Service Description: Fostering is substitute family care for children and young people who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to live with their own families. Services available via the Fostering Service are Long Term Fostering, Short Term Fostering, Respite Care, Day Care Providers, Family Link and Combined Accomodation Scheme (CAS). The service currently consists of 3 Units and a Fostering Duty Worker.
Answer: The initial preparation course for foster carers that is undertaken prior to Approval covers much of the basic information that you will require, such as; the types of behaviour you can expect to deal with, who will work with you and who will support you, as well as your role and what you should expect from others who work with the children that you foster. You will gain a knowledge of Childrens’ Services and how fostering fits into this. However, there is no way that an introductory course can cover all the issues which you will need to cover. Therefore the ’Looked After Children’ service runs many courses during the year and you will be expected to attend a minimum of three courses.