Plymouth City Council’s “Skills to Foster” is an interactive and entertaining programme which gives applicants the opportunity to learn how to be trauma-informed and therapeutic foster carers.
You will meet real live foster carers, young people with experience of being in care and Supervising Social Workers.
You will begin to form your fostering network with other applicants and you may even meet an experienced Foster Carer who buddies and supports you in your first year of fostering.
You will learn about the support Plymouth City Council offers Foster Carers in a Fostering Friendly City.
We aim to give you all the knowledge, attitudes and skills you need to start to be confident and informed Foster Carers. There will be lots more training when you are approved as carers.
We cover a wide range of topics and give you a folder full of useful information.
We give you a link Fostering Social Worker to guide and support you through your Skills to Foster Journey.
The programme normally runs over three consecutive Saturdays but in the pandemic, we have been doing six virtual sessions on a Tuesday evening.
To begin with, everyone feels a bit worried about joining and speaking in a group of strangers but we promise you by the end of session one there will be a lot of laughter, developing connections with others and a chance to reflect on what Fostering is and you will be surprised how much you have learned.
By the last session you will have learned loads and will be able to decide whether fostering is right for you and your family.
Here are some comments from the evaluations of our first virtual programme in July 2020:
- I found Attachment, Allegations and PACE really useful
- All of it was relevant and helpful. Most useful was ACEs, Allegations and Attachment Theory
- The folder has some very good reference material
- Most useful were Adverse Childhood Experiences, PACE and Child Development
- I think perhaps we did miss out a bit as a group, missing out on not physically meeting each other. Although saying that it has been a very enjoyable experience in these unusual times, and I have learnt a lot about what is involved and about myself. Thank you.
- I know there are lots more support and training available to me if I need something in particular
- I found it useful to revisit the PowerPoint in the evening
- I liked the group discussions and the guidance from the trainers.
Get that application in and we will invite you to join the Skills to Foster programme.
All you will need is paper, a pen, a sense of humour and a willingness to learn.
We look forward to meeting you soon.
Eilish Doran – Skills to Foster Coach
