Being a fostering family (birth children under 10)

This course is designed to introduce you to the condition of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also called ADD or ADHD. We will use the terminology of ADHD throughout this course.

The safe administration of medicine to foster children is an important aspect of care. It is a potential safeguarding issue and requires thorough preparation and record keeping. This course is designed to give you general information about properly using medication for children in your care, including how to handle it safely and reduce risks.

This course explores the concept of adult safeguarding, focusing particularly on safeguarding care leavers who continue living with their carers post-18 (e.g., under "Staying Put" or "When I'm Ready" arrangements) and parents in Parent and Child arrangements. Adult safeguarding includes actions, processes, and policies designed to protect adults from harm, abuse, or neglect. It involves a balance between ensuring adult safety and respecting their autonomy to make choices.

Safeguarding children is a critical part of fostering. Thankfully, this is not something you have to do alone. It will involve many organisations caring for or in contact with children, such as your fostering service, the local authority, schools, the police, medical institutions, etc. You will all have to work closely together to protect foster children from the many possible risks. This course on advanced safeguarding is meant to arm you with the necessary tools to do the difficult work of keeping the children in your care as safe as you possibly can.

Children and young people are curious about alcohol, and it’s normal. However, as a foster carer, you need to be careful as giving alcohol to a foster child could get you into a lot of trouble.

Allegations are an uncomfortable part of fostering, which some carers will encounter as part of their journey. Not knowing what might happen - or what support is available - can add to the stress if concerns are ever raised. This course helps foster carers understand how allegations are handled, why safeguarding systems work the way they do, and what this means in practice for carers and families. By exploring processes, expectations and preparation, this course aims to reduce uncertainty, support confident practice, and help carers feel better equipped to navigate what can be a challenging experience.

Allergies are very common, especially in the U.K and in children. As a foster carer, it is crucial to know how to manage a child's allergy and how to help them as well. Allergies can pose a serious health risk, but with the right knowledge and tools, it is easily avoidable.

The development of a bond between an infant and their primary caregivers is primordial for their development, especially while they are young. This bond is called "attachment". When a child is unable to develop this bond, it affects their wellbeing and has long-lasting effects. Unfortunately, many children in care suffer from attachment issues. As a foster carer, you will have to support the child to overcome these difficulties.

This course is designed to introduce you to autism, and how it can affect a child, and you as a foster carer. Autistic children can find social situations very difficult, and thus find it difficult to make friends. This course will help you understand how you can help an autistic child in your care.

Taking care of children suffering with incontinence problems, such as soiling and bedwetting, is an issue that many foster carers face. These can be distressful for the child, especially when they are older, it can also be difficult for the carer to help the child.

This course is designed for birth children (10y+) in fostering families. It is important for them to have an understanding of what foster care is, their parents' roles as foster carers, and how fostering will bring changes into their homes and lives. This course is written so that it can be read by the birth children themselves, but it may be best to go through the course together, to discuss the material and do the activities. There are several discussion questions throughout the course.

This course is designed for individuals recently approved to join a fostering panel, as well as those interested in deepening their understanding of fostering panels. We explore the key role that fostering panels play in upholding high standards in foster care. The course then focuses on empowering you with the knowledge and skills essential for impactful participation as a panel member. By the end of this course, you will be well-versed in your role and responsibilities as a fostering panel member and equipped to be an effective panel member through diligent preparation and informed participation.

Bullying can happen to anyone of any age, at any time. Being bullied during childhood, especially during school years, is unfortunately quite common. According to a 2018 survey, 40% of children experience bullying at least once a week. Childhood bullying can have life-long consequences on the victim, especially as children develop their identity and personality during their early years. Children are not likely to tell you that they are being bullied. So, as a foster carer, you need to be able to spot the signs of bullying and know how to stop it.

Bullying, harassment and sexual harassment can arise in any workplace, and can have serious consequences for individuals and organisations. This course provides a clear understanding of what these behaviours are, how they may appear in everyday workplace situations, and the impact they can have. It also explains the legal context. The course then focuses on practical action, outlining how complaints can be raised, what to expect from procedures, and how employees can respond appropriately. By the end, learners will be better equipped to recognise issues early and contribute to a respectful working environment.

In the UK, cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug. Young people might be tempted to experiment with cannabis or use it to forget their problems. Heavy cannabis usage can lead to things like school suspension, addiction or health issues. So, it is important for foster carers to know about cannabis and the risks associated with it, in order to spot the signs and take steps to help their foster child. For health and safety reasons, it is crucial to be clear on what steps to take if you do find out a foster child is consuming cannabis.

