TOPS - Therapeutic Fostering

TOPS Foster Carers should be:

• Caring and compassionate
• Able to see challenges through  
• Able to deal with the demands of a needy child
• Firm and consistent without being confrontational
• Good at working in a team
• Able to focus on rewarding positive behaviour

 TOPS Foster Carers need to have:

• Experience of caring for or working with children
• A strong support network
• A spare bedroom for a child
• No caring commitments for adults or other children under 15 years old You will gain great satisfaction from the important role you play in bringing stability to a child's life.

The rewards of being a TOPS foster carer

• You will receive regular foster carer training
• You and the child you are caring for will receive high levels of support during the placement through daily phone calls, weekly meetings, regular supervision and 24 hour support from key workers on the team
• You will receive an enhanced weekly allowance based upon your skills and training, and in line with Manchester City Councils fostering allowances.
• During the placement you will have access to a short-break (respite) programme as determined by the TOPS team

The Assessment Process

All TOPS foster carers will be assessed as regular foster carers, including criminal background and health checks, and must be able to provide references.