Foster Carer

Role overview

Portsmouth City Council is recruiting therapeutic foster carers for its new “Belong” fostering hub. The aim of this initiative is to help children remain closely connected to the city, their schools, friends, and familiar places by providing local foster homes.

This is a professional fostering role for people with a caring background or experience in areas such as early years, youth services, social care, health, or education. It is designed to support children who have experienced loss and disruption and are ready to live in a family setting.

What the role offers

• A professional fee of £1,000 each week.
• Support from a dedicated team around the home, including a hub leader, an advanced social worker, a child psychologist, and family support workers.
• Guaranteed sleepovers and short breaks to help carers recharge.
• 24/7 out-of-hours support and regular supervision.
• Access to a peer network, group support, mentor support, consultation, and evening support through the hub network.
• Fully funded therapeutic training from the first day.
• Income that is largely tax-free under HMRC Qualifying Care Relief.

How the scheme works

Belong carers are paid from induction, before a child is placed, so there is no earnings gap when someone leaves another job to begin fostering. The weekly fee is described as around £4,000 take-home pay per month. The information provided also notes that a typical full-year placement of a young person aged 11+ could fall within a 2025/26 tax-free threshold of around £45,000. It adds that earning a similar take-home amount in a standard salaried role would require roughly £71,500 a year before tax, depending on tax code and deductions.

Support and community

Carers become part of Foster Portsmouth’s wider fostering community, where families share experience and support one another. The monthly reflective group is presented as a regular part of the role rather than an optional activity.

Misconceptions and expectations

The role information explains that the children being supported are not defined by challenging behaviour; instead, they are young people who have experienced loss and disruption. It also stresses that carers will not be left to manage alone, as support is available before issues escalate, not only during crises. The organisation also notes that many carers come from backgrounds such as teaching, nursing, youth work, and residential care, and that specialist skills are developed through the funded training and team support.

Contact and next step

Interested people are invited to book a 15-minute call with no paperwork or commitment. The organisation says it will respond within 24 hours. Contact details provided were 023 9283 4071 and fostering@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.