ways to foster
short stay champion foster carers
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.
As a Short Breaks Champion Foster Carer, you will provide essential care for our full-time champion carers. Your role allows them to recharge while ensuring the young person receives consistent care in a family setting.
We’re looking for skilled, experienced individuals and couples to care for 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
- Receive a professional fee of £52,000 per year on a pro rata basis for your short breaks care services.
- We offer an additional fostering allowance based on the child’s age to cover the cost of caring for our children on a pro rata basis.
benefits
- Gain access to valuable training and support provided by our dedicated champions support hub.
- Join a community of Champion Carers, sharing experiences and knowledge.
- Play a crucial part in supporting full-time foster carers and the young people in their care.
- Foster Wales Wrexham foster carers receive a 75% Council tax discount
- 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 prepared to offer short breaks care for a total of 68 days per year, on a pro rata basis, based on the needs of the children in our care.
- Provide a spare room to support a young person in need.
- Be prepared to offer a home to a solo child.
- Offer stability and continuity to the young people in your care.
- Demonstrate a strong affinity for and understanding of young people with complex backgrounds.
- Live within Wrexham County Borough or its vicinity.
- Exhibit a child-centered and caring attitude.
- Show the ability to offer unconditional positive regard and encouragement, even when addressing challenging behaviour.
- 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 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 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 examples of professions that align with this role, this is not exclusive:
- Residential Worker
- Police Officer
- Prison Officer
- Teachers with experience working with children with complex needs and backgrounds
- Youth Justice Worker
- Psychiatric Nurse or mental health specialists
- Specialist Foster Carers
- Foster Carers with additional experience dealing with complex and challenging behaviour
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 standard skills and training package, customized to meet their unique requirements. This empowers your professional development and equips you to meet the needs of the 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.
training:
Our comprehensive training program equips you with the knowledge and skills needed for successful fostering. It includes:
- Mandatory Modules: 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 young people you care for.
If you’re interested in becoming a Short Breaks Champion Foster Carer and making a meaningful difference in the lives of young individuals, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to answer your questions and support you on your foster care journey with Foster Wales Wrexham.
