Step Forward into a Role That Changes a Child’s Future. Become a Foster Carer.
Step-Forward Foster Carer – Bury
Employer: Bury Council
Salary: £1,029 per week per child, plus allowances and additional benefits
Employment Type: Full-time | Self-employed
Sector: Social Care | Education | Healthcare
Could Fostering be your Natural Next Step?
Every child deserves a stable home where they know that they matter. Right now, some children and young people in and around Bury are living in residential care or away from their local community after experiencing trauma, loss, or instability. What they need now is a caring home where life feels calmer, more predictable, and full of possibility again.
This type of specialist fostering is not about perfection. It’s about creating steady routines, offering reassurance, and being there for a child every day, even when things feel difficult or uncertain. If you have supported children or young people with complex or challenging behaviours, whether through your work or personal experience, you will know how powerful consistency, patience, and trust can be in helping someone feel secure and confident enough to move forward.
With the right training and support around you, you can help give a child the stability they need, help them to build stronger relationships, and ultimately, move towards a more positive future.
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.
What the Role Involves:
This specialist fostering role requires you to welcome a child or young person into your home and support them as part of your family. This is a full-time role where you will provide day-to-day care as the child’s primary carer.
- 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
All Foster Carers must have the legal right to work in the UK.
You automatically have the right if you are:
- British or Irish Passport Holder
- Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme
- Pre Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme
- Granted Indefinite Leave to Remain permit
You will need to prove your right to work with original documents, such as a passport or Home Office documentation before starting an application.
What you can expect as a Step-Forward Foster Carer with Bury:
- Enhanced fee of up to £53,308 per year (£1,029 per week) once a child is placed
- Weekly age-related fostering allowance for the child*
- Allowances for birthday, holiday and religious/cultural celebration*
- Adjustment fee paid for two weeks following the end of a placement
- Retainer fee for up to four weeks per year when between placements
- 50% Council Tax reduction
- A dedicated Supervising Social Worker and 24/7 out of hours support
- Specialist therapeutic training and ongoing professional development
- Foster Carer support groups, buddy scheme, and peer network
- Membership to The Fostering Network for advice, training, and advocacy
- Discount schemes including Blue Light Card and Max Card
Could This Be You?
We are looking for individuals or couples who:
- Can provide at least one dedicated spare bedroom for fostering
- Have professional experience supporting children or adults with complex or additional needs, (a relevant qualification is desirable)
- Are resilient, nurturing, and committed to learning and reflecting
- Can provide full-time care (at least one person at home)
- Have a full driving licence and access to a suitable vehicle
Please note: Fostering is classed as a self-employed role. You will manage your own tax affairs and maintain the necessary records for the role.
Take the First Step
This is not just a role. It is a chance to change what a child’s future can look like.
To offer stability where there has been uncertainty. To create belonging where there has been separation. And to be the consistent presence that helps a child begin to heal and grow.
If this feels like something you could do, Bury Council would love to hear from you.
INDFSBURY
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £1,029.00 per week
Benefits:
- Employee mentoring programme
Application question(s):
- Have you currently or previously been a Foster Carer or Kinship Carer?
- Do you have the right to work in the UK, either as a British Passport holder or with Indefinite Leave to Remain? (This is Mandatory)
- 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)
- Have you got professional experience of working with children and young people, and/or vulnerable adults?
Licence/Certification:
- permanent residence in the UK (required)
Work Location: In person
