Step-Forward Foster Carer – Make a Real Difference to a Young Person’s Life
Location: Cheshire East
Employer: Cheshire East Council
Salary: £1000 per week per child, plus additional payments for the child (child allowance, holidays, birthday and religious celebrations)
Employment Type: Full-time | Self-employed
Sector: Social Care | Education | Healthcare
A Role That Changes Lives
Step-Forward Fostering is a rewarding role that gives children leaving residential care the chance to move into a safe and nurturing home where they belong. As a Step-Forward Foster Carer with Cheshire East Council, you will welcome a child or sibling group into your home to live as part of your family, offering them stability, guidance and the consistency they need at a key time in their young lives.
We welcome applicants from a wide range of professional backgrounds, particularly those working with children and young people, including Youth Workers, Residential Support Workers (Children’s Homes), Senior Residential Support Workers, Behaviour Mentors, Pastoral Support Staff, Learning Mentors, SEMH Teaching Assistants, Secondary School Teaching Assistants, Family Support Workers, Youth Justice Workers, Youth Offending Service (YOS) Practitioners, Intervention Workers, Outreach Workers, Leaving Care Personal Advisors, Transition Workers, CAMHS Practitioners, Mental Health Support Workers (Children & Adolescents), Assistant Psychologists, Clinical Psychologists, Forensic Psychologists, Counselling Psychologists, Educational Psychologists, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs), Substance Misuse Practitioners, Education Welfare Officers, Safeguarding Officers, Social Workers, Probation Officers, Teachers, Tutors, and Community Support Workers supporting young people. If you have professional experience supporting children or young people through challenging or complex circumstances - especially teenagers - you already have the foundation to make a lasting difference as a foster carer.
Many children will have experienced trauma, disruption or separation. By fostering with Cheshire East Council, you can help them remain close to their communities, schools, friends and extended family while building the skills and confidence to move forward.
You will be supported at every stage, with specialist training, regular supervision and guidance from social workers and therapists, alongside access to peer networks and a dedicated local fostering team.
What the Role Involves:
- Full-time care for a child or sibling group moving from residential care
- Providing stability, routine, and reassurance within a nurturing home
- Supporting the child’s emotional, behavioural, and social development
- Working closely with social workers, therapists and other professionals
- Keeping clear records and providing therapeutic, relationship-based care
- Helping children maintain family relationships through Family Time
Who Can Apply to Become a Step-Forward Foster Carer?
We welcome enquiries from individuals and/or couples who:
- Are aged 21 or over (with no upper age limit)
- Have the legal Right to Work in the United Kingdom (see definition below)
- Can provide full-time care for a child or children in their home (at least one carer must be present on a full-time basis if applying as a couple)
- Have a spare bedroom or bedrooms that can be dedicated to fostering
- Have professional experience supporting children, young people, or adults, particularly those with complex needs or challenging behaviours
Do You Have the Right to Work in the United Kingdom?
To foster, you must be allowed to work in the United Kingdom. This includes:
- British or Irish citizens
- People settled or pre-settled under the European Union Settlement Scheme
- Those with certain visas or indefinite leave to remain
- Anyone with the right to live and work in the United Kingdom
Please Note: You will need to show original documents before you can begin your application to foster.
What you can expect as a Step-Forward Foster Carer with Cheshire East Council:
- In recognition of the complexity and level of commitment required, £52,000 per annum (£1,000 per week) will be paid, with a 50% retainer payable pre-placement.
- Weekly age-related fostering allowance for the child*
- Payment for birthday, holiday and religious/cultural celebration*
- 50% skill-based retainer paid from date of approval until child placed
Additionally, you will receive access to:
- Specialist therapeutic training tailored to your experience
- Other benefits and discounts such as access to Blue Light Card & FosterTalk
- 24/7 wraparound support & 14-nights of funded respite each year
*In-line with age related DFE rates and weekly payment increased annually in line with inflation
Take the First Step into Step-Forward Fostering with Cheshire East Council
This is your chance to change a young person’s life and experience the profound reward of knowing you helped them believe in their future.
This initiative forms part of regional Foster4 recruitment.
Please Note: Progression is subject to background checks, assessment, and full fostering panel approval.
INDFSCHE
Pay: £52,000.00 per year
Application question(s):
- Have you currently or previously been a Foster Carer or Kinship Carer?
- Do you have an unoccupied spare bedroom in your home for fostering? (This is mandatory and can't be negotiated)
- To foster in the UK, applicants must be at least 21 years old. Are you 21 or over? (Minimum age to meet Fostering requirements)
- Do you have the right to work in the UK, either as British or Irish Passport Holder, Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme, Pre Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme or Granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (This is Mandatory)
- Have you got professional experience of working with children and young people, and/or vulnerable adults?
Work Location: In person
