At a Glance
- Tasks: Transform a child's life by providing full-time care and support in a nurturing home.
- Company: Join a dedicated local fostering team making a real difference in Bedford.
- Benefits: Earn £62,000 plus allowances, enjoy respite days, and receive specialist training.
- Other info: Be part of a trauma-informed team with ongoing support and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a profound impact on vulnerable children while developing your own skills.
- Qualifications: Experience supporting vulnerable individuals and a spare bedroom for fostering.
The predicted salary is between 62000 - 62000 £ per year.
Ready for a Change? Use Your Skills to Transform a Child's Life.
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
Fostering requires permanent residency status in the UK. If you do not meet all of the above criteria, please do not apply, as your application will not be progressed.
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.
If you have experience as a Housing Officer, supporting vulnerable people, coordinating care, or helping individuals access stable homes, you already have skills that could change a child's future. This role is not about providing a bed. It is about offering consistency, guidance, and the belief that life can get better.
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, independence, and resilience.
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
Could This Be You?
We are looking for individuals or couples who:
- Live in Bedford or the surrounding area
- Can offer a dedicated bedroom for fostering a young person
- Have experience supporting vulnerable people, managing complex needs, or providing guidance to help individuals thrive in safe housing
- Are resilient, nurturing, and open to learning
- Can provide full-time care (at least one person at home if applying as a couple)
- 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.
This is your opportunity to use your housing officer 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.
Trauma‐Informed Foster Carer & Housing Advocate (Bedford) employer: CIH International Housing Group
Join us as a Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carer in Bedford, where you will not only transform the lives of vulnerable children but also be part of a supportive and trauma-informed team dedicated to your professional growth. Enjoy a competitive salary of £62,000 plus allowances, alongside comprehensive training and 24/7 support, all while making a meaningful impact in your community. This role offers a unique opportunity to foster resilience and independence in young people, ensuring they feel safe and valued in a nurturing home environment.
Contact Details:
CIH International Housing Group Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Trauma‐Informed Foster Carer & Housing Advocate (Bedford)
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at CIH International Housing Group.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from CIH International Housing Group!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like CIH International Housing Group, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at CIH International Housing Group or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Trauma‐Informed Foster Carer & Housing Advocate (Bedford)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to CIH International Housing Group:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to CIH International Housing Group! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at CIH International Housing Group
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
