Specialist fostering
We believe every child deserves a stable, loving family environment.
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We know that some children require particularly special care, which is why we have established Solihull’s Specialist Foster Care Scheme.
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The role of a specialist foster carer
If you’ve picked up skills through your work, your own parenting, or other life experiences, you might be just who we’re looking for!
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Perhaps you have cared for, or worked alongside, children and young people with additional needs - whether physical, emotional, or behavioural. All these experiences can be incredibly helpful for fostering, and whether you’ve fostered before or simply been there for vulnerable young people in your life, your support could make a real difference.
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We welcome both individuals and couples to join us, whether you have children in your family already or not. Many of our carers with settled children find fostering works well for everyone. We’ll work with you every step of the way to make sure fostering fits in with your family, always keeping everyone’s wellbeing in mind. Let’s make a positive change together!
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Who would you be supporting?
You will support children from birth up to the age of 18 years. Many of the children and young people you’ll care for may have special educational needs, disabilities, or may have experienced trauma in their lives.
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Because of what they have been through, some children might show their feelings and worries through behaviours that can be challenging, like hurting themselves or acting out. This is often their way of telling us they need support.
The wonderful thing is that when children and young people feel safe and supported within a caring foster family environment, they often develop more positive behaviours compared to times when they felt uncertain or isolated.
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Through kindness, patience, and understanding, specialist foster carers can help them grow, thrive, and feel secure; children will feel that their needs are being met which leads to them feeling more fulfilled, regulated and settled altogether.
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Support for you
We understand that welcoming a child with complex needs into your home can bring significant changes to your daily routine. As a specialist foster carer, you will be provided with comprehensive and detailed information about each child or young person during the Matching Process.
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We will then provide ongoing guidance and support throughout the time the child is living with you.
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You will also have access to a clinical psychologist or specific therapeutic support on a 1:1 basis where needed. Our Fostering Support Worker is also on hand to provide extra help whenever required.
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Where appropriate, we will work alongside you to arrange planned respite care, tailored to the child or young person’s care plan.
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You will also have access to regular group and peer supervision sessions with other foster carers, including those specialising in complex needs, providing opportunities to share experiences and advice.
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Additional support is available through Solar, our emotional health and wellbeing service.
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Training
We recognise how crucial it is to have the right skills to support children and young people with complex needs. That’s why we will ensure you receive comprehensive training tailored to equip you and help you provide the best possible care for the child or young person in your home.
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We will share more details on this during the induction period.
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Rewards
Undoubtedly, offering a vulnerable child a safe, secure, and nurturing home is reward enough in itself! However, we recognise that supporting a child with complex needs can sometimes place extra demands on you as you strive to provide the highest standard of care.
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We know that caring for a child with complex needs is both a privilege and a challenge, and we want to make sure you feel supported every step of the way. That is why we offer a generous weekly fee of £1,000 in addition to the usual foster carer allowance.
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We’re here to support you, so you can focus on providing the loving, stable home that every child deserves.
Interested?
Get in touch with one of our friendly team members today.
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