At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children in need by becoming a therapeutic foster carer with a dedicated team.
- Company: Join the 'Belong' fostering hub in Portsmouth, making a real difference.
- Benefits: Earn £1,000 per week, enjoy tax relief, and receive full training and support.
- Other info: Flexible hours with guaranteed breaks and 24/7 support from a dedicated team.
- Why this job: Transform lives while being part of a supportive community and earning a professional salary.
- Qualifications: Caring experience or background in education, health, or social care is preferred.
The predicted salary is between 52000 - 52000 £ per year.
Belong - Help children stay connected to Portsmouth. Join our new 'Belong' fostering hub and support children to live closer to the people and places that matter.
Are you great at supporting others? Do you have caring experience, or a background in early years, youth services, social care, health, or education? Right now, some Portsmouth children are living in homes sometimes miles from their schools, friends, and community, because there was no local foster home available when they needed one. ‘Belong’ is Foster Portsmouth’s new therapeutic initiative to change that.
As a ‘Belong’ therapeutic foster carer, you’ll receive:
- £1,000 per week professional fee
- Support from a ‘team around the home’ including a hub leader, advanced social worker, child psychologist and family support workers
- Guaranteed sleepovers and short breaks to recharge
- 24/7 out-of-hours support
- Regular group and mentor support as part of our Portsmouth fostering community
- Fully funded therapeutic training from day one
- Income that is mostly tax-free (HMRC Qualifying Care Relief)
This is a professional role. It pays like one. You will never be on your own. You’ll receive the support of a ‘team around the home’ including:
- Hub leader - Regular supervision and 24/7 support
- Advanced social worker - Peer community
- Child psychologist - Consultation and support
- Family support workers - Including evenings
- Guaranteed sleepovers & short breaks - Hub network
A professional role with professional pay. Therapeutic foster carers in ‘Belong’ receive £1,000 per week, so around £4,000 take-home pay per month. As a result of HMRC’s ‘Qualifying Care Relief‘, most foster carers also pay little or no tax on their fostering income.
For a full-year placement of a young person aged 11+, the tax-free threshold in 2025/26 was around £45,000, for example. To earn the same take-home pay in a conventional salaried role, you would need to be earning approximately £71,500 a year before tax. And, crucially, payment begins at induction, before a child is placed. So, if you are leaving a career to join ‘Belong’, there will be no gap in earnings.
MYTH: Children in children’s homes must have very complex or aggressive behaviour, they would be too much for a family.
FACT: These children are not defined by their behaviour. They are defined by loss and disruption. Most have had a period of children’s home stability, and are now ready and wanting to be part of a family. You will be working with children who have experienced a lot, not children with unmanageable needs.
You will have a hub leader, named advanced social worker, child psychologist input, family support workers, a 24/7 out-of-hours priority line, and guaranteed sleepovers and short breaks. You will never be on your own, and our ‘team around the home’ will be on hand before things get hard, not just in a crisis.
This is a professionally remunerated role. Therapeutic foster carers receive £1,000 per week, around £4,000 take-home pay per month. This is equivalent to earning approximately £71,500 (PAYE salary) as a result of HMRC’s ‘Qualifying Care Relief’ as most foster carers pay little or no income tax. Payment also begins at induction, before a child is placed, so there will be no gap in earnings.
Many carers come from teaching, nursing, youth work and residential care. Your professional skills are exactly what these children need. Full therapeutic training is also funded from day one. You do not arrive as a specialist. You become one, with a team behind you.
Welcome to our community. When you join ‘Belong’, you become part of Foster Portsmouth’s community, a network of foster families who support each other, share experiences, and make sure no carer ever feels alone. Our monthly reflective group is part of your role, not an optional extra.
Book a 15-minute call. No paperwork. No commitment. Just a conversation. Register your interest. We’ll be in touch in 24-hours.
Contact: 023 9283 4071 | fostering@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Salary: £1,000 per week
Job Reference: pcc/TP/709/1521
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 16 August, 2026
Job Category: External Jobs
Directorate: External
Location: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Posted on: 16 June, 2026
Become a Foster Carer in Todmorden employer: Portsmouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that values collaboration and innovation. With a focus on employee growth, the council provides numerous training opportunities and a hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in the public sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Become a Foster Carer in Todmorden
✨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 Portsmouth City Council.
✨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 Portsmouth City Council!
✨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 Portsmouth City Council, 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 Portsmouth City Council 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 Become a Foster Carer in Todmorden
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 Portsmouth City Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Portsmouth City Council! 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 Portsmouth City Council
✨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.
