Types of fostering

Specialist fostering supports children with a range of needs and complexities that require highly skilled foster carers.

We have two main types of specialist foster carers:

• Those who provide care for children between 5 and 18 years old with complex emotional, social, and behavioural needs, who may otherwise be in residential care
• Those who provide parent and child fostering placements

We also have specialist respite carers who provide support to the full time specialist carers by offering overnight stays to the children and young people placed with them.

The specialist scheme is for foster carers with significant expertise of working with children and young people. Carers will be experienced in dealing with children who present challenging behaviours and will understand the rewards of supporting them.

Specialist foster carers are fully supported by the fostering service and the Safe Connections team to help the children build good relationships with other adults. This involves regular therapeutic support, specialist training, out of hours support, extra visits from social workers and bespoke training for the role.

Why become a specialist foster carer

Use your skills to help local children in need of support.

Tailored support from the fostering service and Safe Connections.

Receive specialist training to help you meet the demands of the role.

Earn upwards of £1000 per week.

Who can be a specialist foster carer

As well as the normal requirements for fostering, specialist carers will need:

• Significant experience of managing complex and challenging behaviour
• Expertise of supporting vulnerable children with complex needs
• The time to commit to intensively supporting children and young people
• An understanding of the importance of attachments and child development
• The ability to reflect and adapt to the changing needs of the children they support
• A commitment to ongoing specialist training and development

What it's like being a specialist foster carer

Hear from Jayne, who has fostered for over 7 years.

How Safe Connections helps

Delivered by Meadows Psychology Service, a centre of excellence for trauma informed practice, Safe Connections provides targeted therapeutic fostering intervention to Herefordshire's carers and children.

Their staff provide foster carers with in-depth training on therapeutic techniques, helping them understand trauma and develop effective strategies to support children. Each child's care is specifically tailored to their individual needs.

A team of experienced therapists, educational psychologists, and support staff offer ongoing supervision and guidance to foster carers, ensuring they feel supported. Interventions can be made at any point to create the best outcomes for children and carers.

Working with Safe Connections' wraparound care helps to give children and their carers the support needed, to help a child through challenges and to reach their full potential.

What our carers say

"I've been supported by Safe Connections for four years. During that time they have provided me with valuable insights into childhood trauma and how it can manifest. This has given me a better understanding of the teenage brain, and equipped me with the tools needed to help nurture and guide traumatised teenagers through the complexities of life.

I couldn't do what I do without them".
Jayne, Herefordshire Council foster carer.

Fees

Our specialist carers are paid £1000 per week, per child, plus a child's allowance of up to £271 per week, depending on the age of the child. Carers will also still receive the other additional allowances and benefits, where applicable.

How to apply

How to apply and the fostering process