Have you ever thought about considering fostering as a vocation?

North Somerset Council are calling for people with experience of working with young people to consider fostering as a vocation through the specialist placement scheme.

What is ‘specialist placement’?

Our specialist placement scheme is possibly our most rewarding type of fostering, as you’ll be making a big difference in the lives of the young people who need it most.

Many children in care have difficult starts in life and this scheme has been designed to support the children who are most vulnerable.

Our specialist placement foster carers look after children and young people who have a range of additional needs including challenging behaviour and attachment issues.

We need foster carers who can provide various placements including:

• A safe, learning environment for a parent and their child (e.g. ‘Mother and baby’ placements)
• Emergency placements for young people who may have had to leave home at short-notice
• Placements for young people with physical or learning disabilities
• Placements for young people who are on remand or at risk of offending.

What support is available?

In addition to the reward you’ll get from helping our young people with the greatest need, you’ll become a valued member of professional team, have the flexibility to work from home, and will receive an enhanced fee and benefits package to reflect your skills and experience:

• Two weeks paid respite per year, where you will continue to receive your skills payments
• A financial retainer for time spent between placements
• Your own supervising social worker
• A 24 hours support system
• Free local training and on-going professional development, including access to specialist courses on attachment, the impact of substance misuse and parental mental health
• Free access to local support services, such as counselling, education, health and Youth Offending Team (YOT) professionals
• Access to ‘Consult’ – A service made up of specialist social workers and a psychologist who will provide techniques and guidance for managing challenging behaviour
• Access to foster carer events and forums
• Free access to North Somerset Council leisure facilities for activities with the young person you’re looking after
• Free Fostering Network membership, including free legal insurance protection.

Who can provide specialist placements?

This scheme is ideal for people who have experience of children and are looking for a home-based vocation where they can have a daily, positive influence on young people’s lives.

Foster carers who provide specialist placements will need additional skills to offer the required stability and support for our young people to meet their full potential. Because of this, all applicants to this scheme will need to have a background of working with children and young people, patience, perseverance and the energy to manage complex behaviours.

As long as you have all of the above, you’ll find this scheme incredibly satisfying so take the next step and contact us today by calling 01275 888 999 or emailing fostering@n-somerset.gov.uk For more information about fostering in general, or to request an information pack online, visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/fostering