Fostering training, support and allowances

We offer a comprehensive training pathway to our foster carers so that you can continue to develop a diverse skill set, to help you be the best foster carer you can.

We recognise that foster carers have different and changing needs, depending on their personal circumstances, preferences and family situations, so we offer a hybrid approach to training delivery (in person and virtual) where possible, which enables our foster carers to attend more courses, more regularly.

Training courses available:

Skills to Foster

An introductory three-day course to prepare you for your journey into fostering. This course is held in-person and is to be completed prior to approval.

Mandatory training

Once you are approved as a foster carer, there are a number of courses that must be completed, these include First Aid and Record Keeping.

There are timescales for the completion of these courses and some will need to be renewed.

Core training

These courses are central to your professional development as foster carers. We expect all of our foster carers to complete these courses, but the timescales are relatively flexible. Examples of courses include Secondary Trauma, Solihull Approach and Education Matters.

Specialist training

We are also offer specialist courses that cover a wide range of topics relating to children, young people and fostering in general. Attendance at these training sessions will be dependent on your own interests, the age of children you foster and the type of fostering you provide now or wish to provide in the future.

Courses include Adolescence, Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, and Emotion Coaching.

Additional topics are always being sourced to add to the range and depth of foster carer training.

Allowances are payments that cover the day-to-day costs of looking after a foster child.

You will receive a weekly allowance to cover maintenance, pocket money, clothing and travel for your foster child. The amount is dependent on the age of the child and number of children you look after.

You may be entitled to be paid an extra allowance depending on your experience. Gaining experience and completing training courses give you the opportunity to become a  level two or level three carer meaning you would be eligible for an additional skill fee payment.

For more information and a breakdown of allowances and payments please see our allowances and skills fees document.

Foster carers should register as self-employed with HM Revenue and Customs. Find out more about tax arrangements.

We offer our foster carers excellent support, including:

Social worker support

An experienced, allocated supervising social worker will help and encourage you on every step of the process. They will ensure that you have everything you need to give a child or young person, and your family, a positive experience. They will understand the statutory process.

Our supervising and children’s social workers work closely together in the office. This means that you will have direct access to them when you need to discuss the needs of the children in your care.

You will also receive high-level support from an office-based Duty Worker, as well as access to an ‘out of hours’ team.

Allowances

Allowances include:

• Competitive weekly allowance
• Child Holiday Allowance
• Child Birthday Allowance
• Christmas or Festivities Allowance
• Additional mileage

Training

We offer access to social care e-Learning. We also have a full schedule of fostering-related training and workshops with experienced staff. This is held both online and in-person.

Interventions

Foster carers have access to Local Authority Virtual School and education interventions.

Mockingbird

We launched Mockingbird, developed by The Fostering Network, in November 2024. We will gradually be rolling this out to our foster carers.

Mockingbird is an evidence-based model structure where groups of foster carers support each other. It has a hub carer to coordinate activities, meetings, and respite care.

Find out more about Mockingbird.

FosterTalk

You will become a member of FosterTalk. FosterTalk is an independent, not-for-profit organisation providing high quality professional advice and guidance to all foster carers.

Find out more about FosterTalk.

New Family Social

We are an agency member of New Family Social. New Family Social are a UK charity who provide support for LGBTQ+ families with fostering and adoption. We can offer you their free Gold Membership if you are being assessed or are approved as a foster carer.

Find out more about New Family Social.

Building Bridges

Support from Building Bridges, family intervention support and clinical psychologists.

Placement support

Placement support meetings help to identify where additional support is needed to sustain or support a placement. This includes management and stability meetings.

Sessional workers

We offer access to support from sessional workers.

Southampton Foster Carers’ Association

We offer membership of the Southampton Foster Carers’ Association (SFCA). SFCA is a registered charity which hosts regular events and activities, including a Christmas party and summer bike ride.

Find out more about the SFCA.

Quarterly Fostering Forums

The Quarterly Fostering Forums are held both online and in person. They are a chance to meet and talk with the Fostering Senior Leadership Team and have your views heard.

Therapeutic Support Group

This is a weekly morning session where foster carers can share and reflect on specific challenges and gain support.

Monthly foster carer coffee mornings

We hold monthly foster carer coffee mornings at a city centre coffee shop. Join other foster carers and the team for a chat and to share ideas and experiences over coffee and cake!

Rhyme Time

We host fun, singing ‘Rhyme Time’ sessions at local libraries each month. These are for foster carers and young children.

Equipment store

Foster carers may borrow equipment from the store. This includes cots, buggies, stairgates, and so on.