top of page
Home: Welcome
Man and woman looking at each other with a laptop in the foreground

Use your existing skills to help children in Rotherham live happy and fulfilled lives.

Round the clock support, 14 days annual leave plus an amazing local community.

Whether you work in a children’s residential care setting or have experience caring for children or adults, your skills would make a huge difference to the life of a child in care. Having more Fostering Rotherham carers means more children can grow up to achieve their potential in life - we can’t do this on our own. 

 

We want you to foster because…

 

  • You know what a bad day looks like for children and you know how to be there for them.

  • It takes a team to support a child - you have the skills to work with a wide range of people to make a real difference.

  • You know care doesn’t come with a timetable - each day is unique.

  • You can see and support potential in children so they can thrive.

  • You can provide consistency to a child in care.

  • You will have the agency to make decisions to meet the needs of a child in care.

 

Foster care is a child centred approach which provides a consistent family based environment. We will always place a child in an environment where they are most comfortable and likely to thrive. For some children, this is in a foster home.

​

Fostering allows you more time at home and the opportunity to work with a professional team and make a real difference to local children’s lives.

Make a real difference to the life of a child in Rotherham

As a foster carer with Fostering Rotherham, you will have:​

More chance to make a difference to the life of a specific child

Share your passion for improving the lives of young people 24/7 - the foster carer role means you have more opportunities to make positive change outside an educational setting.

Opportunity to combine your career with fostering

Nearly 40% of foster carers combine work and fostering, so you can continue making a difference to the lives of young people in different settings if you choose to.

Better work-life balance

Fostering takes place in your own home, so you can spend more time living and less time commuting, while still making a direct difference in your local community. Many of our foster carers also find they have more free time during ‘sociable hours’ than in their previous roles.

Extensive payment rewards

To recognise your skills, you will start as a higher paid foster carer, which with generous tax breaks means that your yearly salary could be the equivalent of £37,000*.

​

*Based on national average salaries, March 2022.

"Many children and young people are needing a loving secure stable home. No matter what is going on our children still need this more than ever."

- Samantha, Foster Carer

How your current skills can help you become a foster carer

  • You may have already worked with individuals who have experienced adversity or trauma which impacts negatively on their behaviours, and understand how to respond to these.

  • You will understand the importance of a child centred approach, where every decision is made in the best interests of the child in care.

  • You will already know how much of a difference you can make as a foster carer.

  • You will understand the importance of safeguarding and protecting vulnerable children and adults.

  • You will understand the importance of regulations when working with children and young people, and how to submit any paperwork required for the benefit of the child.

  • You may have experience working with children or adults with additional or complex needs or behaviours that require a nurturing response and will understand the different ways to respond to these.

  • You may have experience working with a variety of organisations to support an individual, such as social workers, schools, birth families and medical staff.

  • You may already hold a DBS certificate or other relevant certifications.

  • You will have an appetite to learn more about foster care and how you can directly help a child in the Rotherham area.

Make the career change children in Rotherham need
"Making the decision to change my career and become a foster carer is the most rewarding thing I have ever done."

- Natalie, Foster Carer

What support will I receive to become a foster carer?

From the first enquiry, through to assessment, approval and beyond, our dedicated team will be there to support you every step of the way on your pathway to fostering. Our vast experienced team have worked in social work for a total of 211 years and work as a combined team, so even difficult questions are often answered quickly and confidently by your dedicated social worker.

 

If you feel you need advice or you’re struggling, your social worker, the wider team and our large fostering community of carers are there to help you. 

Large and friendly fostering community

Alongside our incredible social work team, all 122 of our fostering families are here to support you. You will be invited to regular recognition events and join Rotherham’s Foster Carer Association, who meet regularly for days out and to share advice.

Ongoing continued professional development (CPD)

Alongside your induction training, our carers also take part in regular training opportunities including first aid; Black Lives Matter, safer care and equality and diversity and different therapeutic approaches which will help you progress through our skill levels, increase your knowledge of working with young people and increase your fostering payment package.


When you foster for Fostering Rotherham, you are helping to reinvest time and resources into helping more local children in care and continuously improving the community we love.
 
Book a call back with our team at a time that suits you.  

bottom of page