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Foster Carer
Location: South West
Becoming a foster carer is not only an amazing way to help a child but can also be a rewarding experience for the right person.
Our client is looking for people like YOU to help make a difference to children across the south west by becoming a local council foster carer.
Their fostering community is made up of passionate, caring, and experienced people. They are people of all ages and from all backgrounds, the thing they all have in common is the desire to make a difference to a child in need in their area. Each brings their own experiences and skills to becoming a foster carer. They believe that fostering can be a hugely rewarding but sometimes challenging journey but with the support of South West’s team, you are never alone. As a local council foster carer in the South West, you will be paid by the local council you are fostering for and given an allowance to cover the costs associated with caring for the child, including food, clothing, toiletries and other necessities. You will get to meet lots of other foster carers, social workers, and people who are enthusiastic about transforming the lives of the children in their care.
The organisation are your gateway to local council fostering. They represent 15 local councils across the south west. For each of the below you will start your journey with them. They will then support you to progress your application, should you wish, through your chosen local council. Their partner local council’s include;
* Bath and North East Somerset Council
* Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
* Bristol City Council
* Cornwall Council
* Devon County Council
* Dorset Council
* Gloucestershire County Council
* Council of the Isles of Scilly
* North Somerset Council
* Plymouth City Council
* Somerset Council
* South Gloucestershire Council
* Swindon Borough Council
* Torbay Council
* Wiltshire Council
The Role
Being a foster carer will mean caring for a child as part of your family, providing a safe and loving home while the child’s own family cannot look after them. The arrangements can vary, with placements lasting for a day, a week, a month, a year, or sometimes until the child reaches the age of 18. As a foster carer you will focus on the day-to-day care for the child, supporting them, managing their behaviour, and working with the wider support team. Foster carers also help facilitate regular meetings between the child and their birth family, if appropriate to do so. In addition to the emotional rewards, foster carers receive an allowance to cover the cost of caring for the child or children.
Fostering with your local council offers several advantages that benefit both you and the children you care for;
* Keeping Children Local - Councils operate locally, ensuring that children placed with you are from the same area. This stability helps children maintain connections with friends, family, and schools, leading to more positive outcomes.
* Training and Support - Each local council provides a comprehensive training program to equip you with the skills needed before embarking on your first placement. You will have access to continuous learning opportunities, allowing you to enhance your abilities and enrich your fostering experience.
* Shorter Gaps Between Placements - Councils prioritize matching children with their own carers first. This approach minimizes waiting times for placements and ensures continuity for children.
* Work with a not-for-profit - Local councils operate as not-for-profit entities. Acting with the best interests and needs of the children they care for and our foster carers at the heart of everything they do. This means that all their financial resources are dedicated to improving their services and put back into their community.
Responsibilities
* As a foster carer, you will provide a safe and nurturing environment for the children and young people you care for.
* You will be responsible for helping them grow and develop and be someone the child can form a positive attachment to.
* You will be required to attend training sessions and participate in ongoing professional development, which will also allow you to specialise or work in different types of fostering.
* With the child’s well-being at the centre of everything you do, you will collaborate with the team around the child. This includes social workers, educators and healthcare professionals, as well as helping maintain the child’s bonds with family and friends, where appropriate.
* Foster carers look after children in their home and take care of their practical day-to-day needs. This includes school drop-offs and pick-ups, making meals, working with schools to support their learning, and offer emotional support and guidance as they grow.
Skills and Qualifications
Just as no two children are the same, foster carers come from diverse backgrounds and bring a range of life experiences, skills, and qualities to meet the needs of children and young people in foster care. You don’t need any specific qualifications to become a foster carer, and it’s not necessary to have children of your own, be in a relationship, or own your own home. What truly matters is your ability to support, nurture, and care for children who cannot live with their own families.
To Apply
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for this reputable organisation, please click apply to be redirected to their website to complete your application