Foundation Course in Fostering

The NFCQ pathway is underpinned by The National Minimum Standards and The Fostering Services Regulations (2011).

What the NFCQ Foundation course in fostering covers

This course contains the child-focused standards and values required by foster carers to secure positive welfare, health, educational and safeguarding outcomes for children and to deliver trauma-informed care.

Engaging, accessible and professional, it is suitable for a wide spectrum of new and existing foster carers from all demographics.

How you'll learn

You have the flexibility to complete the course in your own time online in the comfort of your own home.

You will work through your online learning materials to complete an assessment. The assessment consists of questions that you must answer.

You will be able to participate in reflective learning groups.

Course information

The course is normally provided by your provider either as your initial training to be a foster carer or as CPD and is provided under licence to each provider. Contact your provider if you wish to participate in this course.

You can purchase this course yourself, please contact us at [email protected] for individual course fees.

This course should be completed within the first 6 months for new foster carers or can be completed within approximately 120 hours.

The NFCQ pathway is underpinned by The National Minimum Standards and The Fostering Services Regulations (2011).

NFCQ Foundation course in fostering topics

NFCQ Foundation course in fostering content

The Foster Carer’s Role – Understand the national minimum standards and statutory legislation that provide the framework for the foster carer’s role.

Understand Legislation and guidelines, and respond to safeguarding, protection and welfare of children.Promoting and understanding children’s safety and welfare in the fostering setting.

Professional Role Understanding meetings and the foster carers’ role within them, reporting, recording, the role of others, allegations and standards of care, self-employment and HMRC, evaluate the importance of supervision, the social worker’s role.

Understanding Trauma and it’s impact on brain development – how the child’s brain develops, identifying causes of stress and the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and attachment issues.

Responding to Trauma co-regulation, self regulation and relationship based approaches.Understanding self-regulation and co-regulation in both foster children and foster carers and evaluate the delivery of trauma-informed care.

The Training, Support and Development Standards (TSDS) Summarise the purpose of TSDS and the underpinning legislation.Understanding what is required in TSDS. Demonstrate an understanding of how and when you will action the TSDS and how you will complete it.

You will be tested and assessed on your knowledge throughout the course and this combined with reflective learning group participation will help you to attain a complete NFCQ foundation in fostering course certification and give you the basic skills needed to provide a high standard of care in nurturing, knowledgeable, trauma-informed care.

Frequently Asked Questions.

If you are a foster carer and still unsure about the course check out our frequently asked questions by foster carers here:

Are you a Local Authority or an Independent Fostering Agency? If you Would like further information on how the NFCQ Courses will integrate with your current training provision, please click here to see if your questions have already been answered on our Local Authority and Agency FAQs:

NFCQ Groups pioneering new programme for foster carers and fostering providers.

The NFCQ Groups have been developed to harness the power of relational and reflective work, interpersonal interaction and mutual support, to raise standards, outcomes and stability for foster carers, providers and the children in their care.

Run as safe learning spaces to enhance NFCQ education with a focus on trauma informed therapeutic care, building confidence, and develop a foster carer community accomplished in all aspects and requirements of their fostering role.

NFCQ groups are a simple, time and resource efficient way to develop confident skilled qualified foster carers, plus an effective way for them to connect and build strong networks of support for the fostering family in the wider context.

Other NFCQ qualifications you might like.

NFCQ Intermediate and Advanced Qualifications

Currently, in development, these 2 advanced courses will build on the foundation course the advanced course will develop your skills and knowledge further, and it will broaden your focus on specialist areas, more complex fostering and more in-depth study of trauma-informed care.

They will explore the social impact and implications of foster care, the wider fostering sector, social inclusion and equality.

Launch dates to be released