Professional Pathways e-tool: foster care
Below are some of the most common qualifications foster carers and providers have told us they have undertaken (where level 1 is the lowest and level 8 the highest). You can also see where the TSD standards for foster care sit (which is part of your induction). Find out more by clicking on each box. Note that links will open in a new window.
Visit our qualifications explained page to find out more about the different qualification levels and frameworks used in England.
Scroll down the page to find out more about learning and development for induction, role specific and alternative qualifications or CPD, and information about other sectors or professions.
Foster Care Training
The blue boxes above contain information on the most common and accessible qualifications that are relevant to your role as a foster carer. Click on each box to find out more.
There are many other types of learning and development that are not shown on the picture above. There are lots of different training courses or CPD on topics such as attachment, behaviour, report writing, and assessment skills for example. Click the link below to find out more.
Induction
Upon starting a new role or job, you will need to undertake an induction which set outs what you should know, understand and be able to do within 6-18 months of starting. The amount of time you have will depend on the type of job or role you are doing. Foster carers have 12 months from approval to undertake their induction and complete the Training, Support and Development standards; see below for more information.
Alternative training / learning and development
The green boxes above contain information on the most common and accessible alternative qualifications that are relevant to your role as a foster carer. They show qualifications that other foster carers have told us they have undertaken or have thought about taking. Click on each box to find out more.
There are many other types of learning and development that are not shown on the diagram above, for example training courses or CPD on assertiveness skills, alcohol and drug awareness, life stories.
Follow the link to find out more about alternative / other qualifications or CPD.
Other professions or sectors
If you are interested in finding out more about a different profession or sector, or maybe considering a sideways move into another role but still working with children and young people then visit our information on other CPD or career frameworks.