Step up to Stepdown foster care and help us transform the lives of local children

Family
Step-up to be a Stepdown foster carer

New foster carers are urgently needed in Rotherham to support children who have previously lived or currently live in residential care and are ready for the step back into a family-home environment.

Rotherham Council is appealing to residents with personal or professional experience supporting children and young people during challenging periods in their lives to consider becoming a Stepdown foster carer.

As a Stepdown foster carer you would be part of a team providing therapeutic care and stability to a young person.

To support Stepdown foster carers, Rotherham Council offers up to £790.30 a week in payments, alongside a range of support services to support therapeutic care for the looked after child. 

Martina Harrison* has been a foster carer for the last nine years and is foster carer to two older teenage boys who were formerly in residential care. She said: “I have always worked and always helped to bring up my grandchildren, but they grew up and I think I had a bit of ‘empty nest syndrome’ but fostering has given me a new lease of life.

“My family just took things in their stride and accepted the children like an extended family member. They have made all the children feel welcome and treat them like any other child or young person in the family.”

Sarah and Will Sheridan* have been foster carers for Rotherham Council for nearly two years. They said: “We are stepdown from residential carers. Although that was something we didn’t envisage when we started fostering, we’re so glad that’s the pathway we’ve chosen.

“Sometimes things can be difficult, but all children can be reached with time, care and understanding. Seeing the difference in the child who we are caring for is incredibly rewarding. Best of all though, we have been able to recognise and celebrate his successes and seen just how these have built up and have changed his life for the better.

“We have a great relationship with our Supervising Social Worker. She is a sounding board for any and all problems and we never feel judged. We couldn’t foster without the support she provides.”

Rebecca Jones** is one of the Supervising Social Workers who supports Stepdown foster carers at Rotherham Council. She said: “Stepdown foster carers need to be patient, nurturing, empathic and warm and have a willingness to learn. Resilience is essential and probably the most important quality of a Stepdown foster carer.

“Stepdown carers are as unique as the children and this is why the support provided is so bespoke and is supported with an excellent financial package”. 

More information about the Stepdown foster care role can be found on our Fostering Rotherham website or by calling 01709 357 370.

Other fostering opportunities

If Stepdown foster care isn’t suitable for you, there are a wide range of other fostering opportunities also available. There are local children in care right now who would benefit hugely from living with a foster family.

The Council is looking for people from all walks of life who can share the love in their heart and a room in their home with a local child on a full-time or part-time basis. In return, the Council will provide a comprehensive support package, including training, advice and funding.

More information is available at our Fostering Rotherham website.

 

 


* name changed to retain anonymity
** surname changed to retain anonymity 
 

Published: 16th February 2023