ways to foster
champion foster carers
be the someone… join our champion foster carers hub
Not everyone has what it takes to open their hearts to a young person at a crucial point in their life. It takes someone special.
But if you’re reading this, you could be that someone.
We’re looking for skilled, experienced individuals and couples to care of some of our most vulnerable young people in Wrexham – so they can make the transition from residential care into a nurturing family environment, where they can be supported within a loving family home.
If you think you that might be you, Foster Wales Wrexham invites you to become a part of our Champion Foster Carer scheme.
You’ll benefit from a dedicated support team, including a social worker, supervising social worker, therapeutic social worker, and family support worker.
Fostering is an incredible journey, and by joining us, you’ll receive a competitive professional fee, extensive multi-agency support, and access to outstanding training opportunities.
Most importantly, you’ll have the chance to profoundly impact a young person’s life. While it can be demanding, the reward is truly fulfilling and will stay with you for ever.
be the someone
contract & pay
- You will receive a professional fee of £52,000 per annum to reflect the skills necessary for caring for our children and young people.
- We offer an additional fostering allowance based on the child’s or young person’s age to cover the cost of caring for them.
- We’ll also provide regular short stays for the child or young person so you can have a well-earned break, as well as day-support to facilitate their learning and development
benefits
- Foster Wales Wrexham foster carers receive a 75% Council tax discount
- Receive short stays care for 2 days per month, plus an extra 20 days of paid holiday.
- Benefit from comprehensive training and support provided by our dedicated champions support hub.
- Gain access to valuable support groups, peer reflection, and enriching discussions.
- Partake in Wrexham Fostering events and engaging enrichment activities.
key requirements
- Successfully complete a foster carer assessment and gain approval from Wrexham County Borough Council.
- Be available full-time to care for the child or young person placed in your home.
- Provide a bedroom to support a child or young person.
- Be prepared to offer a home to a solo child.
- Offer stability and continuity to the child or young person in your care.
- Demonstrate a strong affinity for understanding children & young people with complex backgrounds.
- Live within Wrexham County Borough or its vicinity.
- Exhibit a child-centered caring attitude.
- Show the ability to offer unconditional positive regard and encouragement, even when addressing challenging behaviour.
- Provide support when a child or young person is not participating in or attending education, training, and employment.
- Possess access to a suitable car for fostering activities.
- Be able to pass a successful DBS check.
- Commit to completing mandatory training requirements and additional training as outlined by the Social Worker.
- Offer support to children & young people with family contact when necessary.
about you
personal characteristics
The following personal characteristics are highly beneficial for this role:
- Patience
- Child-centered approach
- Therapeutic mind-set
- Emotional resilience
- Physical resilience
- Persistence
- Activeness
- Flexibility
- Genuine interest
- Positivity
- Strong, resilient family and social networks
- Robustness
- Empathy
- Excellent communication skills
key experience:
In this role, you are expected to:
- Demonstrate prior experience in working with children, young people or adults with complex backgrounds.
- Have a deep understanding of the impact of trauma, attachment, and neglect on young individuals.
- Actively engage as a part of the broader professional hub involved in the scheme, focusing on child-centered care and support.
- Uphold professional fostering standards, including maintaining high-quality records and reporting.
- Possess knowledge of child development and its effects on life experiences, understanding how these factors may influence behaviours.
examples of suitable professions:
Here are some examples of professions that align with this role:
- Residential Worker
- Teachers and Teaching Assistants
- Youth Justice Worker
- Nurse or health professional
- Mental health practitioner
- Specialist Foster Carers
- Foster Carers with additional experience dealing with complex and challenging behaviour
- Youth worker
- Play worker
- Learning disability support worker
- Police Officer
- Prison Officer
These professions provide valuable experience and skills that can contribute to successful fostering.
support:
Foster Wales Wrexham is committed to providing comprehensive support to our foster carers. Here’s what you can expect:
- Regular Supervision: You’ll receive consistent supervision from your dedicated social worker, ensuring your needs and concerns are addressed.
- Tailored Training: Foster carers benefit from a specialized skills and training package, customized to meet their unique requirements. This empowers your professional development and equips you to meet the needs of the children & young people in your care.
- Team Collaboration: Expect ongoing collaboration and support from the wider scheme team, including education support, therapeutic social worker, family support worker, and social worker.
- Individual Support Plans: We assess the support needs of each young person and develop personalized support plans to ensure their well-being.
- 7 day support: Our support is available 7 days a week to address any urgent concerns.
- Short Stays: Foster carers enjoy regular short stays for the children or young people in their care, with two days per month as the standard, along with 20 days of respite per year.
training
Our comprehensive training program equips you with the knowledge and skills needed for successful fostering. It includes:
- Mandatory Modules: Foster carers complete five mandatory modules covering topics such as Food Safety, Safeguarding, First Aid, Attachment, Reporting, and Recording.
- Additional Modules: Six additional modules are tailored to the specific needs of the child in your care, as recommended by the Social Worker. These modules encompass various areas, including:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy
- Special educational needs
- Self-harm
- Caring for children with specific learning needs
- Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
- Mental health for young people
- County lines
- Restorative practice
- Sexualized behaviours
- Young people on remand
- Alcohol & Drugs awareness
- Complex Trauma
- Conduct disorder
- De-escalation
- Grief & Bereavement
- And many more options available to cater to diverse needs.
Our training program ensures you’re well-prepared to address the unique challenges and needs of the children & young people you care for.
If you feel you could take on this rewarding role and would like to learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to answer your questions and support you in becoming a foster carer with Foster Wales Wrexham.
