[This course will take you about 1 hour 30 minutes to complete.]
 
This course is a brief guide to assist fostering services' social workers in proactively supporting the mental health of foster carers. It will explain the spectrum of mental health, from mental wellness to mental health conditions. Knowing the signs, how to provide support, engaging in productive conversations and where to find more information are all critical aspects of helping foster carers maintain their wellbeing. Together, these approaches can support not only an individual foster carer’s mental health, but also the wellbeing of the child in their care. This is part of the larger need to progress our communities and society forward in talking openly and seriously about mental health.
 
In this course, you will learn:
- What mental health is
- Why focusing on it is important for caring professionals
- Risk and protective factors
- How to spot the signs of mental ill-health
- Strategies and resources to recommend