Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carer - Mental Health Nurse

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

Job summary

A leading fostering service in Bedford is seeking a Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carer to provide full-time care for children transitioning from residential settings. The ideal candidate will have experience in mental health support and a dedicated space in their home. This rewarding role offers an annual salary of £62,000 plus additional allowances, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on a child's life within a supportive team.

Benefits

£1,000 additional allowances for holidays and birthdays

Up to 28 days respite each year

Specialist training and ongoing professional development

24/7 out-of-hours support

Peer support networks

Qualifications

• Experience supporting children or young people with emotional, behavioural, or mental health needs.
• Can offer a dedicated bedroom for fostering a young person.
• Full-time availability to provide care.

Responsibilities

• Welcome a young person into your home and provide full-time care.
• Support young people's transition from residential care.
• Be part of a trauma-informed team.

Skills

Experience providing mental health support

Resilience

Nurturing attitude

Openness to learning

Job description

Ready for a Change? Use Your Skills to Transform a Child's Life

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 Mental Health Nursing Skills Differently?

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 Mental Health Nurse, supporting children or young people with emotional, behavioural, or mental health needs, you already have skills that could change a child's future. This role is not about providing a bed. It is about offering consistency, compassion, 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

Could This Be You?

• Live in Bedford or the surrounding area
• Can offer a dedicated bedroom for fostering a young person
• Have experience providing mental health support, interventions, or therapy for children and young people
• 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 mental health nursing 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