Chapter Contents
- TSDS (Training, Support and Development Standards)
- Training at ISP
- Mandatory training
- ISP Therapeutic Training Pathway
- Career Progression
- Booking Training
- Training Records
TSDS
The training, support and development standards (TSDS)
The TSDS are a set of national guidelines that outline what foster carers should know and be able to do. Foster parents must compete a portfolio of evidence to show knowledge and skills in relation to the TSDS within 12 months of approval. Your supervising social worker and fostering advisor will support you to achieve this, and in addition we offer training courses to help you.
Couples can work together to complete a joint TSDS portfolio, and your supervising social worker will sign off your completed portfolio. .
TSDS Workbook
The Government’s TSDS workbook is available on the GOV.UK website, or by clicking here.
Training at ISP
Access to training is an important part of your ongoing development as a foster parent. In addition, training helps you to stay up to date with changes to national policy and practice guidance and to learn about issues that affect the children in placement. The National Minimum Standards require ISP to provide a range of training opportunities, some of which are mandatory.
As ISP Foster parents, you have access to a wide range of courses, delivered by our own staff, and by a central team of trainers at Polaris. You will receive training calendars, and your supervising social worker and fostering advisor will help you to choose courses that best suit your stage of development and current needs.
Our training offer is substantial, and covers a wide range of topics. If you have specific training needs relating to the needs of a child you are caring for, we will try to source a suitable training course for you to attend so that you are fully supported.
You can view our Training Policy and full Training Pathway here:
Our Learning & Development team at Polaris also offer a wide range of complementary training courses, some of which are online and others virtual via Microsoft Teams. Courses are mentioned throughout the Foster Parent Handbook, in the relevant chapter. You can also take a look at the current training brochure, and search for courses on ‘Learnative’.
What to expect at training
You will attend some training courses at your local centres, and access others virtually (using Microsoft Teams). Courses usually run within school hours so that you can attend while still being available to take children to school and pick them up. On rare occasions, it might be necessary for courses to run for a full day and you might need to make alternative arrangements for someone within your support network to do the school run.
A training course typically includes a presentation delivered by the trainer, with discussions that allow you to share your experiences with colleagues and reflect on the fostering task. Our training courses are an opportunity to learn, share and ask questions, and we encourage active participation wherever you feel comfortable to do so. The trainer will not assess you.
At the end of each training course, we will invite you to complete an evaluation form to give us vital feedback on the quality of the course and whether you found it helpful. We use these evaluation forms to inform the development and continual improvement of our training offer.
See our Training Policy for foster parents
Mandatory Training
There are 8 courses which are mandatory for all approved foster parents:
- Safeguarding
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Safer Care and Allegations
- Behaviour Management (PRICE)
- Health and Safety in the Home
- Emergency First Aid
- Medication in the Foster Home
- Recording and Reporting
In order to enable secondary foster parents who work to attend these courses, we try to provide opportunities for evening and weekend training, as well as online training options.
ISP Therapeutic Training Pathway
Our training offer includes a comprehensive City & Guilds Assured ‘Therapeutic Pathway’ of training, which supports foster parents through their development. The Pathway aligns with our fostering ‘grades’ and you will typically complete the courses over an extended period of time.
Career Progression
New foster parents will join ISP at Core Grade. Progression to Main Grade, and then Senior Grade, comes with experience and relevant training. Carers who come to ISP with sufficient experience of fostering and the necessary training already achieved might start on Main Grade.
To progress to Main Grade, foster parents must complete their TSDS portfolio, 8 mandatory training courses, stage 1a of the Therapeutic Pathway, and 3 additional courses:
- Managing Disclosures
- The Health of Looked after Children
- Helping Children Succeed at School
It is also preferable for the foster parent to have gained fostering experience prior to progression to Main Grade. Your local centre will monitor this, and the manager will need to agree your progression. Progression is usually achievable within 2 years.
Progression to Senior Grade requires:
- A recommendation from your manager
- Completion of all Core and Main grade courses, including stages 1a and 1b of the Therapeutic Pathway.
- Completion of the ISP Case Study or NVQ3 or QCF Level 3 Health and Social Care
Booking Training
Training can be booked via our ‘Learnative’ website. You will receive login details for the site from your local ISP team. The ‘Learnative’ team send out regular training calendars to highlight courses that are available during the following months. You will receive these by email.
Training Records
You will receive a certificate of attendance for each training course you complete which you can add to your TSDS portfolio.
You can view your training records within you ‘Learnative’ account. Your supervising social worker and fostering advisor will also be able to view them. In preparation for your annual home review, they will discuss your training record with you, and future training needs.
