At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide full-time care and support to children transitioning from residential care.
- Company: Cheshire East Council, dedicated to making a difference in young lives.
- Benefits: Earn £1,000 per week plus allowances, training, and 24/7 support.
- Other info: Join a supportive community with excellent training and career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by providing stability and nurturing to children in need.
- Qualifications: Must be 21+, with experience in mental health or caring for children.
The predicted salary is between 52000 - 52000 £ per year.
A Role That Changes Lives
Step-Forward Fostering is a rewarding role that gives children leaving residential care the chance to move into a safe and nurturing home where they belong. As a Step-Forward Foster Carer with Cheshire East Council, you will welcome a child or sibling group into your home to live as part of your family, offering them stability, guidance and the consistency they need at a key time in their young lives. Many children will have experienced trauma, disruption or separation. By fostering with Cheshire East Council, you can help them remain close to their communities, schools, friends and extended family while building the skills and confidence to move forward.
If you’ve worked as a Mental Health Practitioner—supporting individuals through mental health challenges—you may already have the patience, resilience, and understanding needed to become a Foster Carer. Step-Forward Fostering allows you to apply your professional or personal skills within your home, helping children experience the security and belonging of family life. You will be supported at every stage, with specialist training, regular supervision and guidance from social workers and therapists, alongside access to peer networks and a dedicated local fostering team.
What the Role Involves:
- Full-time care for a child or sibling group moving from residential care
- Providing stability, routine, and reassurance within a nurturing home
- Supporting the child’s emotional, behavioural, and social development
- Working closely with social workers, therapists and other professionals
- Keeping clear records and providing therapeutic, relationship-based care
- Helping children maintain family relationships through Family Time
Who Can Apply to Become a Step-Forward Foster Carer?
We welcome enquiries from individuals and/or couples who:
- Are aged 21 or over (with no upper age limit)
- Have the legal Right to Work in the United Kingdom
- Can provide full-time care for a child or children in their home (at least one carer must be present on a full-time basis if applying as a couple)
- Have a spare bedroom or bedrooms that can be dedicated to fostering
- Ideally have experience supporting children, young people, or adults, particularly those with complex needs or challenging behaviours
Do You Have the Right to Work in the United Kingdom?
To foster, you must be allowed to work in the United Kingdom. This includes:
- British or Irish citizens
- People settled or pre-settled under the European Union Settlement Scheme
- Those with certain visas or indefinite leave to remain
- Anyone with the right to live and work in the United Kingdom
Please Note: You will need to show original documents before you can begin your application to foster.
What you can expect as a Step-Forward Foster Carer with Cheshire East Council:
In recognition of the complexity and level of commitment required, £52,000 per annum (£1,000 per week) will be paid, with a 50% retainer payable pre-placement. Weekly age-related fostering allowance for the child, payment for birthday, holiday and religious/cultural celebration, and a 50% skill-based retainer paid from date of approval until child placed.
Additionally, you will receive access to:
- Specialist therapeutic training tailored to your experience
- Other benefits and discounts such as access to Blue Light Card & FosterTalk
- 24/7 wraparound support & 14-nights of funded respite each year
This is your chance to change a young person’s life and experience the profound reward of knowing you helped them believe in their future. This initiative forms part of regional Foster4 recruitment.
Please Note: Progression is subject to background checks, assessment, and full fostering panel approval.
Foster Carer - Mental Health Practitioner in Wilmslow employer: Sanctuary Personnel
Sanctuary Personnel is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work environment for Social Workers in the Children Looked After Team. Located in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, employees benefit from competitive salaries, ongoing training, and opportunities for professional growth, all while making a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families. The company's commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion ensures that every team member feels valued and empowered to contribute to their community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Foster Carer - Mental Health Practitioner in Wilmslow
✨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 Sanctuary Personnel.
✨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 Sanctuary Personnel!
✨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 Sanctuary Personnel, 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 Sanctuary Personnel 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 Foster Carer - Mental Health Practitioner in Wilmslow
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 Sanctuary Personnel:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Sanctuary Personnel! 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 Sanctuary Personnel
✨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.
