Search for Learning and Development Services and Pathways

This support group will be led by Mike Ollive.

The Purpose for the support groups

We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

Currently these will be taking place virtually.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).

The Virtual School value the time they spend with carers, and to enable this to be an even more successful partnership between school and home, would like to have more sessions available for meeting you during the course of the year. Each session will have a focus, but as ever, if there are topics we haven’t identified that you would find more helpful, please let Catherine Charlton know, by emailing: catherine.charlton@southglos.gov.uk

This blended half day course has been developed in direct response to the current Covid 19 situation, and is designed specifically for online delivery to smaller groups of participants. It covers what self-harm is, and why people might hurt themselves, as well as providing space to think about what a helpful response to someone who has hurt themselves might be. It has a strong emphasis on bringing the voices of people who use self-harm to the virtual room, and provides space and time for reflection. This course has been developed to either stand alone or complement others in a series of events, and utilises a range of tools to offer a participative online training experience.

Worksheets, handouts and copies of the presentation will be available to complement learning.

Our expertise: Self-Injury Support has 30 years’ experience in delivering high quality self-harm education to a wide variety of settings and participants. Our approach is participative and reflective, and is focussed on bringing the voice of people who use self-harm into the room, building empathy and confidence for supporters.

South Glos Council Staff:  if you don't already have a Zoom license please see attached or follow this link MS FORM

The standard charge for this course is £40. Please refer to our Course Charges on the Home page for information on discounts and exemptions

*UPDATED VENUE -  CADBURY HEATH HALL MEETING ROOM - between the Co-op and the library on school road and that there is plenty of parking available*


The Purpose for the support groups

We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

There will be biscuits and/or cake, coffee, tea, and an opportunity for an informal chat at all of the meetings.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).

The Purpose for the support groups



We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

There will be biscuits and/or cake, coffee, tea, and an opportunity for an informal chat at all of the meetings.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).

Professionals often panic when faced with sexualised behaviour from children and young people. This training is designed to give professionals an insight into this behaviour, its causes, when to really be concerned, risks and how to react appropriately.

Polaris Children’s Services are now running a service in South Gloucestershire for people displaying harmful sexual behaviour.

More details can be found here

South Gloucs Harmful Sexual Behaviour Service - Polaris Children's Services (polarischildrensservices.co.uk)

Documents Library (proceduresonline.com)

This session has been arranged for foster carers acting as a 'Buddy'  for newly approved foster carers.

The session will be a chance for the buddies to come together and discuss what's going well as well as be a forum where questions can be asked, or any uncertainty regarding the role can be addressed. 

Most importantly it is to be used as a session to develop and support each other in this important role.

The Purpose for the support groups



We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

There will be biscuits and/or cake, coffee, tea, and an opportunity for an informal chat at all of the meetings.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).

Introduction to a new Health Visitor Programme

A session for foster carers

Fai Pope and Wendy Hollister, Health Visitors (HV),  are currently working on a project for HV’s to support foster carers with children under 5 and to share some of the new MECSH resources. As part of this project we are going to put on some training which will cover:

The role of the health visitor
What is the aim of this project?
What is MECSH and how it can help you?
Understand the resources and evidence behind them.
Understand the role of the health visitor in fostering?

We would love you to come along as this is a project and we would value your input to help shape your future service with us

The Virtual School value the time they spend with carers, and to enable this to be an even more successful partnership between school and home, would like to have more sessions available for meeting you during the course of the year. Each session will have a focus, but as ever, if there are topics we haven’t identified that you would find more helpful, please let Catherine Charlton know, by emailing: catherine.charlton@southglos.gov.uk