About the Role
Every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and part of a family. Right now, young people in Bedford Borough are living in residential care and need someone who can help them take the next step into a stable home where they can heal and thrive.
If you have experience as a Teaching Assistant, supporting children in the classroom, helping with learning activities, and providing individualised support, you already have skills that could change a child’s future. This role is not about providing a bed. It is about offering stability, encouragement, and the belief that life can get better.
As a Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carer, you will welcome a young person into your home and provide full-time care, supported every step of the way by a dedicated local team.
Why Choose Specialist Therapeutic Fostering?
This specialist route is for people who want to make a profound difference. You will work as part of a trauma-informed team, helping children transition out of residential care into a safe family environment where they can build trust, independence, and confidence.
This role offers you the chance to transform a child’s life while experiencing something life-changing yourself.
What You Will Receive as a Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carer
£62,000 per year plus £1,000 additional allowances for holidays and birthdays
Up to 28 days respite each year
Specialist trauma-informed training and ongoing professional development
Clinical supervision and 24/7 out-of-hours support
Peer support networks, including access to the Mockingbird Constellation model
Membership of The Fostering Network
Be part of a local fostering team that knows and values its carers
Could This Be You?
We are looking for individuals or couples who:
Live in Bedford or the surrounding area
Can offer a dedicated bedroom for fostering a young person
Have experience supporting children in a classroom or learning environment, helping them achieve their potential
Are resilient, nurturing, and open to learning
Can provide full-time care (at least one person at home if applying as a couple)
Ideally, you will have no children under 12 living at home. Exceptions may apply depending on the child’s needs.
Please note – fostering requires you to register as self-employed. You will be responsible for managing your own tax affairs and maintaining the necessary records related to the role.