Foster Care Assessment Skills is a two-part course that will provide you with the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to undertake high quality Step by Step carer assessments. Successful completion of Part One is a pre-requisite for Part Two.

Only Part One can be enrolled into here.

PART ONE: PRE-REQUISITE: CHILDREN’S THERAPEUTIC CARE NEEDS $300

On enrolment, you will be emailed a self-paced distance learning kit comprising of a Learner Guide and Assessment Tasks. This is done manually, so please allow 1 working day.

The assessment tasks may take approximately 14 hours to complete, and must be submitted at least 14 days prior to your preferred four-day course start date (see above for dates), to allow for marking and resubmissions. The four-day courses are usually fully subscribed, and enrolment is first come first served only after successful completion of the Part One assessment tasks.

PART ONE LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Explain the needs of children in care, including the importance of ongoing connection to community and culture, feeling safe through secure attachments, and having carers who are patient, predictable, reflective, and attuned.

• Analyse the impact of developmental trauma on children in care and demonstrate how carers can effectively respond to behaviour as communication that represents the child’s needs.

• Understand the importance of developmental tasks and the role of carers in helping children master them.

• Understand the link between carer applicants' suitability and their ability to prioritise the child’s needs, manage their own affect, and provide the necessary support and care for children in care.

• Develop strategies to promote positive outcomes for children in care, including fostering secure attachments, maintaining connections to family, community, and culture, and providing a nurturing and supportive environment.

• Apply knowledge of the needs of children in care to assess carer applicants' suitability.

PART TWO: FOUR DAY FOSTER CARE ASSESSMENT SKILLS $1,730 (in person) / $1,650 (NSW, WA, TAS Zoom) / $1,550 (SA Zoom)

This course trains you to use the 2023 Step by Step NSW Foster Care Assessment Tool, and enrolment is first come first served on completion of Part One.

NSW, TAS & WA assessors are additionally briefed on the use of the NSW Step by Step Relative Kinship Carers Assessment Tool (included), and NSW participants are briefed on the NSW Step by Step Guardian Assessment Tool (not included).

PART TWO LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Be able to take a carer enquiry through the initial stages to the application stage.
• Understand how and why to complete background checks.
• Develop interview skills for conversations with carer applicants, members of their support network, and their children.
• Develop critical thinking, analysis and reflective practice skills.
• Understand the criteria for a good quality Step by Step carer assessment report.

STEP BY STEP REGISTRATION

On completion of Parts One and Two of this course, you will have the knowledge, skills and resources to complete carer assessments. To receive Step by Step Registration you must then complete and submit a good quality REAL LIFE carer assessment for review by ACWA/CCWT. Review of this report is included in the course cost. You will be solely responsible for arranging to complete this carer assessment – ACWA/CCWT have no involvement in this aspect.

IF YOU ARE NOT WORKING FOR AN AGENCY please contact us prior to enrolment to confirm how you plan to arrange this assessment.

For any other information about this course please contact louise@acwa.asn.au, jo@acwa.asn.au or tracie@acwa.asn.au.

Who should attend?

Foster carer assessors

PLEASE NOTE:This course is not eligible for any MEMBERSHIP or CORPORATE PASS discount.This course is only available via credit card payment at the time of registration.