What training do I need to attend this year?
Essential courses – All Sefton Foster carers need to attend and renew the Essential courses every three years. Essential courses are Paediatric First Aid; Safeguarding, Allegations & Safer Care; and Therapeutic Re-Parenting.
Minimum annual requirement – As part of your fostering registration you are required to attend courses every year to keep up to date with practice developments and refresh your learning in your family’s current context.
If you are a kinship carer the minimum number of training events you can attend is 2 courses per year (your essential courses can be included in this). The second carer in the household can attend 1.
Carers who care for children not from their birth family (mainstream carers) need to attend a minimum of 4 training events, 2 for the second carers.
Carers who have achieved Level 2 need to attend 6 training events, with the second carers attending 3 events per year. (One course with 6 sessions counts as 6 training events.)
I am struggling to attend the courses because I work
Evening and weekend courses – Sefton Fostering has several evening courses and some weekend courses.
Request to employers – We can provide a letter for your employer to request that they support the Sefton Council corporate parent, and you with your fostering role, to release you for 5 days each year fully paid to attend crucial training. We have had success with many carers supported in this way.
Specialist training – If you have attended training to support your knowledge of your child’s needs, (e.g. specialist health training to peg feed a child, speech or language guidance, training on how to administer medication or treatment) this can be counted within your training hours for the year. Please provide details of the course name, date, trainer name and 3 take home points so this can be included in your record.
Self-directed learning – You may have undertaken learning to explore an area. This can count as learning and development time. You can fill in a learning log. Request a learning log from your supervising social worker or trainingfa@sefton.gov.uk
The Training Hub – is an online learning platform that Sefton Fostering have bought in to. If you would like an account, this can be set up for you by emailing trainingfa@sefton.gov.uk. From time to time, account holders receive invitations to attend online training. These are optional courses to provide you with a variety of learning opportunities.
Where can I get support with the workbook?
All foster carers in England and Wales need to complete the Workbook for the Training Support and Development Standards. Carers need to complete them within 12 months for Mainstream families and 18 months for kinship families. New carers can access support from the mentors.
Is there any help with childcare to attend courses?
If you are struggling to attend a course because your fostered child needs caring for, please contact your Supervising Social Worker to look at options. We begin with your support network but there are other options including other carers and Placement Support Workers.
I have a family member who wants to attend the courses. Can they?
Of course, those in your support network are welcome to join our training events. The more the merrier. Places on First Aid courses will need to be prioritised for approved carers as attendance is a requirement of their registration.
I’m struggling with my child’s behaviour. What is on offer?
Sefton Fostering has a well established and positively received programme for carers to support them to understand their children’s behaviour and parent in a way that responds to their needs.
Therapeutic Parenting training is important to understand how to parent a child who has trauma. We offer courses in Therapeutic Parenting at Progression to Level 2, in addition to the essential Therapeutic Re-Parenting to refresh your knowledge and skills every three years.
Foundations to Therapeutic Parenting is delivered by Dr Nicole Horton and the Fostering Team informed by attachment theory and Dyadic Development Psychotherapy.
Therapeutic Parenting for Traumatised Children is delivered by Dr Christina Enright (Child Psychologist) following decades of practice as an attachment and trauma specialist.
New Vision for Relationships (NVR)
Over the 10 week programme you will be supported to
identify when children are adopting survival responses which are harmful to their wellbeing and the wellbeing of you and your family
break the cycle of shame and silence
learn strategies which help reduce distress for you and the children you care for
learn about taking a firm stance against violence and resistant behaviour
develop strategies to increase your positive influence and presence in your child’s life
Themes for the weekly sessions include de-escalation, raising parental presence, prioritising behaviour, uniting supporters and preparing an announcement, active resistance and communication strategies.
This programme can be accessed by referral only. For advice, contact your Supervising Social Worker/ Training Development Officer angela.sitoe@sefton.gov.uk . For referral information email trainingfa@sefton.gov.uk
Are there any courses around ADHD and Autism?
