A MALVERN fostering agency is taking a lead role in a groundbreaking move to improve fostering standards.

The Foster Care Co-operative, based at Spring Lane, has joined forces with the Children’s Family Trust, based in Bromsgrove, and Gloucestershire-based Community Foster Care to offer Skyrocket, a training venture aimed at preparing staff for the task of managing a fostering organisation.

Skyrocket offers training in the key elements of regulation, administration, contracting, leadership and human resources, all within the context of fostering.

Ian Brazier, executive director of the Foster Care Co-operative, said: “Fostering-focused registered manager training seems to be in very short supply.

"We wanted to create something that would equip current and future managers with the right tools to manage their service from the off.

"By streamlining a course agenda, we cut out extraneous modules making the training relevant, engaging and delivered in a time frame that is sensitive to the workloads of the attendees. We are currently delivering this course for the third time, and feedback so far has been excellent.

“What makes this venture unique is the alliance of three not-for-profit fostering organisations who are working together to improve standards across the fostering sector. The course was written by managers, for managers.”

Funds raised from Skyrocket are ploughed back into providing more foster carer support across the three agencies.