Foster care training
The Foster Care service offer a comprehensive training pathway for foster carers. This will help carers to develop a diverse skill set.
Types of training
Mandatory training
Once you are approved as a foster carer, there are several courses that must be completed. These include First Aid and Record Keeping.
Core training
These courses are central to your professional development as foster carers. It is expected that all foster carers complete these courses, but the timescales are relatively flexible.
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 is dependent on your own interests, the age of the children that you foster, and the type of fostering you provide now, or wish to provide in the future.
Bookings
Please discuss with your allocated supervising social worker before booking any training. Make requests by email at training.support@southampton.gov.uk.
Please ensure you supply a unique email address for each foster carer requested.
Upcoming training
| Course name | Type | Venue | Date | Start | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Domestic Abuse Workshop | Core | Virtual | 22 April 2025 | 12noon | 1pm |
| Substance Use Education | Specialist | Virtual | 28 April 2025 | 10am | 1pm |
| Introduction to Education | Core | Virtual | 29 April 2025 | 7pm | 8.30pm |
| Foster Carer Conversations - Questions and Answers (QA) Caring for Teenagers | Specialist | Virtual | 1 May 2025 | 12noon | 1pm |
| Staying Put Scheme | Specialist | Virtual | 6 May 2025 | 9.30am | 12.30pm |
| First Aid for Foster Carers | Mandatory | Civic Centre | 7 May 2025 | 9.30am | 4.30pm |
| Care Experienced Adult QA - Let our voices be heard | Specialist | Virtual | 7 May 2025 | 6pm | 7pm |
| Next steps after school and building resilience for the next stage | Specialist | Virtual | 8 May 2025 | 12noon | 1pm |
| Introduction to Emotional Coping Skills | Core | Civic Centre | 12 May 2025 | 10am | 2.30pm |
| Role of the Personal Assistants (PA) and Pathway Planning | Specialist | Virtual | 13 May 2025 | 12noon | 1.30pm |
| Contextual Safeguarding - Risk Outside the Home | Core | Virtual | 19 May 2025 | 10am | 11.30am |
| Understanding Teenagers | Core | Virtual | 21 May 2025 | 10am | 12noon |
| Engaging Your Child Through Play - Theraplay | Core | Civic Centre | 4 June 2025 | 9.30am | 1pm |
| Reunification to the Birth Family | Core | Civic Centre | 9 June 2025 | 10am | 2.30pm |
| Introduction to Safeguarding | Mandatory | Virtual | 11 June 2025 | 10am | 12.30pm |
| Supporting LGBTQ+ Young People | Core | Civic Centre | 16 June 2025 | 10am | 2.30pm |
| Introduction to Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder | Specialist | Virtual | 18 June 2025 | 12noon | 1.15pm |
| Safer Caring & Allegations | Mandatory | Virtual | 18 June 2025 | 6pm | 8.30pm |
| First Aid for Foster Carers | Mandatory | Civic Centre | 23 June 2025 | 9.30am | 4pm |
| Introduction to Attachment and Child Development | Mandatory | Virtual | 24 June 2025 | 10am | 12noon |
| Record Keeping/Writing to the Child | Mandatory | Virtual | 26 June 2025 | 10am | 11.30am |
| Therapeutic Parenting - Parenting with Parenting with Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy (PACE) Day 1 | Core | Civic Centre | 30 June 2025 | 10am | 2pm |
| Supporting Young People affected by Self Harm | Specialist | Civic Centre | 2 July 2025 | 10am | 12noon |
| Keeping Children and Young People Safe Online Day 1 | Core | Virtual | 3 July 2025 | 10am | 1pm |
| Therapeutic Parenting - Parenting with PACE Day 2 | Core | Civic Centre | 7 July 2025 | 10am | 2pm |
| Introduction to Child Sexual Abuse | Core | Virtual | 9 July 2025 | 10am | 12noon |
| Family Time & Working with Birth Parents | Core | Virtual | 14 July 2025 | 10am | 1pm |
| Keeping Children and Young People Safe Online Day 2 | Core | Virtual | 17 July 2025 | 10am | 1pm |
| First Aid for Foster Carers | Mandatory | Civic Centre | 15 September 2025 | 9am | 4pm |
| Introduction to Domestic Abuse Workshop | Core | Virtual | 22 September 2025 | 7pm | 8pm |
| First Aid for Foster Carers | Mandatory | Civic Centre | 15 October 2025 | 9am | 4pm |
| First Aid for Foster Carers | Mandatory | Civic Centre | 15 November 2025 | 9am | 4pm |
Useful links
FosterTalk is an independent, not-for-profit organisation providing high quality professional advice and guidance to all foster carers. Find out more about FosterTalk.
Mockingbird is an evidence-based model structure where groups of foster carers support each other, with a hub carer to co-ordinate activities, meetings, and respite care. Find out more about Mockingbird.
New Family Social is 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.