Neurodiverse Experience of Coming to Hospital Clinical Psychologists, Dr Natalie Holman and Melanie Thomas from Alder Hey discuss neurodiversity and how it may affect a child’s experience of going to hospital. They offer practical strategies to support your child before, during and after hospital visits. Join them on 5th June 2025.
Neurodevelopmental Conditions Learning Programme. Over three sessions learn about neurodevelopmental conditions/specific learning difficulties with Addvanced Solutions. Discussing conditions such as Autism, ADH, Sensory Processing Difficulties and how to manage everyday challenges and behaviours these may present. Learn more by taking your place on 6th, 13th and 20th January 2026.
Addvanced Solutions are commissioned by Sefton Council to offer support and training for families caring for children who are neurodiverse or presenting with behaviours that mirror neurodiversity.
If your child has an autism diagnosis…a learning programme has been designed to support and empower parents and carers. It develops their understanding of how autism is experienced by children and young people, providing learning, guidance and strategies to better support your child/young person.
The learning programme is split up into difference age groups (3-8) (9-13) (14-18) as the issues for these age groups vary greatly.
Where no diagnosis is in place (but your child presents with behaviours common with autism, ADHD and sensory processing), Addvanced Solutions have developed a community network. It is a discussion based opportunity to develop your understanding around neurodevelopmental conditions, to ask questions and share learning and experience. These take place online or in person and have sessions in the morning, afternoon and evening.
I am worried about my child’s mental health. Any courses to help?
Parenting a troubled child can be a very stressful experience. As parents/carers – we often feel an overwhelming need to understand what is going on for our child, and how to support them in the best ways possible. Whilst there are no ‘magic answers’, often knowing a little more about the difficulty your child is facing, and exploring different strategies to support them can be incredibly helpful.
Self-esteem resource – Sefton Fostering has purchased e-learning courses from Beacon House (Trauma Specialists) to support carers where a child is struggling with low self-esteem. The learning resource, How to Support your Child’s Self-Esteem offers a range of practical, realistic, hands-on strategies for how to build your child’s self-esteem. To be sent the code to access the course please email trainingfa@sefton.gov.uk
Bitesize courses – Sefton foster carers are entitled to attend the sessions developed by Liverpool CAMHS. Many of these training opportunities are bitesize, which means they’re up to one hour in length and are delivered personally online by a mental health professional.
Topics include, Body Image, Introduction to Self Harm, An Introduction to Eating Disorders, The Online World and Mental Health, Understanding Low Mood and Depression, Kinship Kids and Mental Health.
To access the course create an account with Liverpool CAMHS and book the training direct from their website.
I am concerned about my child’s activity on-line. Any courses to help?
Fostering Digital Skills course has been designed to equip foster carers with the skills and confidence to guide children and young people in their care through the digital world. The four course modules build on the skills and knowledge foster carers already have and show how they can support their child’s safety, confidence and competence online. The course was co-created with help of care experienced young people and foster carers from across the UK. It comes highly recommended. To access the online course search Fostering Digital Skills online learning course
Tailored Resource Pack Internet Matters (the internet and online safety website) have developed a tailored resource pack for you and the children you care for. Answer a few simple questions about your family and receive personalised online safety advice. You can follow the links for https://www.internetmatters.org/digital-family-toolkit/ and Set up devices e-safety checklist
Do you have any courses on Adverse Childhood Experiences?
Alder Hey are offering a session on Adverse Childhood Experiences in Hospitals in July 2025.
Liverpool CAMHS offer bite size online courses ACEs and Trauma-Informed Practice (liverpoolcamhs.com) Carers apply to set up a training account and can book direct and then access the training online Training – Liverpool CAMHS
ACES Programmes run by the family hubs network offer information and support – “Sefton Council have developed extensive knowledge and experience of helping people tackle the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences, running support programmes focusing on ACEs and recovery.” See link for further details Adverse Childhood Experiences programmes – The Family Hubs Network