Specialist Foster Carer

Job Title: Specialist Foster Carer

Fee: £1000 per week plus fostering child age related allowance

Contract: Sessional

Location: Herefordshire

Our Specialist Foster Carers make a crucial difference to local children and young people. They provide therapeutic support and intervention to children and young people who have experienced significant trauma, abuse, neglect, separation and/or loss.

If you have significant expertise of working with children and young people we’d love to hear from you.

Want to know what it really feels like to support local young people? This short video from our Specialist Foster Carer Jayne gives you a glimpse into the heart of our service and shows why Specialist Fostering could be your perfect next career move.

Do you have significant experience of working with children and young people with a range of needs and complexities? Do you enjoy being the one to make a difference in the life of a young person?

We are looking for Specialist Foster Carers in Herefordshire to provide stable, nurturing, and resilient homes for children and young people. In this role, you will offer hands‑on support and guidance, helping those you look after tackle challenges, celebrate successes, and improve their wellbeing.

You will play a key part in creating strong, positive relationships with those you support, creating stability, emotional development, and the best possible outcomes for every child. Herefordshire is committed to improving the lives of children in care, and this is your opportunity to make a meaningful, lasting difference in our fostering community.

• Able to provide care to children and young people aged between 5 and 18 years.
• Experienced in supporting children who have had a number of challenges in their lives and have experienced abuse, neglect, separation and/or rejection.
• Therapeutic in their approach to those whose experiences mean they may express their traumas through behaviours that may be a challenge, including self‑harm and/or challenging behaviour towards themselves and/or others.
• Able to see the potential of children and young people who, once settled, show very different needs and behaviours when they are in safe caring families, to those exhibited when they are feeling unsafe or uncared for.
• Passionate about improving the lives of children and young people, ensuring their safety, wellbeing, and potential are prioritised.
• Skilled at building positive, collaborative relationships with colleagues, foster carers, families, and key stakeholders.
• Committed to promoting resilience, emotional wellbeing, and positive outcomes for children in care.
• Confident in managing complex situations and making informed, child‑focused decisions.
• Enthusiastic about contributing to a supportive and professional team environment while investing in ongoing professional development.

To arrange an informal discussion, or ask any questions about the role, please contact [email protected]

• Fees of £1000 per week plus an age‑related allowance for the children you support.
• Free membership to Foster Talk and access to Foster Talk Members 24 hr helpline.
• Additional support from the Fostering Support Worker will be provided through increased visiting and increased supervision at two or three weekly intervals.
• Wrap around support from the Safe Connections therapeutic service.
• Specialist, focused training and support will be provided to the foster carer and there will be a range of routine and individual support as outlined above.

Herefordshire is a beautiful, historic county on the Welsh border, one of England’s most rural and unspoilt areas, with vibrant market towns and a strong sense of community.

Our priority is clear:
to keep children safe and give them the best start in life
. We do this through passionate, dedicated professionals who build strong relationships with children, families, and partners to make a lasting difference.

It’s an exciting time to join us. We’re investing in our people and our relational practice approach, working alongside our improvement partner, Leeds City Council.…