CWDC- TSD – Training Support and Development Standards

National standards for foster carers

The Training, Support and Development (TSD) standards form part of a foster carer’s induction in the role. They provide a national minimum benchmark that sets out what foster carers should know, understand and be able to do within the first 12 to 18 months after being approved.

If you’re a foster carer about to start the TSD standards, or you’d like help completing the workbook, talk to your supervising social worker who will be able to support and guide you. The TSD standards workbook takes you through each section of the standards, and is available in PDF and editable Word formats on this page.

You can present your evidence in a range of ways. The most important thing is that you evidence all of the standards under each of the headings.

Full-time and longer-term foster carers

If you are a full-time or longer-term foster carer, you will need to complete theTraining, Support and Development standards for foster carers. Following approval you will have 12 months to complete the standards.

Family and friends carers

The TSD standards for Family and Friends (Kinship) foster carers need to be completed within the first 18 months of approval. The six standards form part of a family and friends carers induction:

Standard 1 – understand your role as a family and friends carer

Standard 2 – know how to provide a safe environment and healthy care

Standard 3 – know how to communicate effectively

Standard 4 – understand the development of children and young people

Standard 5 – keep children and young people safe from harm

Standard 6 – develop yourself.

The aim is to simplify and reflect the experience of family and friends foster carers without losing the essence of what is required to meet the standards.

Supplementary guidance and a simplified workbook specifically for family and friends carers are also available on this page.

Source: Dept of Education Foster Care Updated:12 November 2012