This role is a critical part of our therapeutic programme to bring about change in a young person’s life.  We provide you with support in implementing the programme with a  troubled young person, while they live in your own home for up to a year. We are a specialist treatment provider operating with some of the most challenging young people in Aotearoa, often with a history of foster placements that have broken down. Our programmes provide a unique opportunity for these young people to learn new skills and make changes in their lives.

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This role would be ideal if you:

• Have experience in caring for young people through being a parent, grandparent or working with youth
• Are passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people
• Have no young children living at home
• Have a spare bedroom 

As a foster carer for Youth Horizons, you will receive:

Comprehensive training

We provide you with comprehensive training including training in the foster care programme, non violent crisis intervention training, first aid, policies and procedures, incident reporting, abuse recognition, and suicide prevention training. This will all held at the nearest Youth Horizons office in your area. Our most common foster care intervention programme is the international, evidenced based Teaching Family Model. This is a leading therapeutic programme with extensive research supporting the outcomes it achieves.

Cultural support 

We have Kaumatua and cultural advisors who provide you and the young person placed in your care with cultural support as needed. Our organisation is on a bi-cultural journey so an understanding or a willingness to learn tikanga is an important part of how we operate.

Clinical support

We provide you with regular group support sessions with other foster carers and will have daily phone calls with you throughout the week. We also operate a 24/7 on-call system for clinical support should you need assistance (all calls go directly to someone qualified to assist).

Days off and holiday breaks

We have respite foster carers to ensure you have valuable days off and holiday breaks.

Working as part of a skilled clinical team

Our clinical leaders, social workers and the programme practice leader work with you to create and deliver specific and tailored interventions designed to help address the young person's behavioural needs. A plan is developed and agreed in partnership with you. You'll then be supported by the team in working this plan through with the young person in your care.

Financial payments

Our payment to you is classified as a 'reimbursement', covering the costs of having a young person living in your home. The payment covers all the usual expenses in raising a child such as food, electricity and water. It also recognises the effort you put into helping make changes in the young person's life. All other expenses such as school fees and clothing are additional and are covered by Youth Horizons. In some cases your mileage will also be reimbursed. 

Respite foster carers

Respite foster care placements allow young people who are living with a foster carer to have a short stay with another foster carer, giving them and their main carer a break. Our respite foster carers receive the same training and support as our full-time carers thereby maintaining continuity for the young person.

For more information please contact:

Free phone: 0508 CARED 4 (0508 227334)
Email: fostercare@youthorizons.org.nz

If you live in Auckland, please contact Juliet.Erihe@youthorizons.org.nz.