Foster Carer - Residential Care/Education/Youth Work

Ready for a Change? Use Your Skills to Transform a Child's Life
Step Forward Foster Carer - Plymouth & Surrounding Areas
Employer: Sanctuary Personnel (in partnership with Plymouth City Council)
Location: Plymouth & surrounding areas
Salary: From £840 per week when a child is placed
Employment Type: Full-time Self-employed
Sector: Social Care Education Healthcare

To foster in the UK, you must meet all of the following requirements:

Be 21 years of age or over
Have a spare, dedicated bedroom in your home
Have experience supporting children, young people, or vulnerable adults (professionally or personally)
Be a British citizen or hold Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK

Important - Visa Status

We are unable to accept applications from individuals who hold:

EU Settled or Pre-Settled Status
Graduate visas
Skilled Worker visas
Student visas
Health & Care Worker visas
Spouse Visa
Any other temporary or time-limited visa

Whether you've worked in residential care, education, health, youth work or social care, your experience could change a child's life in ways you never imagined.

We welcome applicants from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including Nursery Nurses, Nursery Practitioners, Counsellors, Probation Officers, Registered Nurses, Educational Psychologists, Prison Officers, Childcare Workers, Registered Managers, Social Workers, Housing Officers, Teachers, Tutors, Substance Misuse Workers, CAMHS Workers, and Youth Offending Workers. If you have experience supporting others through challenging circumstances, you already have the foundation to make a lasting difference as a foster carer.

Right now, there's an urgent need for foster carers in Plymouth, especially for young people transitioning out of residential care. Through our Step Forward programme, you can provide the safety, consistency, and emotional support these children need to heal, grow, and thrive.

This role is about more than providing a roof over a child's head - it's about offering them the stability, love, and security they need to rebuild their lives. It's a full-circle role that blends professional care with personal commitment, right in your own home.

Why Consider Step Forward Fostering?

This specialist role is designed for experienced professionals who are ready to make a deeper impact. You'll work as part of a close-knit, fully supported team, helping a young person move forward from trauma into stability and trust.

This isn't just a job - it's a chance to change lives, including your own.

What You'll Receive as a Step Forward Foster Carer:

From £840 p/week (when a child is placed)
Extra allowances for birthdays, holidays, and celebrations
100% Council Tax exemption (eligibility criteria applies)
Up to 28-nights of paid respite p/year
Bespoke training in trauma-informed and therapeutic care
24/7 out-of-hours support and a dedicated social work team
Access to Mockingbird Fostering Model and The Fostering Network
Be part of a local community, helping Plymouth's children stay close to home

Is it time for a change?

If you're ready to apply your skills in a new and deeply rewarding way, then this is your opportunity.

Apply now to speak with our team and take your first step toward becoming a Step Forward Foster Carer in Plymouth.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £840.00 per week

Application question(s):
Have you currently or previously been a Foster Carer or Kinship Carer?
Have you got experience of working with children and young people, and/or vulnerable adults in a professional or personal capacity?
Do you have an unoccupied spare bedroom in your home for fostering? (This is mandatory and can't be negotiated)
Do you have the right to work in the UK, either as a British Passport holder or with Indefinite Leave to Remain? (This is Mandatory)
To foster in the UK, applicants must be at least 21 years old. Are you 21 or over? (Minimum age to meet Fostering requirements)

Licence/Certification:
permanent residence in the UK (required)

Work authorisation:
United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person