CERT Therapeutic Fostering
Key Details
- Attendance
- Part Time
- Award
- Certificate of Higher Education
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Course Overview
How does trauma impact on children and young people who come into care? What can foster carers do to build therapeutic relationships with the children they care for?
Our unique CertHE in Therapeutic Fostering is designed to deepen your understanding of trauma-related behaviours and explore why the fostering relationship itself is such a powerful therapeutic tool in supporting young people who have experienced trauma.
This course is delivered by friendly and experienced experts from our renowned Centre for Research on Children and Families.
It’s taught online, offering high-quality materials to guide your independent learning, complemented by live online workshops where academic staff will help you apply your learning directly to your fostering practice.
As the first university-delivered course in the UK focused on therapeutic fostering, this programme offers a uniquely tailored learning experience and the chance to earn a qualification from a world-leading centre of fostering and adoption research.
Study and Modules
Structure
In your first year, you’ll reflect on and strengthen your existing knowledge of therapeutic and trauma-informed approaches to fostering. You’ll delve into the key theoretical foundations of these approaches, focusing on child development and early childhood attachment.
You’ll then apply this knowledge to fostering relationships, exploring how the bond between foster carers and young people can provide therapeutic benefits for children who have experienced trauma or disruption in their lives. You’ll examine approaches such as the Secure Base model, helping you view fostering relationships as a vital therapeutic tool.
Next, you’ll explore the concept of identity, considering how young people’s identities are shaped by their unique characteristics and the impact of adverse childhood experiences. You’ll be encouraged to reflect on how you can support young people in developing a positive self-image through your relationship with them.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
You’ll engage with a variety of learning materials to help you build on your knowledge of therapeutic fostering. Our flexible learning approach allows you to progress at your own pace, with resources including podcasts on early childhood trauma, readings on child development, and pre-recorded materials focusing on building therapeutic relationships.
Exercises and activities will encourage you to reflect on your relationships with the young people in your care. Discussion boards will provide an opportunity for you to connect with peers and course instructors between live workshops. Additionally, study skills materials will be available to support those of you who may have been away from formal education for a while.
Assessment
Each module in your first year includes a practice, or formative, assignment alongside a piece of assessed coursework. All assessments will be coursework-based, aligning with the course’s focus by giving you the chance to reflect on both your learning and your practice. Formative assignments are designed to prepare you for formal assessments, with feedback provided to help you develop your academic skills.
Throughout your assignments, you’ll engage in a variety of formats—essays, reflective writing, case studies, and evaluative conversations—allowing you to demonstrate your learning in multiple ways.
Structure
In your second year, you'll build on your understanding of trauma-informed and therapeutic approaches to foster care. This will include exploring the specific challenges that young people in foster care may face, such as physical, emotional, and developmental difficulties, as well as educational challenges.
You’ll be guided to consider how best to support young people as they navigate key life transitions, from primary to secondary school and on to adulthood and independence. Building on the knowledge you've gained so far, you’ll develop an understanding of why these transitions can be particularly challenging for young people in foster care and learn effective strategies to help them manage these changes.
You’ll also have opportunities to reflect on the relationships young people have with their birth families and your role in supporting these connections. These relationships can be complex, and there will be dedicated space to explore how this complexity may affect the young people in your care.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
In your second year, you’ll continue to engage with thoughtfully curated learning materials, including videos exploring the challenges faced by young people in care and mini lectures on managing transitions.
Live workshops will offer opportunities for small group work, allowing you to share experiences and insights with your peers. Your course tutors will support you in applying what you’ve learned to your future practice, ensuring you gain maximum benefit from the material covered throughout the two years.
Assessment
In your second year, you’ll continue to receive support through formative assignments for each module. You’ll also be encouraged to collaborate with your peers, helping you to develop your work through shared insights, while continuing to benefit from feedback provided by your course tutors. Assessments in your second year will also be coursework-based, reflecting the importance of exploring topics in depth and making meaningful connections between the course material and your practice as a foster carer.
Employability
After the Course
The knowledge and skills you'll gain from the course are primarily intended to support you in developing as a foster carer. The course should equip you with an understanding of trauma and its impact on young people and with the tools that you need to support young people with trauma-related behaviours. The knowledge and skills you learn are transferable too, particularly for those of you working in or considering a career in the helping professions, such as social work or teaching.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK fee-paying students. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Students need to have approval and be nominated by their employing local authority.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- Intakes
This course is open to UK applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are:
-
UK Students: £3,000 per year
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
Applications open on 1st June 2025.
To apply please use our online application form.
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.