Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carer - Residential Care/Social Worker/Support Worker

Ready for a Change? Use Your Skills to Transform a Child's Life

Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carer - Bedford and Surrounding Areas
Location: Bedford and surrounding areas
Salary: £62,000 per year (plus additional allowances)
Employment Type: Full-time Self-employed

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

Is it Time to Use Your Skills Differently?

Every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and part of a family. Right now, young people in Bedford Borough are living in residential care and need someone who can help them take the next step into a stable home where they can heal and thrive.

We welcome applicants from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including Nursery Nurses, Counsellors, Probation Officers, Registered Nurses, Healthcare Assistants, Support Workers, Occupational and Speech Therapists, Childcare Workers, Social Workers, Housing Officers, Teachers, Learning Support or SEND Staff, Youth Workers, Youth Justice Workers, Family Support Workers, Residential and Mental Health Support Workers, Domestic Abuse or Homelessness Support Workers, Substance Misuse Workers, Community Outreach Workers, Community Support Officers, Mediators, and Coaches or Mentors supporting vulnerable people. If you have experience helping others through challenging circumstances, you already have the foundation to make a lasting difference as a foster carer.

As a Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carer, you will welcome a young person into your home and provide full-time care, supported every step of the way by a dedicated local team.

Why Choose Specialist Therapeutic Fostering?

This specialist route is for people who want to make a profound difference. You will work as part of a trauma-informed team, helping children transition out of residential care into a safe family environment where they can build trust and independence.

This role offers you the chance to transform a child's life while experiencing something life-changing yourself.

What You Will Receive as a Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carer

£62,000 per year plus £1,000 additional allowances for holidays and birthdays
Up to 28 days respite each year
Specialist trauma-informed training and ongoing professional development
Clinical supervision and 24/7 out-of-hours support
Peer support networks, including access to the Mockingbird Constellation model
Membership of The Fostering Network
Be part of a local fostering team that knows and values its carers

Ideally, you will have no children under 12 living at home. Exceptions may apply depending on the child's needs.

Please note - fostering requires you to register as self-employed. You will be responsible for managing your own tax affairs and maintaining the necessary records related to the role.

Is it Time for a Change?

This is your opportunity to use your skills in a way that truly matters. You will make a difference to a child, to your community, and to yourself.

Apply now to speak with our team and take the first step toward becoming a Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carer for Bedford Borough

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: £62,000.00 per year

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