People with experience of working with children and young people are being encouraged to consider becoming specialist foster carers.

Wolverhampton City Council is recruiting 10 people to specifically foster children and young people who display particularly challenging behaviour.

Providing an alternative to residential care will help improve the quality of life and outcomes of these young people, many of whom have had a very difficult start to their lives.

The new positions are aimed at people with proven experience of working with children and young people with complex physical, emotional and behavioural needs. They will be required to provide high standards of care, promoting good physical, mental and emotional health, educational achievement and positive behaviour patterns.

Councillor Val Gibson, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said: "Our existing mainstream foster carers do a fantastic job looking after children in care, but there are some young people who need an extra level of professional support which can only be provided by specialist foster carers.

"They will be responsible for looking after children and young people whose behaviour is particularly challenging. In many cases, they will have experienced several placement breakdowns or been in trouble with the police, and so are in need of intensive, one to one support and care.

"Evidence shows that children and young people develop significantly better if they grow up in a family unit, and by recruiting a team of specialist foster carers we will be able to provide placements for young people who previously would only have been suitable for a more restrictive form of care.

"This will be a challenging role, and the specialist foster carers will work as part of a team with other social care professionals to achieve the best outcomes for our young people. At the same time, we are enhancing our mainstream foster care service to attract and retain high quality foster carers."

Specialist foster carers will receive full training, round the clock support and a competitive rate of pay. Anyone interested in finding out more about the new roles should visit Type=articles;Articleid=3758;Title=Fostering; to view the job description and personal specification, case studies and frequently asked questions or call Daphne Atkinson, Fostering Team Manager, on 01902 553068 for an informal discussion.

There are currently around 770 children in care in Wolverhampton, of which three quarters are cared for by foster families.

  • released: Thursday 14 May, 2015