Foster Parent Training and Professional Development

TRAUMA INFORMED INTERVENTION – 8 x 2 hour sessions. 
Including Circle of Security. It was informed in its development by parents who struggled with profoundly traumatic histories.  It is recognised as a trauma informed intervention. 
Recommendation: Trauma informed intervention (including Circle of Security) should be completed by all foster parents within 2 months of having a child in care. Trauma and COS is explored in the initial training. 

ADOPTING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES – 2 x 2 hour online. 
Further training using The No-Fault Zone to teach Nonviolent Communication. 
Recommendation: Nonviolent Communication and The No-Fault Zone should be completed within 2 months of having a child in care. Foster Parents are introduced to NVC and NFZ in the initial training. 

BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT (Module 2) – Respectful Kids, Respectful Parents – 2 x 4 Hour online
Evidence based parenting programme designed to teach parents and children how to handle disagreements, and challenging behaviours; as well as how to express themselves to be heard, enhancing self-esteem and independence. 
Recommendation: The two sessions should be completed in sucession. However, it is our recommendation that this training should be completed in total within the first year of having a child in care. 

IDENTIFYING AND RESPONDING TO RISKS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT – 2 Hours online
Self directed learning, webinar, powerpoints, videos, reading etc... (including an assessment)
Recommendation: We recommend that this training is completed prior to child in care. An additional recommendation the assessment is signed it off by a Service Manager.

CHILD PROTECTION AND INCIDENT REPORTING – 2 Hours
Face to Face workshop. Delivered by a Social Worker.   
(including an assessment and follow-up with Iosis Social Worker)
Recommendation: We recommend that this training is completed prior to child in care. An additional recommendation the assessment is signed it off by Service Manager. 

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS – 2 x 2 Hours online
To be completed within 4 months of accepting a Foster Child into the home. 
Self directed learning, webinar, powerpoints, videos, reading etc... (including an assessment and follow-up with Social Worker).

This training is designed to provide Foster Carers with an understanding of why mental health is a big issue for children in care, how to recognise if a child they are caring for is developing signs of a mental health disorder and how to support them. It also looks at the need for Foster Carers to protect their own mental health.

By the end of the training Foster Carers will:

• Have an understanding of Mental Health and factors that influence it
• Explore the triggers and signs of mental health
• Consider skills in supporting a young person’s mental health
• Explore how to look after their own mental health

Recommendation: We recommend that this training is completed within 4 months of taking a child into their care. Signed off by Service Manager. 

  
AWARENESS OF GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION – 4 Hours

Face to Face workshop. To increase awareness of gender identity and Sexual Orientation issues. To enhance a Foster Carer's, ability to respond to young people in their care. The rights of transgender and intersex people, including changing birth certificates; and getting gender-affirming surgery and Human Rights. 

Delivered face-to-face. A safe space to ask curious questions with a focus on understanding how to talk to the child but also about talking to siblings to schools etc.

At the end of the course participants will be able to: 

• Identify the relevance of gender identity issues when supporting children and young people.
• Outline the legal protections available for children in their care, including the Human Rights Act 1993.
• Describe how to respond confidently and sensitively to gender identity issues as they meet them in their role.
• Confidently support and be aware of the needs of a young people in relation to gender identity.

 Recommendation: We recommend that this training is completed within 24 months of taking a child into their care.  

FOSTER CHILD FUND PLANNING AND FINANCIAL MENTORING – 1 hour sessions
One-on-one service focused on helping whānau with their finances while assessing how the Foster Parent allocates their funding. The objectives of including regular financial mentoring sessions are:

• Provide ongoing support to the Foster Parent
• To teach the Foster Parent how to meet the new OT requirements.
• To monitor the spending of the Foster Parent and report to Iosis of spending concerns. This particular objective will take pressure from Social Workers and Iosis’s Accounting team to manage this accountability.
• Provides valuable professional development.

Recommendation: In order to meet the requirements of Service Specifications financial mentoring should be a regular session. 

PHYSICAL CARE AND DISABILITIES

2 Step process

2 Hour self-directed learning, webinar, powerpoints, videos, reading etc...  to teach Foster Parents to us meaningful activities to help children and youth participate in what they need and/or want to do in order to promote physical and mental health and well-being. With a focus in the following areas: education, play and leisure, social activities, activities of daily living These are the usual occupations of childhood and young adulthood.

Task analysis and home visit by an Occupational Therapist to identify factors (e.g., sensory, motor, social–emotional, cognitive) that may limit successful participation in these areas across various settings, such as school, home, and community. Activities and accommodations are used in intervention to promote successful performance in these settings. 

Recommendation: As and where needed training. Should be completed before taking child into care. OT will also need to assess the child and the home. If required Authentic Communication could provide the Occupational Therapist to complete the task analysis. 

DISABILITY AWARENESS TRAINING – 2 Hours
Self directed learning, webinar, powerpoints, videos, reading etc... Designed to educate people on disability related issues and to break down the barriers that exist to achieve a fully inclusive society. It is about challenging attitudes and developing an understanding about disability so disabled people can be part of the community like everyone else.

Recommendation: We recommend that this training is completed within 24 months of taking a child into their care.