Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carer - Librarian / Reading Coordinator

Sanctuary Personnel; Bedford; On-site; GBP 62,000; Full time

Job summary

A fostering organization is looking for a Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carer in Bedford. This full-time role involves welcoming a young person into your home, providing emotional support, and working with a dedicated team to help children transition from residential care to a stable family environment. Ideal candidates should have experience supporting children with various needs and be ready to manage their own self-employed status. This role offers a salary of £62,000 plus allowances and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

£62,000 annual salary plus £1,000 allowances

Up to 28 days respite

Specialist training and ongoing development

24/7 support

Access to networking opportunities

Qualifications

• Live in Bedford or the surrounding area.
• Can provide a dedicated bedroom for a young person.
• Experience with emotional, behavioural, or developmental needs.
• Willing to register as self-employed for fostering.

Responsibilities

• Provide full-time care to a young person in your home.
• Support the young person's emotional and educational development.
• Work as part of a trauma-informed team.

Skills

Experience supporting children

Resilience

Nurturing attitude

Ability to provide care

Literacy support experience

Job description

Overview

Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carer - Bedford and Surrounding Areas

Location: Bedford and surrounding areas

Salary: £62,000 per year (plus additional allowances)

Employment Type: Full-time | Self-employed

Is it Time to Use Your Librarian or Reading Coordinator Skills Differently?

About the role

Every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and part of a family. Right now, young people in Bedford Borough are living in residential care and need someone who can help them take the next step into a stable home where they can heal and thrive.

If you have experience as a Librarian or Reading Coordinator, supporting literacy development, mentoring students, or encouraging a love of learning, you already have skills that could change a child’s future. This role is not about providing a bed. It is about offering consistency, guidance, and the belief that life can get better.

As a Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carer, you will welcome a young person into your home and provide full-time care, supported every step of the way by a dedicated local team.

Why Choose Specialist Therapeutic Fostering?

This specialist route is for people who want to make a profound difference. You will work as part of a trauma-informed team, helping children transition out of residential care into a safe family environment where they can build trust, independence, and resilience.

This role offers you the chance to transform a child’s life while experiencing something life-changing yourself.

What You Will Receive as a Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carer

• £62,000 per year plus £1,000 additional allowances for holidays and birthdays
• Up to 28 days respite each year
• Specialist trauma-informed training and ongoing professional development
• Clinical supervision and 24/7 out-of-hours support
• Peer support networks, including access to the Mockingbird Constellation model
• Membership of The Fostering Network
• Be part of a local fostering team that knows and values its carers

Who we’re looking for

• Live in Bedford or the surrounding area
• Can offer a dedicated bedroom for fostering a young person
• Have experience supporting children with emotional, behavioural, or developmental needs, particularly through literacy support, mentoring, or encouraging learning
• Are resilient, nurturing, and open to learning
• Can provide full-time care (at least one person at home if applying as a couple)
• Ideally, you will have no children under 12 living at home. Exceptions may apply depending on the child’s needs
• Please note - fostering requires you to register as self-employed. You will be responsible for managing your own tax affairs and maintaining the necessary records related to the role.

Is it Time for a Change?

This is your opportunity to use your Librarian or Reading Coordinator skills in a way that truly matters. You will make a difference to a child, to your community, and to yourself.

Apply now to speak with our team and take the first step toward becoming a Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carer for Bedford Borough