Training and support
Our extensive training and support are unparalleled. We take pride in providing help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
We will support you
Becoming a foster carer is a big step, and you’ll want to know that you have an experienced, friendly and supportive team around you at all times. We are owned by social workers passionate about improving the lives of the children looked after, which influences how we are run.
Whilst we know that fostering is rewarding and fulfilling, we also understand that it can be challenging. That is why we have a dedicated social work team, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to support you.
From your initial enquiry, we are with you every step of the way, supporting you on your fostering journey. This doesn’t stop when you become a carer, you’ll have a dedicated social worker and a team of support workers, we’re there when you need us.
Our team has supported foster carers in Wales for 25 years, enabling them to help children and young people become happy, independent, and confident individuals.
Exceptional support, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
The backing of a friendly, well-established, close-knit and long-serving team
Comprehensive and ongoing training to ensure you’re confident to step up to the challenge
Access to a local support network that includes social activities, support groups and buddy carers
We provide opportunities to become a specialist foster carer and work in one of our specialisms
Local office with friendly staff who are focused on achieving the best outcomes for children
Paid respite, a competitive foster carer allowance and a great package of benefits.
We will train you
Calon Cymru Fostering is committed to providing our foster carers with training to give every child the best possible care to achieve the best outcomes. We know that all of our foster carers will equally be committed to attending any training provided.
We consider the training and development of our foster carers as a vital part of their time with us. Therefore, through our allocated supervising social workers, we help every foster carer achieve this.
Providing our foster carers with a comprehensive training suite is a key priority for Calon Cymru Fostering. Our training is divided into mandatory and core training, which are categorised as follows;
Core training - repeated every three years
We want to inspire you in both your personal and professional development and equip you to face the challenges of caring for, and improving the life chances of, our young people. Our core training involves...
Safeguarding
Safer care - managing risk
Record Keeping
Reporting and Observation
Behaviour Management
First Aid
Essential training
Our essential training involves...
Introduction to Agency
Equality and Diversity
Moving on to Independence- managing transitions
Child Development
Heath and the Developing Child
Understanding Emotional Trauma ( Attachment)
Contact and Working with Birth Families
Online Safety
Behaviour Management – PACE, Low Arousal, Neurodiversity
Managing Allegations
Additional training
Our additional training involves, although not exhausted...
Adoption Preparation
Therapeutic Parenting
Parent and Child- specific
Gender Diversity
County Lines
Domestic Abuse
Substance Abuse
Healthy relationships
Training offerings
All new foster carers must attend an introduction to fostering course with our training and development officer within one month of approval and complete the Social Care Wales Induction Framework for foster carers within their first year.
We recognise that individuals have different learning styles, and here at Calon Cymru Fostering we provide training in different forms:
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E-learning
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Face to face
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Reading
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Reflective practice
Advanced online training
Our e-Learning training courses are provided by KCA online, with up to 55 courses available. Grounded in understanding children's and young people's needs, the courses aim to develop knowledge, skills and reflection. Activities and exercises require learners to 'stop and think' or 'go and do' and record their discoveries in their online journals.
There is a facility for the journal to be shared with a designated learning mentor and with input from experts. In addition, your supervising social worker will support you in identifying your training needs and help you access training, including KCA online training courses.
In addition to the above, you will receive support from our excellent supervising social workers at Calon Cymru, who will help you assess your training needs and requirements so that you have the necessary training to care for our vulnerable children. Additionally, we can provide customised training to support you one-on-one.
Common Questions
There are lots! Once approved as a foster carer, there are numerous possibilities to learn more about child safety, behaviour management, fostering self-esteem in children, first aid, and so much more! We continually invest in your learning and development to help everyone deliver the best standards of care and outcomes for young people.
Calon Cymru Fostering provides both face-to-face and virtual training. This will be determined by your location and the type of instruction you receive.
You will be appointed a Supervising Social Worker once you have been approved as a foster carer. They will pay you a visit every two weeks to discuss your foster child's growth. Furthermore, members of our team are accessible to communicate with you at any time, day or night, 365 days a year. There are also monthly local foster carer support meetings, which provide you with the opportunity to meet with other foster carers in your area.
Do you think you can change the life of a local vulnerable child or young person?
Get in touch today for a casual, friendly chat with our experienced foster advisors.
Contact us
