Support and Training For Foster Carers

Support and Training For Foster Carers: What to Expect

Support and training are essential parts of fostering, ensuring carers have the skills and knowledge to provide the best care possible. We know that effective training paired with strong support helps foster carers confidently face challenges and make a positive difference in children's lives. This ongoing development includes both mandatory courses and additional learning opportunities tailored to the needs of carers at different stages.

Being a foster carer is demanding and requires more than just good intentions. Access to emotional support, practical advice, and clear guidance helps carers navigate the complexities of the care system with greater ease. Whether new to fostering or transferring from another agency, carers benefit from accessible, accredited training designed to boost confidence and improve outcomes for children.

• Training equips foster carers with essential skills and ongoing development.
• Comprehensive support improves carers’ emotional wellbeing and practical capabilities.
• Clear guidance helps carers effectively manage foster children’s needs and the care system.

 

With Olive Branch, You’re Never On Your Own

Becoming a foster carer is one of the most meaningful things you can do. But let’s not pretend it’s a walk in the park. Welcoming a child into your home, someone who may have experienced trauma, instability or neglect, takes strength, compassion and a good support system.

That’s where we come in.

From your very first chat with us, you’ll notice that support isn’t just something we talk about. From your very first enquiry to years down the line in your fostering journey, we’re by your side with practical guidance, thoughtful training, and a strong support network you can rely on. You’ll never be left to figure things out alone.

Fostering is a life-changing experience – one that’s deeply rewarding, often challenging, and always meaningful. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the kind of support and training you can expect with Olive Branch, so you can feel confident in your decision to start (or continue) your fostering journey with us.

Fostering should never feel like a solo effort. And when you're part of Olive Branch, it won’t.

 

Why Support Matters

Support is a core part of what makes placements work. The right support helps foster carers feel confident, capable, and prepared. And when carers are supported, children benefit from more stable placements, stronger relationships, and better outcomes all round.

This isn’t just our belief; it’s backed by research. 

Fostering Better Outcomes (a 2017 consultation by the UK Department for Education) discusses the importance of placement stability and outlines how the right support for foster carers helps achieve this. Foster carers who receive consistent training and personalised guidance are also far less likely to experience placement breakdowns.

That’s why support sits at the heart of everything we do at Olive Branch. It’s not a box we tick – it’s a relationship we build, together.

 

What Kind of Support Do Foster Carers Receive?

We have a simple philosophy: we never stop learning, because life never stops teaching. Every foster carer brings their own strengths, experiences, and questions to the table, and we’re here to support you at every stage of your development.

We don’t expect you to know everything on day one. In fact, we actively encourage questions, curiosity, and continuous learning. Whether you need help navigating an unexpected situation or want to deepen your understanding of therapeutic care, you’ll always have someone to turn to.

 

Pre-Approval Training: Building Your Foundation

What’s Covered

Before you’re approved as a foster carer, we’ll guide you through essential training that covers:

• Your role and responsibilities as a carer
  
  
• Child development and attachment theory
  
  
• Understanding trauma and how it affects children
  
  
• Legal frameworks and safeguarding principles
  
  
• Preparing for your assessment and approval process
  
  

This training helps lay the groundwork for everything to come, giving you the knowledge and confidence to take your first steps.

How It’s Delivered

We aim to make training as accessible and flexible as possible. That means a blend of in-person and online sessions (where available), with options to attend in the evenings or at weekends.

Sessions are interactive, practical, and designed to reflect real-world situations. You’ll also have the chance to learn alongside other prospective carers, share experiences, and ask as many questions as you like.

 

Ongoing Training: Growing in Confidence

Your development as a foster carer doesn’t stop once you’re approved. In fact, it’s just the beginning. Fostering is a constantly evolving role, and our ongoing training helps you stay informed, resilient, and ready for whatever comes next.

Mandatory Training and Development

There are some core areas that every foster carer needs to cover in their first year and revisit regularly after that. We’ll keep you on track with what’s needed and when through manageable sessions, including:

• Training, Support & Development (TSD) Standards – to be completed within 12 months of approval
• Annual training refreshers on topics such as:
• Child protection
• Safe caring practices
• Managing challenging behaviour
• First aid
• Health and safety
• Supporting children who’ve experienced abuse
  
  

Additional and Specialist Learning

Beyond the essentials, we offer a wide range of optional training based on your interests and the needs of the children in your care. These may include:

• Autism awareness
• Online safety
• Educational support strategies
• Preparing young people for adulthood
• Building children’s self-esteem
• Managing contact with birth families
  
  

 

Our Learning Culture: You’re Part of a Community

The Foster Care in England Review 2018 stated that peer support for foster parents is “often rated as more important than professional support, particularly at times of uncertainty and when wanting immediate advice”. 

And we wholeheartedly agree. 

That’s why we’re so proud of the culture we’ve built at Olive Branch. Our community focuses on growing as individuals and as a community of foster carers.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• Peer forums where you can share insights, questions, and ideas with other carers
• Regular updates on best practices, new regulations, and sector developments
• Carer feedback that actively shapes how we improve our training and support

Our goal is simple: to help you feel confident and capable, so you can focus on helping the children in your care to thrive.

 

The Support Network: Always There, Always Personal

Support at Olive Branch is a full safety net designed to meet your needs day and night. Whether you’re navigating your first placement or handling a complex situation, we’re only ever a phone call away.

 

Who’s in Your Corner?

