Therapeutic Foster Carer (Belong Hub)
Posted 17th Jun, 2026
About the role
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 Portsmouth's new therapeutic initiative to change that — and therapeutic foster carers are central to it.
As a 'Belong' therapeutic foster carer, you will provide a family home for children who have experienced loss and disruption. These are not children with unmanageable needs. Most have had a period of children's home stability and are now ready and wanting to be part of a family. Your role is to help them stay connected to the people and places in Portsmouth that matter to them.
You will never work in isolation. A dedicated 'team around the home' surrounds every carer, including a hub leader, a named advanced social worker, a child psychologist, and family support workers. Monthly reflective group sessions are part of the role, not an optional extra, and a 24/7 out-of-hours priority line is available whenever you need it.
This role includes:
- Supporting children to maintain connections to their schools, friendships, and local community in Portsmouth
- Working as part of a multi-disciplinary 'team around the home' to deliver therapeutic care
- Participating in regular supervision and monthly reflective group sessions
- Accessing guaranteed sleepovers and short breaks to allow time to recharge
- Engaging with fully funded therapeutic training from day one
To register your interest, call 023 9283 4071 or email fostering@portsmouthcc.gov.uk to book a 15-minute informal call — no paperwork, no commitment, just a conversation. You can also click Apply Now to submit a formal application.
About You
Many 'Belong' carers come from teaching, nursing, youth work, and residential care. Your professional background matters, and full therapeutic training is funded from the start — you do not arrive as a specialist, you become one, with a team behind you.
Experience of supporting others, whether in a caring, professional, or community context, is what 'Belong' is looking for. The ideal candidate will:
- Have experience in a relevant field such as early years, youth services, social care, health, education, or residential care
- Be able to provide a stable, nurturing family home for children who have experienced disruption and loss
- Be committed to engaging with therapeutic training and reflective practice as an ongoing part of the role
- Be able to work collaboratively with a multi-disciplinary team including psychologists, social workers, and family support workers
- Have the resilience and self-awareness to manage the demands of fostering, supported by regular supervision and peer networks
Portsmouth City Council is committed to equality of opportunity in all its employment practices. Applications are welcomed from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. This role is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check with barred list, right-to-work verification, and all other checks required by Ofsted's regulatory framework for fostering.
Portsmouth City Council's Offer to You
When you join 'Belong', you become part of Foster Portsmouth's community — a network of foster families who support each other, share experiences, and make sure no carer ever feels alone.
The support structure built around 'Belong' carers is designed to be present before things get hard, not only in a crisis. From day one, you have access to:
- A hub leader, named advanced social worker, child psychologist, and family support workers as your core 'team around the home'
- Guaranteed sleepovers and short breaks, built into the model so you can recharge
- A 24/7 out-of-hours priority support line, including evenings
- Monthly reflective group sessions as a built-in part of the role
- Peer mentoring and a hub network connecting you with other carers
- Fully funded therapeutic training from the start of your induction
- And more, including consultation and support through the wider Foster Portsmouth community