Between April 2019 and March 2020 3,463 unaccompanied minors arrived in the UK, asking for asylum and many of them will be looked after in foster care. Eritrea is one of the top countries from where these children come from. To be able to support them, it will be helpful for you to know about their culture and the challenges they went through.

Between April 2019 and March 2020 3,463 unaccompanied minors arrived in the UK asking for asylum and many of them will be looked after in foster care. Iran is amongst the top countries for children seeking asylum. To be able to support them, it will be helpful for you to know about their culture and the challenges they went through.

Between April 2019 and March 2020 3,463 unaccompanied minors arrived in the UK asking for asylum and many of them will be looked after in foster care. Iraq is amongst the top countries for children seeking asylum. To be able to support them, it will be helpful for you to know about their culture and the challenges they went through.

Between April 2019 and March 2020 3,463 unaccompanied minors arrived in the UK asking for asylum and many of them will be looked after in foster care. Sudan and South Sudan are among the top countries from where these children come from. To be able to support them, it will be helpful for you to know about their culture and the challenges they went through.

This course is for foster carers who are looking after a child with a different ethnic background, or who might do so in the future. It looks at the role ethnicity might play in a child's identity, and how you can honour, support and celebrate that part of them.

This course is aimed at foster carers who are taking care of a Christian child but don't share their religion. It should help you understand more about Christianity, its key observances and how to support the child to maintain and develop their identity as a Christian. There are many different denominations within Christianity, and many different ways of being a Christian. We will not be able to cover all of the practices within this course, but we will aim to give a comprehensive overview.

This course is aimed to foster carers who are taking care of a Muslim child and who don't share the same religion. It will help you understand more about Islam, its key observances and how to support the child to maintain and develop their identity as a Muslim.

This course is for foster carers who are looking after a Polish child and who don’t share the same heritage. We look at the role heritage might play in a child's identity, and how you can honour, support and celebrate that part of them.

As a carer for a foster child with a learning disability, your role is to make sure that they have the right support so that their opportunities in life are not limited. In this course, you will find out about their particular needs, how to get professional help and support and how you can assist them yourself. This course will give you the confidence to make choices and to help the foster child, so they have a fulfilling life.

This course is aimed at foster carers who are taking care of children suffering from diabetes. It will help you understand more about their condition, how you can help them to live as normal a life as possible and what to do in case of an emergency.

Down's syndrome is a lifelong condition, which is caused by a genetic abnormality. People are born with this condition and it can affect their lives in different ways. Many of them share physical characteristics. They also have some level of learning disability, although this could range from mild to severe. Whilst children with Down's syndrome may not have a 'typical' life, they can certainly lead fulfilling lives with the right support.

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty relating to the way people process information. Dyslexic people struggle with many of the key skills needed to progress through education, in particular reading, writing and spelling. This can hold them back significantly and lead to other problems. According to government reports, dyslexia affects around 10% of the UK population.

According to a government report, almost half of children and young people in care suffer from mental health disorders at some point in their lives. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, commonly known as OCD, is an anxiety disorder that may affect the child in your care. It can present itself in many different ways, and it is important to recognise it and get it diagnosed so that you know the best ways to help and support that child.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a type of conduct disorder. It was only identified in the 1980s, so it is not yet as widely recognised as other mental health conditions. If it is left untreated it can lead to more severe mental health conditions with extreme antisocial behaviour and problems with the law. Conduct disorders are thought to affect as many as 40% of children in care.

As a carer for a foster child with a physical impairment, you have a key role in helping them access the appropriate support so that they can reach their full potential in life. In addition to helping the child overcome past adverse experiences, as you would do with any other foster child, you will also need to help them face challenges that relate to or result from their physical impairments.

This course focuses on the particular struggles and needs of trans individuals, who are even more at risk of harm and discrimination in society. This course is particularly meant for those who think they might or actually do have a trans foster child. If you are unsure about any concepts related to sexuality and gender expression, it is recommended you review the Introduction to LGBTQ+ Identity course. This course will not cover most of those concepts again but will build on the previous course.

In the year ending March 2021 2044 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) arrived in the UK seeking asylum and some of them will be looked after in foster care. If you are interested in fostering a UASC or about to welcome one into your home it will be helpful for you to know about the challenges they may have experienced those they might face once in the UK and how to support them through the asylum-seeking process.