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Page 3/5: Topic A: How to use the training program

Topic A: How to use the training program

The training program combines two basic elements: the Scorecard and your work in the training sessions. The most important part of the training is your discussions and thoughts on what you learn during the training and how this learning can help you improve your childcare.

The Scorecard is created to prepare you and your instructor for your upcoming work with the sessions and for your reflections on what you learn and how you develop your practise. The scorecard is a method that you use – together with your instructor – to help you focus on the essence of your daily childcare practise. With the Scorecard you are asked a number of questions about your child care practise, and answering the scorecard questions will give you an overview of the children’s challenges and resources, and an idea of what you wish to improve in your care.

When you have answered the Scorecard, you will have a good idea about your situation, and what will be important to work with during the sessions.

A: USING THE SCORECARD

Using the Scorecard to get an overview of your foster care is the first step in the program. Your instructor will keep your answers, and ask the questions again when the training ends. What has improved for you and the children?

Please notice: Your answers to the Scorecard interview is not an exam; it is your tool for analysing and planning what you find important to work with while you use the training program. It is like looking at your foster care from a helicopter perspective. From this overview, you can decide what you want to work with during the training.

B: HOW TO USE THE 15 SESSIONS

In this training process, you will work with six out of the 15 sessions together with your instructor. The training is planned so that your instructor guides you through each step, adding still more to your caregiver skills and competences. When training has ended, you are welcome to continue your own learning by going through the rest of the sessions.

What is in a session? At the end of each session, the instructor will ask you to write down or remember how you will practice your ideas and plans until you meet for the next session.

We recommend that you keep a diary if possible – often you can only see progress when you look back, and you will have a valuable set of notes to share with the foster child as it grows older. Whatever observations you write down or record, they must not be used by or seen by anyone who is not participating in the training program. The material is confidential.

Here is an example of an instructor educating a group of SOS mothers. Please notice how the instructor involves the participants and gets them to speak.