Foster Carer

Position

Foster Carer at Smiley & Co, Ltd.

Location:

Salford

Salary: £39,104 – £42,848 per annum (made up of £540 per week skills payment + £212–£284 weekly allowances, tax‑free)

Do you have a spare room, are you aged 21 or over, and do you want to use your professional experience in a different but truly life‑changing way? The organisation is looking for people with heart, resilience, and skills to make a real difference as a Focus Foster Carer.

Focus Fostering is a specialist form of fostering for children aged 5–18 who need solo placements. These young people often have complex needs and may have experienced several moves before. It can be challenging — but it's also one of the most rewarding roles you’ll ever do. You’ll be giving a child not just a home, but the chance to heal, stabilise, and thrive.

If you’ve worked in Residential care, education, SEN, social work, CAMHS, counselling, youth work, or with children with disabilities
, you may already have the transferable skills they’re looking for.

• Emotional resilience and calm under pressure
• Experience managing challenging behaviour
• A trauma‑informed or attachment‑aware approach
• Support for children with SEN or mental health needs
• Patience, empathy, and consistency
• Strong communication and teamwork

• 24/7 support with a dedicated on‑call service
• Fortnightly visits as a minimum from your own social worker
• Full training and preparation programme
• Peer support groups and a strong network of carers
• Regular family fun days and community events
• Support and skills sessions including therapeutic parenting training

• Fostering Network membership
• Blue Light Card
• Company Shop membership

This is fostering with purpose — where your professional experience and personal commitment can transform a young person’s future. Whether you’re moving on from shift work in residential care, looking for a new path after social work, or wanting to use your skills from teaching or counselling in a fresh way, fostering could be the next step for you. This is more than fostering — it’s a professional role with real rewards.

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for this reputable organisation, please do not hesitate to apply.