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We understand the challenges and complexities and have walked in your shoes. We can offer an empathetic ear as we have been where you are.
The aim of our service is always to enhance your relationship with your children by offering you embedded respite and an additional person to therapeutically care for your child, replicating the strategies that you know work.
As we develop our services, we also want to welcome the voices of adopted and care experienced people to help shape our support.
Our services are all delivered online so we can work across the UK. If you are looking for a Specialist Support Worker, we will get a picture of your family and what you all need.
We will then write an anonymous advert and shortlist candidates. After an initial screening, we will arrange to interview the top candidates with you.
Once you are happy to offer the role to someone, we will arrange the pre-employment checks and start the online training.
Arranging a positive start is critical so we will work together to plan introductions to your children, and keep in close contact as your worker starts in your home. Your Specialist Support Worker will be offered supervision to enable them to work safely and effectively, and we will continue to be available for ongoing support.
Typically, families employ their Specialist Support Worker, but we can provide all the necessary paperwork and payroll help. Managing a positive ending is just as important as a positive start, and we aim for children and young people to experience a minimized sense of loss when the time comes for their Support Worker to leave.
We ask all of our Specialist Support Workers to be able to commit for a minimum of 9 months, but we often re-recruit for families to continue the support they receive.
Please note, due to limited capacity we are currently unable to accept new requests for Specialist Support Workers. Please keep checking back for updates.
The responsibilities and costs for paying for a Specialist Support Worker rest with families.
Hourly rates vary across the country, and according to experience, but start at £12 per hour. There will be a one-off cost of an enhanced DBS check (currently £52), and there will be an annual charge to a payroll agency of approximately £180 per year.
If Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment is not already in place, we can help you apply to assist in meeting these costs. Some families also access monies through personal budget payments or monies received as part of an Adoption or Special Guardianship allowance.
The Belay Foundation is a charity helping families whose children have suffered early life trauma.
Registered Charity in England and Wales No. 1192653
© 2023 The Belay Foundation. All rights reserved.