• Your Supervising Social Worker: Your go-to for advice, monthly check-ins, and day-to-day questions.
• 24/7 On-Call Support: For emergencies or urgent concerns, because challenges don’t keep office hours.
• Senior Management: We operate an open-door policy, and we mean it. If you need to speak up, we’ll listen.
• Children’s Social Care Advocates: Supporting both foster and birth children to ensure their voices are heard.

 

Practical and Emotional Support

Support Element	What That Means for You
Supervision meetings	Ongoing, personal guidance from your social worker
Crisis intervention	Immediate help in difficult or urgent situations
Legal advice	Free access to professional legal support
Financial guidance	Help understanding your allowance and managing expenses
Administrative help	Support with paperwork, processes, and approvals
Peer support groups	Regular meetings (local and online) with fellow carers
Mentoring	Learn from experienced carers who’ve walked the same path
Family events	Social days, training sessions, and child-friendly gatherings
Support for birth children	Resources and events recognising your whole household

Communication is always open. Whether you prefer a phone call, email, or text, we’ll respond promptly – and in emergencies, we’ll never leave you waiting.

 

Additional Areas of Support

Mental Health and Wellbeing

We place a strong emphasis on mental health for both you and the children you care for. We coordinate and advocate with services like CAMHS, where appropriate. You’ll receive:

• Training to help you identify early signs of emotional distress
• Guidance on trauma-informed care
  
  
• Encouragement and supervision to support your own self-care as a carer
  
  

Educational Advocacy

Education can be a huge source of stress for children and for foster carers trying to navigate the system. We're here to help you make sure no child’s educational needs fall through the cracks. 

We offer hands-on support with:

• School meetings and SEND planning
• Exam periods and transitions between schools
  
  
• Alternative education pathways when needed
  
  

Contact and Relationships

Helping children stay connected to their birth families or significant relationships is an important part of fostering. Whether it’s facilitating sibling contact or helping children build safe boundaries, we’ll be right there with you. 

We’ll support you by:

• Coordinating with the Local Authority and supervising where commissioned
• Helping you prepare for LAC reviews and planning meetings
  
  
• Supporting you through any court involvement

Financial Support for Foster Carers

Let’s talk about money - not because it’s the most important thing, but because it matters.

Foster carers are entitled to financial support that enables them to provide excellent care without worrying about the cost. That includes:

• A fostering allowance to cover essentials like food, clothing, school trips and transport
• A professional fee that recognises the time, energy and emotional labour involved in fostering

The amount you receive depends on the type of placement and your level of experience, but we’ll walk you through all of that before you get started. Your allowance ensures fostering is sustainable and that no one is left struggling to meet a child’s needs. 

If you’ve got questions about tax, benefits or how allowances are handled, we’ll talk you through it without the jargon. If you're already fostering and considering transferring to Olive Branch, we’ll explain how the process works and what changes, if any, to expect.

You can also read more about how fostering works on our Fostering Process page.

 

Respite Care: Taking a Break, Without Stepping Away

While fostering is incredibly rewarding, like any demanding role, it can also be tiring. That’s why we offer respite care: to give our foster carers a chance to rest, recharge, and return feeling refreshed.

We recognise that looking after yourself is an important part of looking after the children in your care. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and respite gives you the breathing space to look after your own wellbeing, while knowing the child is still safe and supported.

 

What Is Respite Care?

Respite fostering is short-term fostering, usually for a weekend or a few days, where another approved carer steps in to look after a child. This can be pre-planned (for example, during holidays or for important events) or arranged in response to a carer’s changing needs.

It’s not about stepping away from your responsibilities but about maintaining your energy and health so you can continue offering the best possible care long-term.

 

How Respite Care Works at Olive Branch

• We plan it with you, so it suits your needs and the child’s routine.
• We match carefully with carers who understand the child’s background and needs.
• We keep communication open, so transitions are smooth and everyone feels comfortable.
• We never judge – asking for respite is seen as a strength, not a weakness.

Respite care is there to support your sustainability as a carer. Many of our most experienced foster carers take regular respite as part of their routine and find it helps them provide even better support when they return.

For Children, Too

Respite can also benefit children. It gives them a chance to build relationships with other trusted adults, gain confidence in new settings, and enjoy a change of pace in a secure environment.

 

What This All Means for You

You’ll never be expected to go it alone when you’re part of the Olive Branch family. Our wraparound support system is designed to grow with you, giving you the tools, confidence, and community you need to succeed.

Here’s what that adds up to:

• You’ll feel confident in your ability to handle a wide range of situations
• You’ll have a network of people who understand the journey you’re on
• You’ll see the impact of your care reflected in the progress children make

Foster care changes lives – and supported foster carers are at the heart of that change.

 

Our Promise to You: Support at Every Step

This is where being a small fostering agency really shines. With us, you're never just a name on a caseload. You’re part of a close-knit team that actually knows you, your household, your preferences, and the children in your care.

We believe that when we support our foster carers well, children in care benefit the most. That’s why we invest in your development, your wellbeing, and your confidence – not just at the start, but at every stage of your journey.

Whether you’re just starting out or thinking about transferring to Olive Branch, we’ll walk beside you every step of the way. We don’t just say we’re here for you – we show it.

Ready to learn more?
Get in touch today to ask questions, chat to our advisors, or book a call at a time that suits you.

 

Get to Know the People Behind the Support

When we say you'll be supported by real people who genuinely care, we mean it.

From your supervising social worker to the senior team, everyone here is committed to making your fostering journey a positive one. You’ll get to know us personally - not just as names in a handbook - and we’ll get to know you too.

Want to see who’s who? Head over to our Meet the Team page to put faces to a few of the names. And when you’re ready, we’d love to chat properly.