Step-Forward Foster Carer
Location: Denbighshire (home-based)
Salary: £1,000 per week, per child, plus additional payments including child allowance, holiday, birthday and religious/cultural celebration allowances.
Contract: Full-time | Self-employed
Help a child transition from residential care into a loving family home
Could you provide the stability, care and encouragement that a child needs to flourish?
Foster Wales Denbighshire is looking for compassionate and resilient people to become Step-Forward Foster Carers, supporting children and young people to transition from residential care into a safe, stable and nurturing family home.
This fostering role offers the opportunity to make a lasting difference to a child's life. The children who need Step-Forward Foster Carers have experienced trauma, loss or disrupted relationships. With the right support, patience and understanding, they can begin to feel safe, build trusting relationships and achieve positive outcomes.
As a Step-Forward Foster Carer, you'll provide a child or sibling group with the security of family life while helping them stay connected to their local community, education, friends and important family relationships wherever possible.
About the role
As a Step-Forward Foster Carer, you will:
- Provide full-time care for a child or sibling group transitioning from residential care.
- Create a safe, stable and nurturing home where children can feel valued and belong.
- Support children's emotional, behavioural and social development.
- Build positive, trusting relationships that help children recover from trauma.
- Work closely with social workers, therapists, schools and other professionals.
- Keep clear records and contribute to care planning.
- Help children maintain important relationships with family members and their local community where appropriate.
About you
We welcome enquiries from individuals and couples who:
- Are aged 21 or over (there is no upper age limit).
- Have the legal right to work in the UK.
- Can provide full-time care, with at least one carer available at home.
- Have one or more spare bedrooms dedicated to fostering.
- Have experience supporting children, young people or adults, particularly those with complex needs or behaviours that may challenge or lived experience.
- Can offer a caring, patient and supportive home where children feel safe and respected.
People from many different backgrounds become successful foster carers. What matters most is your commitment, resilience, empathy and willingness to help a child reach their full potential.
What we offer
As a Step-Forward Foster Carer with Denbighshire Borough Council, you'll receive:
- An enhanced fostering fee of £52,000 per year (equivalent to £1,000 per week, per child).
- Weekly age-related fostering allowance for each child placed.*
- Additional payments for birthdays, holidays and religious or cultural celebrations.*
- A retainer payment from approval until a child is placed, and between placements.
- £500 for successful foster carer referrals through the Care Friends App.
- Therapeutic and trauma-informed training.
- Dedicated support from an experienced fostering team.
- Access to a range of local and national benefits, including up to 100% Council Tax reduction, a Denbighshire Council parking permit, Ffit membership and the Blue Light Card discount scheme.
*Payments are made in line with Department for Education age-related fostering allowance rates and are reviewed annually.
Right to work
Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK. This includes British and Irish citizens, people with Settled or Pre-Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme, those with Indefinite Leave to Remain, or anyone with permission to live and work in the UK.
Evidence of your right to work will be required as part of the assessment process.
Ready to take the next step?
If you're looking for a rewarding opportunity to use your skills and experience to transform a child's future, we'd love to hear from you.
Find out more about becoming a Step-Forward Foster Carer with Foster Wales Denbighshire today.
Please note: Becoming a Foster Carer is subject to a comprehensive assessment process, including enhanced background checks, training and approval by an independent fostering panel.
