If you’ve been researching what is foster care, you’ll already know that becoming a foster carer is about much more than having a spare bedroom. Fostering is a professional, highly supported role that involves opening your home, committing your time, and providing stability to a child who needs it most.  Like any professional role, having the right training and ongoing support in place is essential.

One of the most common questions we’re asked by prospective foster parents is: Can training and support be attended virtually? The simple answer is yes – but there’s a little more to explain.

What Is Foster Care and Why Is Training So Important?

Before looking at how training is delivered, it’s important to understand the question ‘what is foster care?’ 

Foster care provides children and young people with a safe, nurturing home when they are unable to live with their birth families. No matter the type of fostering – short-term, long-term, respite, or emergency – foster carers play a crucial role in helping children feel secure, valued, and safe.

Because of this responsibility, high-quality training is vital.

From paediatric first aid and safeguarding to understanding attachment and trauma, training gives foster carers the practical skills and confidence they need to provide the very best care. All of our training is bespoke and tailored to the needs of our fostering families, ensuring it is relevant, practical, and supportive at every stage of their journey.

Can Training Be Attended Virtually?

Yes, some of our training can be accessed online. We understand that foster parents are busy people. Between school runs, appointments, meetings, and family life, flexibility matters. That’s why we offer a range of virtual training opportunities such as Celebrating Diversity and The Teenage Brain.

This means you can join sessions from the comfort of your home, reducing travel time and making it easier to fit professional development around your fostering commitments.

Why We Still Encourage In-Person Training

While virtual training is convenient and accessible, we strongly encourage foster parents to attend in-person sessions where possible.

Why?

Because fostering isn’t something you do alone; it’s something you do as part of a community.

Face-to-face training gives foster parents the opportunity to:

• Build relationships with other foster parents
• Share experiences and practical advice
• Take part in group discussions and activities
• Feel connected to a wider support network

Some of the most valuable learning happens in conversations over a cup of tea. That sense of community can make a real difference, especially when fostering presents challenges.

Hear from Steve who tells us about his experience of training with Family Fostering Partners.

Access to FosterTalk: Online Support and Webinars

In addition to our own training programme, which is bespoke and tailored specifically to our fostering families, foster parents with Family Fostering Partners also have fully paid membership to FosterTalk, an independent support service for foster parents.

FosterTalk provides:

• Online webinars
• Free legal, medical and financial support and guidance.
• Additional training and resources

This ensures foster parents can access additional learning opportunities beyond Family Fostering Partner’s scheduled sessions.

Can Support Take Place Online?

Yes, supervision can also take place virtually.

We understand that flexibility is key, and there are times when meeting online is simply more practical. Virtual support sessions allow foster parents to:

• Check in regularly with their supervising social worker
• Discuss any achievements, concerns or challenges
• Stay up to date with requirements

Of course, in-person visits remain an important part of fostering, but having the option of online supervision can make support more accessible and responsive.

Learn More

Would you like to learn more about ‘what is foster care?’ or to take the first step on your fostering journey? Contact us today.