We believe in comprehensive and continuous training programmes

• to keep our staff and foster carers up to date with the latest developments and therapeutic techniques
• to ensure that our foster carers are able to deal with unexpected and challenging situations.

All our new foster carers are thoroughly trained, and ongoing training sessions are available for all foster carers

• to improve fostering skills
• to be aware of the discrimination felt by many looked-after children, and help them to cope with it
• to gain recognised qualifications.

The key elements of St Christopher's fostering training are

• safe foster caring
• child protection
• working with foster children who have been abused
• managing difficult behaviour
• managing and promoting contact
• valuing diversity and promoting equality
• identity and self-esteem
• first aid
• health and safety
• health of looked-after children
• education of fostered children/young people
• empowering children and young people
• effective recording
• preparing fostered young people for independence.

We also encourage and support our foster carers to gain recognition of their skills through the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 - Health and Social Care (Children and Young People) and other relevant qualifications.