Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carer - Probation Officer

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

To foster in the UK, you must meet all of the following requirements:

Be 21 years of age or over
Have a spare, dedicated bedroom in your home
Have experience supporting children, young people, or vulnerable adults (professionally or personally)
Be a British citizen or hold Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK
Important – Visa Status
We are unable to accept applications from individuals who hold:

EU Settled or Pre-Settled Status
Graduate visas
Skilled Worker visas
Student visas
Health & Care Worker visas
Spouse Visa
Any other temporary or time-limited visa
Fostering requires permanent residency status in the UK.

If you do not meet all of the above criteria, please do not apply, as your application will not be progressed

Is it Time to Use Your Probation Officer 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 Probation Officer, supporting children or young people at risk, managing safeguarding, or helping individuals build positive life paths, you already have skills that could change a child’s future. This role is not about providing a bed. It is about offering stability, 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, resilience, and independence.

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?

We are looking for individuals or couples who:

Live in Bedford or the surrounding area
Can offer a dedicated bedroom for fostering a young person
Have experience supporting children or young people with emotional, behavioural, or social challenges
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 Probation Officer 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