Become a Foster Carer - Portsmouth at Portsmouth City Council

Are you great at supporting others? Do you have caring experience, or a background in early years, youth services, social care, health, or education?

Right now, some Portsmouth children are living in homes sometimes miles from their schools, friends, and community, because there was no local foster home available when they needed one.

Belong is Foster Portsmouths new therapeutic initiative to change that.

As a Belong therapeutic foster carer, youll receive:

• 1,000 per week professional fee
• Support from a team around the home including a hub leader, advanced social worker, child psychologist and family support workers
• Guaranteed sleepovers and short breaks to recharge
• 24/7 out-of-hours support
• Regular group and mentor support as part of our Portsmouth fostering community
• Fully funded therapeutic training from day one
• Income that is mostly tax-free (HMRC Qualifying Care Relief)

This is a professional role. It pays like one.

You will never be on your own

Youll receive the support of a team around the home including:

Hub leader - Regular supervision and 24/7 support

Advanced social worker -Peer community

Child psychologist -Consultation and support

Family support workers -Including evenings

Guaranteed sleepovers & short breaks -Hub network

A professional role with professional pay

Therapeutic foster carers in Belong receive 1,000 per week, so around 4,000 take home pay per month.

As a result of HMRCs Qualifying Care Relief, most foster carers also pay little or no tax on their fostering income.

For a full-year placement of a young person aged 11+, the tax-free threshold in 2025/26 was around 45,000, for example.

To earn the same take-home pay in a conventional salaried role, you would need to be earning approximately 71,500* a year before tax.

And, crucially, payment begins at induction, before a child is placed. So, if you are leaving a career to join Belong, there will be no gap in earnings.

MYTH

Children in childrens homes must have very complex or aggressive behaviour, they would be too much for a family.

I will be on my own dealing with very difficult behaviour.

The money is not worth it. Fostering is too much of a financial sacrifice.

You need to be a special kind of person. I am not qualified enough.

FACT

These children are not defined by their behaviour. They are defined by loss and disruption.Most have had a period of childrens home stability, and are now ready and wanting to be part of a family. You will be working with children who have experienced a lot, not children with unmanageable needs.

You will have a hub leader, named advanced social worker, child psychologist input, family support workers, a 24/7 out-of-hours priority line, and guaranteed sleepovers and short breaks. You will never be on your own, and our team around the home will be on hand before things get hard, not just in a crisis.

This is a professionally remunerated role. Therapeutic foster carers receive 1,000 per week, around 4,000 take-home pay per month.This is equivalent to earning approximately 71,500 (PAYE salary) as a result of HMRCs Qualifying Care Relief as most foster carers pay little or no income tax. Payment also begins at induction, before a child is placed, so there will be no gap in earnings.

Many carers come from teaching, nursing, youth work and residential care. Your professional skills are exactly what these children need. Full therapeutic training is also funded from day one. You do not arrive as a specialist. You become one, with a team behind you.

Welcome to our community

When you join Belong, you become part of Foster Portsmouths community, a network of foster families who support each other, share experiences, and make sure no carer ever feels alone.

Our monthly reflective group is part of your role, not an optional extra.

Book a 15-minute call.

No paperwork. No commitment. Just a conversation.

Register your interest. Well be in touch in 24-hours.

Job Info:

• Company: Portsmouth City Council
• Position: Become a Foster Carer - Portsmouth
• Work Location: Portsmouth
• Country: GB

How to Submit an Application:

After reading and understanding the criteria and minimum qualification requirements explained in the job information Become a Foster Carer - Portsmouth at the office Portsmouth above, immediately complete the job application files such as a job application letter, CV, photocopy of diploma, transcript, and other supplements as explained above. Submit via the Next Page link below.