Training Support

National Caregiver Training Programme

Nine courses and other training resources have been developed in a partnership between CYF and the New Zealand Family & Foster Care Federation. These two day courses are free of charge and available to all caregivers nationally. Courses may run over weekends or week day/nights.

Assistance with travel and childcare is available. Course brochures, application forms and other details are available by phoning 0800 227 305.

Training

Course development and content

A questionnaire was sent to all known caregivers asking them to identify what they required most from training. The modules were then developed from these responses. They are:

• Caregiver Induction (CI)
• Understanding Maltreatment (UM)
• Managing Behaviour (MB)
• Family / WhÄ�nau Dynamics (FD)
• Legal Issues (LI)
• Safe Caring (SC)
• Child Health (CH)
• Older Child (OC)
• Non Violence Crisis Intervention (NV)

For more information on the National Caregiver Training Programme on (0800) 227 305 

National Certificate in WhÄ�nau/Family and Foster Care (Level 4)

The National Certificate in WhÄ�nau/Family and Foster Care is closely aligned to the National Caregiver Training Programme (NCTP). It is designed for custodial whanau/family and foster carers who are providing care for children and young people who are in need of care & protection. As you will know, foster carers provide care for children and young people from their own whanau or family, and/or provide foster care for children and young people who are placed with them by CYFS or foster care agencies that have been approved under section 396, Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1989.
 

This qualification is designed as a year long study programme commencing in February and July each year. 

For an enrolment pack please call NZFFCF 0800 69 33 23.

National Diploma in Wh�nau/Family and Foster Care (Level 6)

The National Diploma in Wh�nau/Family and Foster Care is mainly intended for people who are experienced custodial wh�nau/family and foster carers for children and young people. It builds on the National Certificate. The National Diploma is for carers who want to progress beyond the National Certificate and develop higher levels of competency.
The Advisory Group planned that most people who wish to complete this qualification would have completed the National Certificate first. There are some unit standards in common between the two qualifications.
 

This qualification is designed as an 18 month long study programme and will commence in July 2008.  

For an enrolment pack please call NZFFCF 0800 69 33 23.

Work-based Assessment:
Work-based assessment allows you to continue in your role as a wh�nau/family and foster carer while you work towards your qualification. You can use the training you have gained through the NCTP and your everyday work as a carer as evidence that you have the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to be nationally recognised as a competent wh?nau/family and foster carer.

Q. How can I receive more information about enrolling for 2008?

A. All you need to do is to contact :

Suzanne McCool - National Training Coordinator

NZ Family and Foster Care Federation
Phone: 06 877 7481 or 0800 693323
Email: nzffcf.eo@xtra.co.nz

Allegation Support for Caregivers

0800 693 278 or 0800 NZFAST

Foster caring brings many challenges. As a caregiver you are responsible for some of the most vulnerable children in society; you provide a vital service. It is therefore distressing when an allegation is made about the way you care for a child or young person.

However, when an allegation is made, CYF has a statutory responsibility to investigate it. Whether you are caring for a child or young person on behalf of the Chief Executive of CYF, Open Home Foundation, Barnardos, IHC or another Child and Family Support Service, an Iwi Social Service, Cultural Social Service or as a Wh�nau / Kin Carer, allegations must be investigated.

If you provide care for a Child and Family Support Service, an Iwi Social Service or a Cultural Social Service, CYF’s investigation is additional to, not a replacement of, that organisation’s investigation into the allegation against you.

If you provide care for any of these organisations, you need to know their policy concerning the investigation of allegations of abuse.

National Allegations Coordinator

0800 693 278 (0800 NZFAST)

You will need to have your own personal support people in addition to any assistance provided by the NZFFCF.

It is important that either:

• You contact the NZFFCF as soon as you are told of an allegation against you or
• Child Youth & Family may ask for your permission to contact the Federation on your behalf.

You have the right to have a support person with you in all your dealings with CYF regarding the allegation. CYF and NZFFCF recommend that you exercise this right. The support person, not being as emotionally involved, often remembers more clearly what happened at a meeting and what is to occur next.

Click here to Download Information for Foster Carers when an allegation of abuse is made
Click here to Download Allegations Peer Support Pilot - Evaluation of research

For more information contact your

National Allegations Coordinator

0800 693 278 (0800 NZFAST)