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- Tasks: Provide a nurturing home for children with complex needs and support their emotional development.
- Company: Join a supportive fostering team dedicated to making a difference in children's lives.
- Benefits: Tax-free financial package, 24/7 support, and comprehensive training provided.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by helping young people stabilise and thrive post-trauma.
- Qualifications: Experience in care, education, or social work; emotional resilience and strong communication skills.
- Other info: Join a community of foster carers with ongoing support and networking opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 39104 - 42848 £ per year.
Join Our Vibrant Service as a Focus Foster Carer. £39,104 - £42,848 per annum (made up of skills payment £540 per week and £212-284 per week basic allowances per week tax free).
We are looking for a professional who can change a life, where you can really make a difference. Focus Fostering is a specialised form of fostering providing solo homes for children between the ages of 5 to 18 years old. The children referred to the Focus fostering scheme have more complex support needs and may have often had a number of previous foster care placements which may have broken down. Focus fostering can be demanding but also highly rewarding.
Focus foster carers provide specialised support for young people with complex needs and challenging behaviours. An enhanced carer will need to be able to provide a nurturing and stable environment to help a child/young person stabilise and adapt post trauma. This involves meeting their physical, emotional, and social needs, supporting their education, and promoting their well-being to help them thrive.
What Skills Do You Need?
- If you’ve worked in residential care, education, SEN, social work, CAMHS, or counselling, youth work or with children with disabilities, amongst others you already have many of the key transferable skills we’re looking for:
- Emotional resilience and the ability to stay calm under pressure.
- Behaviour management experience with children who display challenging behaviours.
- A trauma-informed approach or an understanding of attachment difficulties.
- Experience supporting children with mental health, SEN or behavioural needs.
- Strong communication skills to work as part of a multi-agency team.
- Relationship-based practice that supports emotional regulation and trust-building.
- Patience, empathy, and consistency in your care approach.
You will receive comprehensive support from your own allocated social worker, with fortnightly contact and also access to a multi-agency service including social workers, therapeutic social workers, support workers and virtual school. The support offered reflects our commitment for children to have the right to a family life despite their difficulties and includes:
- 24 hours, seven days a week support with a dedicated on-call service.
- Fortnightly meetings with the Focus team and other Focus foster carers.
- Fortnightly face to face contact with your social worker.
- Full training and preparation programme.
- A generous weekly allowance.
- Access to a team of professionals to support you and the child in placement.
Why join us?
Salford fostering team provide our foster carers with excellent ongoing training, support and tax-free financial package and benefits. We have a supportive network of foster carers to help support fellow carers. The team support family fun days during school holidays and host various afternoons and evenings on a regular basis to receive peer-to-peer support.
The role will involve:
- Creating a safe, secure, and nurturing home.
- Supporting a child’s daily routines, education, health, and emotional development.
- Promoting positive relationships, including contact with birth family (where appropriate).
- Working closely with professionals, attending meetings, and advocating for the child.
- Helping young people stabilise post-trauma and build resilience for the future.
What You’ll Receive:
We know therapeutic fostering is demanding that’s why we’re committed to providing everything you need to succeed:
- Fostering allowances.
- Full therapeutic training and preparation programme.
- 24/7 support including a dedicated on-call service.
- Fortnightly face-to-face visits from your family placement worker.
- Regular peer support groups with other Focus carers.
- Access to our wider multi-agency team (social workers, psychologists, teachers).
- Fostering Network Membership.
- Blue light card.
- Company shop membership.
- Access to networking and community events.
Interested? To find out more or to express your interest, email: fosterforus@salford.gov.uk or Emily.Garner@salford.gov.uk.
For more information, please visit Fostering Salford City Council.
Focus Foster Carer employer: Salford Council
Contact Detail:
Salford Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Focus Foster Carer
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation! Research Focus Fostering and understand their values and mission. This will help you tailor your approach during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current foster carers or professionals in the field. They can provide insights and tips that could give you an edge in your application process.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky questions! Think about scenarios from your past experiences that demonstrate your emotional resilience and ability to manage challenging behaviours. Practice articulating these stories clearly.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our vibrant service!
We think you need these skills to ace Focus Foster Carer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself: When you're writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to get to know the real you, so don’t be afraid to share your experiences and what makes you passionate about fostering.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to showcase any relevant experience you have, especially if you've worked with children or in care settings. We’re looking for those transferable skills that will help you support our young people effectively.
Tailor Your Application: Take a moment to read through the job description and align your application with what we’re looking for. Mention specific skills and experiences that relate to the role of a Focus Foster Carer.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently!
How to prepare for a job interview at Salford Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you understand what Focus Fostering is all about. Familiarise yourself with their approach to fostering and the specific needs of the children they support. This will show that you're genuinely interested and ready to make a difference.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Highlight your relevant experience in residential care, education, or social work. Be prepared to discuss specific situations where you've demonstrated emotional resilience, behaviour management, or a trauma-informed approach. Real-life examples will help paint a picture of your capabilities.
✨Emphasise Teamwork
Focus Fostering values strong communication and teamwork. Be ready to talk about how you've worked collaboratively with other professionals in the past. Share examples of how you’ve built relationships and advocated for children’s needs within a multi-agency setting.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask during the interview. This could be about the training provided, the support network available, or how they handle challenging behaviours. It shows you're engaged and thinking critically about the role.
