Foster care standards

Foster care TSD standards: Closure of CWDC online systems to new users from 9 January 2012
The Department for Education (DfE) have agreed that they will maintain the strategic lead for foster care work when CWDC closes in April 2012.  This includes the (TSD) Standards for foster carers.  All foster carers continue to be required to complete the TSD Standards within 12 months of approval (or 18 months for family and friends foster carers). Find out more

The Training, Support and Development (TSD) Standards set out what you (as a foster carer) should know, understand and be able to do within the first 12-18 months following approval. If you would like to find out more about the role of a foster carer visit our general information section.

Quick links

I am a full time or longer term foster carer

The Training, Support and Development (TSD) standards for foster care provide a national minimum benchmark that set out what all foster carers should know, understand and be able to do within the first 12 months of approval. The TSD standards form part of a foster carers induction.  

If you are a full time or longer term foster carer, you will need to complete the Training, Support and Development standards for foster carer. Following approval you will have 12 months to complete the standards.

Information for
Foster carers	Supervisors	Providers

Useful resources and websites
Workbooks (PDF and online versions)	Help & guidance	1 day training toolkit
Case studies & examples of practice	Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)	Hear what foster children think about care (video)

• National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services

• Devon City Council have created a website with some really useful information and resources on many areas to do with foster care including help on how to complete the TSD workbook, internet and computer safety, health, fostering panels etc. Visit Devon County Council's fostering service website for more information.

I am a short break carer

The TSD standards for short breaks are suitable for foster carers who provide short breaks to children and young people with a disability or complex health problems. If you are a short break carer you 12 months to complete the standards following approval.

Resources

Workbook (online only)	Induction guide
Meet some short break carers	Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I am a family and friends carer

The Training, Support and Development (TSD) Standards for Family and Friends (Kinship) foster carers set out what all family and friends carers should know, understand and be able to do within the first 18 months of approval. The TSD standards form part of a family and friends carers induction.

Resources for family and friends carers

Workbook (PDF only)

Help & guidance

I am a manager/supervisor

We have developed a number of resources to help you (as a manager of supervising social worker) support your foster carers. See our information for supervisors.

I am a fostering provider

If you are a fostering provider or agency see our information for providers.