Are you resilient and determined? Could you provide safety and support for a child who may have experienced trauma or abuse? If so, then High Need fostering could be the perfect career opportunity for you.

High Need foster carers provide long-term, nurturing homes for Somerset’s most complex children, often aged between 12 and 15 years old. This specialist fostering scheme offers carers a robust package of emotional and practical support, plus enhanced fees and allowances of roughly £45,000 a year. Carers also benefit from a dedicated supervising social worker, comprehensive wrap around support to include out of hours and during school holidays, and fantastic local training and development.

Somerset County Gazette:

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a trailblazing partnership between Somerset County Council and Homes2Inspire, but High Need fostering isn’t right for everyone. This is a demanding role, likely to be filled with challenges and obstacles alongside the achievements and rewards.

You would benefit from experience of caring or working with children or young people in a professional capacity, however what matters most is that you have the right qualities and skills, as full training and support will be provided throughout your fostering journey.

Above all, we need carers who are willing to help a child recover from the trauma they have experienced in their lives by parenting them in a therapeutic way, as these children need high levels of empathy, compassion and understanding, as well as consistent routines and boundaries. Carers also need to demonstrate key qualities such as resilience and determination, and will need to drive and have access to a car.

Somerset County Gazette:

You could make a real difference to a vulnerable child’s life as a Somerset foster carer. If you’re interested in High Need fostering, or would like to know more about other types of fostering, please visit the website fosteringinsomerset.org.uk or call 0800 587 9900. You're not committing to anything by getting in touch to find out more.