Support young people moving from residential care into family life.
Some young people need more than a foster home.
They need specialist carers who can provide stability, understanding and therapeutic support as they transition from residential care into a family environment.
At South Gloucestershire Council, we’re looking for people who can make a lasting difference to the lives of teenagers who have experienced trauma, loss or instability.
As a Specialist Foster Carer, you’ll help a young person build relationships, develop confidence, learn independence skills and work towards a positive future.
You won’t be doing this alone. You’ll be part of a professional team committed to helping children and young people thrive.
Who are the young people?
The young people we are looking to find families for are typically aged 10-17 and may currently live in residential care, supported accommodation or other care settings.
Many have experienced significant challenges in their lives and need carers who can provide:
- Consistency and routine
- Patience and understanding
- A therapeutic and trauma-informed approach
- Emotional support and encouragement
- A stable family environment
- Help to build independence and confidence
Young people like Alex are ready to move from residential care into family life, but they need the right person to help them take that step.
Why specialist fostering matters
A family environment can help young people:
- Build trusting relationships
- Improve emotional wellbeing
- Stay connected to education
- Access hobbies and interests
- Develop life skills
- Prepare for adulthood
- Create a sense of belonging
For many young people, the support they receive from a foster family can have a lifelong impact.
Supporting young people into adulthood
Our commitment to young people doesn’t stop at 18.
Through our Staying Put arrangements, many young people can continue living with foster carers beyond their eighteenth birthday, helping them transition gradually into adulthood while maintaining important relationships and support networks. This gives young people the opportunity to continue developing independence skills, access education and employment, and move on when they feel ready rather than facing a sudden change.
What support will I receive?
As a Specialist Foster Carer, you’ll benefit from:
- Specialist fostering training
- Therapeutic support
- Regular supervision
- A dedicated social worker
- 24-hour support and advice
- Generous fostering payments and allowances
- Membership of a wider fostering community
We’ll work alongside you every step of the way.
Could you support a young person?
You don’t need previous fostering experience.
What matters most is your ability to provide a safe, stable and caring home where a young person can feel valued and supported.
If you have patience, resilience and a commitment to helping children and young people succeed, specialist fostering could be right for you.
Take the Next Step
Find out more about becoming a Specialist Foster Carer with South Gloucestershire Council.
Enquire today and help a young person build a brighter future.
