Foster Carer

**About us**

Evolve Residential is an independent fostering agency rated as 'outstanding' by Ofsted based in the Northeast of England.

Evolve Fostering’s vision is to provide placements for children and young people with a level of support which maximises the chances of stability and successful outcomes.

The Evolve team includes professional carers, social workers, support workers and a consultant clinical psychologist. The focus of everyone involved in the placement process is the specific needs of each individual child or young person.

Evolve Fostering care are proud of their record of stability in placements and the achievements made by the children and young people with whom they have worked.

Fostering families come from all walks of life. You don’t have to be married, live in a big house or have formal qualifications. You can be of any ethnic background, religion, gender, sexual orientation and single people or couples can apply, what matters is your skills, interests and ability to meet the needs of children in difficult circumstances and make a real difference to their lives. We do ask for at least one adult to be available full time - (i.e. not working) or with very flexible working hours and we especially welcome:

- Applicants with previous experience of looking after other people’s children - through either paid or voluntary work;
- Families where they can give young people the attention and supervision they may have missed in other situations;
- Applicants from a wide range of ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds;
- There is also a need for carers for:

- Sibling groups (brothers and sisters who need to stay together)
- Older teenagers (14 - 17)
- Children with disabilities
- Children and young people of any age who have had difficulties in other placements because of their behaviour

Full training and all the support you need are provided by the Evolve Fostering Team whether you are an experienced carer or starting your first placement.

Foster carers play a valuable part in giving children and young people the opportunity and help they need to benefit from good health; a safe and secure home; fun and learning; getting on with others and having the skills and confidence to do well in their futures.

We believe that fostering should be seen as a specialist job for ordinary people.

These are the main points of the job description:

- To provide a safe, stable and caring home for as long as a child or young person may need it;
- To help them keep in touch with their own family and other important people in their lives;
- To help children and young people understand and stay in touch with their origins, religion and culture;
- Helping to promote healthy growth and development and acting as a link with education, health and other specialist workers;
- Providing guidance, boundaries and a good example to help children and young people learn appropriate behavior;
- Listening to children and young people, speaking up for them and helping them make decisions;
- Being resilient and adaptable, overcoming setbacks and being prepared to try again;
- Helping children and young people to move on or leave care as a positive step forward;
- Working as part of a team, contributing to plans, reviews and case conferences and sharing information with others as necessary;
- Keeping good records and dealing responsibly with confidential information;
- Attending regular training and support groups and developing your own knowledge and skills.

You may have had experience of most or all of these things with your own children or other children you have been involved with through your family, friends or work experience but caring for other people’s children is an extra responsibility and an even more complicated task. The children and young people bring their own different backgrounds, experiences, hopes and fears with them and it may take longer to understand their needs and for everyone to adapt and work together.

**Salary**: £390.00-£1,350.00 per week

Additional pay:

- Performance bonus
- Yearly bonus

Licence/Certification:

- Driving Licence (required)