Who can FOCUS foster

Smiling man talking to friends outdoors in autumn

We are proud to have an existing community of foster carers with expertise across all age ranges and working with a variety of needs. We have a supportive and collaborative fostering community which FOCUS carers will join.

In addition to the high standards and expertise our current foster carers have, we are looking for FOCUS carers who:

  • Will provide intensive and therapeutically informed individualised care.
  • Be committed to supported stability and continuity for children, even when things are challenging.
  • Understand that they are offering care for one fostered child only, unless otherwise agreed (such as with siblings).
  • Have no other significant commitments (such as employment or caring responsibilities for other children) that would impact upon their commitment to the intensive fostering task. To support FOCUS carers, we will ensure we fully explore and renumerate their support network should they be able to provide support care.
  • Commit to completing enhanced level fostering training and any other training that is relevant to their own needs, or the needs of the child placed with them.
  • Work with the Local Authority and the child’s birth family, to have a direct focus on a child’s family time and reunification to birth family if this is in line with the child’s care plan.
  • Accept any matched placement of a child that meets the criteria of their role.
  • Commit to providing intensive foster care to that child for a maximum of 24 months, or in line with their care planning (for full-time carers). Or be fully committed to agreed periods of care for Support or Transition carers.
  • Have increased support visits by the PSW/ SSW and engage with support from multi-agency colleagues such as health and education.
  • Have a particular focus and high-level skill set to support the child with a range of needs.

All FOCUS foster carers will be subject to additional assessment to ensure that this type of fostering is the right choice for them, their family, and the children they may be caring for.