ROYAL BOROUGH OF KINGSTON UPON THAMES
DIRECTORATE OFLEARNING AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES
JOB DESCRIPTION
Department: Resources and Commissioning
Job Title: Foster
Training Officer
Team: Partnership and Workforce Development
Grade: I
Post No 200121
Hours: 18 hours
Carers’
Relationships
1. Responsible to:
Training and Workforce Development Manager
2. Responsible for:
Foster Carers’ Training and Development
3. Primary functional relationships:
Kingston Adoption and Fostering Team, Partnership and Workforce Development
Team, Other staff in Prevention and Safeguarding Service, Foster and Kinship
Carers, Children and Young People in Care
4. Important external relationships
Kingston Foster Carers’ Association, Foster Carers’ Training Officers in neighbouring
boroughs, CWDC, Fostering Network
_________________________________________________________________________
Main Purpose of Job
To monitor the training needs of Kingston foster carers and Kingston kinship carers and to
develop training programmes to meet their needs. To ensure that all foster carers receive
the training needed for them to meet the requirements of the CWDC Training and Induction
Standards. To deliver training and to commission external trainers to deliver specialist
training to foster carers, kinship carers and when appropriate Kingston adopters
Prepared by
Katie Law
Date: June 09
Training and Workforce Development Manager,
Partnership and Workforce Development Team
Agreed by
Date:
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOB
1. To assess the training needs of foster carers and kinship carers and produce an annual
training programme to meet these needs.
2. To work in partnership with the fostering team and foster carers to ensure that training is
responsive to the needs of the fostering service.
3. To deliver training to foster carers and kinship carers using a range of approaches including
flexible and more formal training sessions.
4. To research and commission training providers who can deliver training on specialist areas
relevant to foster care.
5. To negotiate the content of courses provided by other trainers and to monitor the quality of
these courses
6. To work with the fostering team to ensure that foster carers engage in appropriate training.
7. To assist with the delivery of the Skills to Foster Programme for people interested in applying
to Kingston to become foster carers.
8. To provide individual and group support to foster carers completing the CWDC Training and
Induction Standards for Foster Carers.
9. To keep up to date with national initiatives in relation to foster carers’ training, the government
reforms for children in care and the children’s social care workforce more generally.
10. To meet with foster carers’ training officers in neighbouring boroughs to collaborate and share
ideas and training opportunities where appropriate.
11. To attend relevant national, regional and local meetings that will support the development
and delivery of appropriate training in Kingston.
12. To liaise with Kingston’s NVQ training advisor and promote and support take-up by foster
carers of this qualification.
13. To offer general training and development advice to foster carers to support their personal
and career development
14. To monitor the budget for foster carers’ training and ensure that expenditure represents value
for money.
15. To provide quarterly statistics on foster carers’ training and identify future individual training
/development needs in order to facilitate the planning of future training programmes.
16. To liaise with and provide advice for supervising social workers undertaking foster carer’s
annual reviews about the foster carer’s training and development needs.
17. To contribute to the overall knowledge and work of the Partnership and Workforce
Development Team.
18. To link with other training providers in the borough and facilitate the attendance of foster
carers at appropriate specialist and multi agency training
19. To invite adopters to appropriate foster and kinship carers’ courses as part of Kingston
Adoption Support Service
20. To be a member of Kingston’s Foster Care Panel ( registered social workers only)
ROYAL BOROUGH OFKINGSTON UPON THAMES
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Title: Foster Carers Training Officer
Post No
200121
Skills and Attributes Required
Essential
Qualifications
Experience
Candidate should be a registered social
worker
Good standard of literacy and
numeracy
Awareness of the needs of children and
young people, including children in
public care and children with special
needs/ disabilities achieved through
direct work experience.
Experience working as either a foster
carer, children’s social worker or in a
related profession
Experience of multi disciplinary working
Experience of delivering training
Desirable
Social work registered
and training qualification
Experience of planning
and delivering training to
foster carers or other
related professionals.
Experience of designing
and implementing
flexible training
programmes
Knowledge
Substantial and current knowledge and
understanding of the work of foster
carers and the needs of children in care
Understanding of child development
and the impact of trauma, loss and
separation upon children
Understanding of the principles and
practice of good quality social care in a
child care setting
Knowledge of the NVQ
Level 3 Health and
Social Care ( Children
and Young People)
Knowledge of the
government agenda to
enhance the skills of
foster cares
Knowledge of relevant legislations and
policies ( Children Act 1989, Children
Act 2004, UK Standards for Foster
Care, The Foster Service Regulations
2002 and Every Child Matters and Care
Matters agendas)
Understanding of the CWDC Training
and Induction Standards for foster
carers
Skills
Knowledge of theories relating to adult
learning
Computer Literacy
Effective communication skills, both
written and oral.
Ability to work as a group facilitator and
trainer, using a variety of methods and
techniques.
Experience of using to
use training equipment
Proficiency in use of
power point and excel
Ability to monitor the
impact of training
Ability to assess training needs and
plan an effective training programme
Ability to work in co operation with
external agencies, neighbouring
boroughs and colleagues
Ability to research
training resources and
providers
Group work skills
Good organisation skills
Attitudes
Commitment to staff training and
development
Enthusiasm and commitment to
increasing the knowledge and skills of
fosters carers
Willingness to undertake
training qualification
(PTTLS) if an equivalent
or higher training
qualification has not
already been obtained
Willingness to work flexibly and to
deliver training out of office hours as
needed
Willingness to engage in learning to
enhance own skills and knowledge,
(including attendance at Training for
Trainers to deliver Skills to Foster
Programme if this course has not
previously been attended)
Commitment to confidentiality, equal
opportunities and anti discriminatory
practice
Physical Attributes
& Health
Assertive, sociable , enthusiastic and
confident manner
Able to work under pressure and
manage stress
Compiled by Katie Law – Training and Workforce Development Manager