Specialist foster care for trafficked and exploited children and young people
Barnardo's is currently recruiting for specialist foster carers to provide intensive support for children and young people that have been trafficked or sexually exploited. If you think you've got what it takes to help these vulnerable young people then please get in touch.
Growing evidence suggests a high proportion of trafficked children and children at risk of sexual exploitation go missing from care in the UK. Furthermore, pressured resources can mean that these victims are placed in unsafe, out of authority placements or secure accommodation.
Children at risk of sexual exploitation are some of the most vulnerable in our society. Many have experienced abandonment or have suffered from physical and mental abuse. They need help but don’t know where to look.
Safe Accommodation Project
Barnardo’s is running a two year pilot to deliver a cost-effective, sustainable programme to ensure trafficked and exploited children are kept safe from harm.
The project will provide safe fostering placements alongside quality-assured training which is developed from best practice with vulnerable children.
Barnardo's fostering services and child sexual exploitation teams are working together with foster carers to provide specialist placements to meet these children’s needs.
We're looking for specialist foster carers
We are urgently seeking carers across England to work in partnership with a team of professionals who will provide intensive support and guidance. We are looking for people who:
- Can provide long term, short term, planned and emergency placements
- Can work with children, their families and associated professionals as per the individual placement agreement
- Can uphold and implement Barnardo's policies and procedures as outlined in the foster carer’s handbook, and relevant health and safety policies
- Can undertake continuing professional development and be aware of new developments, legislation, initiatives, guidelines, policies and procedures
- Have a spare room in their house.
In return, Barnardo's will provide carers with:
- Specialist training and guidance
- A designated fostering Social Worker
- A designated therapeutic Project Worker from a specialist CSE / trafficking service to support you and the young person
- Educational psychologist support
- On-going training including the Training Support & Development Standards
- Out of hours support
- Excellent remuneration and a retention fee
- An opportunity to be a part of this exciting pilot and influence best practice
- Additional support services as identified.
Request an information pack to find out more about becoming a specialist foster carer with Barnardo's. You can also help us to stop children being exploited for sex by signing up to our Cut Them Free campaign.