A specialist therapeutic fostering role, helping vulnerable children to move back to Bristol after living in residential homes across the country.
Why become a Back to Bristol foster carer
Bristol currently has over 90 children ranging from six to 17 years old living in residential homes outside of the city. These homes can be as far away as Scotland, Cumbria and Merseyside in the North and Cornwall, Kent, Essex and Suffolk in the south.
Children living outside the city takes them away from everything they know: their communities, schools and friends. If they are able to still see family members, it makes it difficult for them to maintain those important relationships.
Because they have been far away from all the things they are familiar with they are likely to have experienced significant trauma, so these children will need lots of love, care and support from their foster carers as they navigate being back in Bristol.
What you will do in the role
One of our mantras is: Relationships heal.
As a Back to Bristol foster carer you'll need to:
- enable a child to grow and rebuild connections within their local community
- build a highly supportive relationship with a child that allows them to feel safe
- help children who have missed out on development catch up and learn new skills
- improve the health, educational and future of a very vulnerable child
- work closely with a team and other carers who will support you every step of the way
The support you will get
The support offer for Back to Bristol foster carers includes:
- allocation of a supervising social worker
- access to foster carer training
- access to Bristol Foster Carer Association
- programme of events and wellbeing opportunities
Wrap around intensive support from Bristol's Therapeutic Support Service team with access to their Intensive Therapeutic support programme including:
- 1:1 consultations
- a carer support group
- support for the foster child in school and for school staff via education worker
- 1:1 skills coaching for the foster child
- daily carer reports around positives and challenges
- regular reviews with the carer, the foster child, others in the carer's fostering family and network
The background of children you will foster
The child you will look after as a Back to Bristol foster carer may have:
- a history of repeated moves from other foster carers
- significant difficulties in school
- verbal or physical aggressive behaviour
- alcohol and/or substance abuse
- at risk of criminal or sexual exploitation
- self-harming behaviour
Fees
Back to Bristol foster carer will receive an enhanced fee of £1,000 per week.
This enhanced fee of £1,000 per week will mean carers do not need to be in any other employment. This will ensure Back to Bristol foster carers have the time to commit to supporting the child in their care.
Find out more
We will be holding two information evenings about Back to Bristol in September:
- Tuesday 17 September, 6pm to 7pm: Easton Community Centre, Kilburn Street, Easton, Bristol BS5 6AW
- Tuesday 24 September, 6pm to 7pm: Filwood Community Centre, Barnstaple Road, Bristol BS4 1JP
