skills for the type of fostering you're doing. You'll then work together on a development and training plan for you.
As one of our foster carers, you'll have access to a variety of free specialised fostering training in local venues. We regularly email you with details of courses and how you can book on them.
You can also do some courses online. This means you won't have to travel long distances for your training courses.
Most of these courses are specifically developed for our foster carers.
They cover subjects like:
- Attachment: looking at what behaviour you may see in children who've had traumatic starts and how to help them with healthy attachments to adults
- Life story work: how to put together information and photos about the time the child spends with you, for them to take to their next placement or to have a record of their time with you
- Promoting educational achievement: what specialist services and educational support you can get at all stages of a child's education, and how to encourage a love of learning
- First aid
You can also access free courses from agencies on subjects such as internet safety and sexual exploitation.
Skills exchanges
We have regular skills exchanges, where foster carers with a particular skill, for example working with autistic children or caring for Black and Minority Ethnicity children, share their experiences with other carers.
Tell us about training you need
If there's any specific training you feel would help you in your fostering role, let your social worker know. They'll find out if there's any relevant upcoming training you can do.
Support for our foster carers, their families and the children in their care.
We know that fostering can be challenging at times. We're always here to support you throughout your fostering experience. As one of our foster carers, you'll have your own allocated social worker and you'll benefit from regular telephone calls and home visits.
We run local support groups where you can meet other carers and discuss your experiences as well as get useful tips and advice on the day-to-day practicalities of fostering.
We also encourage foster carers to help each other through our Buddy Scheme.
Our support includes:
- your own social worker who will work closely with you, answer questions, and help you when you need them
- matching you with your own experienced foster carer 'buddy' if you're a new carer
- an experienced, knowledgeable team, all working together and available to help you around the clock, 365 days a year
- training and development opportunities while you're applying to foster with us, and throughout your fostering career
- free membership of FosterTalk Go to https://fostertalk.org/ (opens new window), a national foster carer support organisation
- access to Thinking Allowed Go to https://cchp.nhs.uk/cchp/explore-cchp/thinking-allowed (opens new window) services, who support you and the foster children in your care, by assessing the children's needs and mental health, and offering therapy sessions
- our Virtual School, The HOPE, who make sure that children in care have all the support they need to get the most out of their education
- a dedicated therapeutic support team, who can meet with you if you're struggling with a placement, and help you find ways to make things work for you and the placement
- social events for you and the children you care for
- equipment needed to start your fostering role, such as furniture, bedding, car seat and prams
Childcare support
Foster carers are entitled to 30 hours free childcare a week from September 2018. For more information visit free childcare for 2 to 4 year olds.
Support from local groups and organisations
As a foster carer for us, you'll have access to:
- local fostering training venues, offering a wide variety of specialised training, so you don't have to travel long distances
- support from the Bristol Foster Carers Association (BFCA)
Why you should choose to foster with us, and how we're different to other organisations you can foster with.
By becoming one of our foster carers, you'll join an experienced and supportive specialist community of carers and staff.
There are many reasons why people choose to foster with us, including:
- that we are a not for profit fostering agency
- that you will not be without a child
- training and support before, during and in between children coming into your care, including your own dedicated social worker
- regular contact with other carers and our fostering team
- rewards and discounts in Bristol and nationally
- the satisfaction of doing something for your city
Not for profit
As a local authority, we are a not-for-profit agency. This means it's the children who benefit most from what we do. A large proportion of our financial resources goes towards helping our children find the right fostering homes, and training and support for you.
You will not be without a child
We're responsible for all the children in care in Bristol. As a rule, we will place children with our in-house carers first. Our carers usually have one or more children living with them all year round.
Having children live with you on a regular basis means you can rely on the regular payments and allowances that we give to all of our carers.
Bristol children do better with Bristol carers
Children placed with our own carers are less likely to experience moves and are more likely to be able to stay at their school and maintain links with their important people.
Foster with Bristol City Council
Make a difference to the lives of Bristol children
What fostering is
Fostering is looking after someone else’s child to provide them with a safe, nurturing home when their own parents are unable to care for them.
Fostering can range from as short-term as looking after a child or young person over the weekend to as long-term as looking after them until they reach 18.
Fostering with us is hugely rewarding and helps keep children in Bristol close to family and friends.
We celebrate all types of foster carers from all backgrounds. You don't need to be married, own your own home or have any qualifications.
If you can provide a safe and welcoming home, have compassion, kindness, and a sense of humour, you have what it takes to foster.
"Fostering is the best thing we have ever done and brings us joy and fun every single day."
Mike and Sally, short term carers
Could you foster?
Answer these 3 questions to see if you could become a foster carer.
1) Are you aged 21 or over?
2) Do you have a spare bedroom?
3) Do you have time and energy to give to a young person?
Great news!
You could become a foster carer with us.
Request an information pack or tell us you're interested in fostering:
Unfortunately, you won't be able to foster with us.
You must be aged 21 or over to foster with us. Contact us if you'd still like to foster once you turn 21.
Children in foster care need their own bedroom. Contact us if you have spare room in the future and would still like to foster.
Being a foster carer is really rewarding, but you must have the time and energy to dedicate to a child in your care.
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