Caregivers - Foster Care

Become a Foster Caregiver with Barnardos Could you open your heart and home to tamariki and rangatahi? Barnardos Foster Care is looking for people in Auckland who can welcome tamariki and rangatahi into their home and walk alongside them during a time when they need extra support. There is a real and ongoing need for foster caregivers in our communities. Caregivers play an important role in the wider village around tamariki and rangatahi, showing up with patience, kindness and steady support while helping them stay connected, build on their strengths and continue to grow. Caregiving can look different for different people and whānau. You may be able to offer regular respite care, short-term care, emergency care, or a more ongoing caregiving arrangement. We are keen to hear from people who can open their home and walk alongside tamariki and rangatahi with patience, care and aroha. Please note: to be considered for this role, applicants must be either a New Zealand Citizen or hold New Zealand Permanent Residency About Barnardos Foster Care Barnardos Foster Care supports tamariki and rangatahi in care by working alongside caregivers, whānau, Oranga Tamariki and other professionals. Foster care is about much more than providing a place to stay. It is about creating everyday moments of care, encouragement, fun and connection. It is about being part of the wider village around tamariki and rangatahi, supporting them to build confidence, maintain important relationships, and have opportunities to grow and thrive. You do not need to have a "perfect" home or fit one type of family structure. Barnardos welcomes enquiries from people from all walks of life, cultures, ethnicities and family forms. What kind of care could I provide? We are currently looking for caregivers who may be able to provide: Respite care - planned, temporary care that gives tamariki another caring place to stay and supports their main caregiving arrangement Short-term care - care while longer-term plans are being worked through Emergency or immediate care - care at short notice when this is needed Transitional care - a more ongoing caregiving arrangement We will talk with you about what type of care could fit your life, home, availability and support network. This may be right for you if you: can provide a caring, nurturing and responsive home have time, energy and emotional availability are patient, flexible and able to stay calm when things are hard are open to learning, reflection, training and ongoing support can work as part of a wider team around tamariki and rangatahi are willing to take part in the caregiver assessment, approval and review process can complete required safety checks, including checks for adults living in the home Most of all, we are looking for people who genuinely care about tamariki and rangatahi and want to make a meaningful difference. Important Information About the Foster Care – Caregiver Role: This role is not a full-time caregiving position in the traditional sense (such as working in a school, care home, or as a support worker). Instead, it is a unique opportunity to provide care within your own home environment. As a foster caregiver, you would be welcoming a child or young person into your home and supporting them as part of your household. This is a very different type of commitment, focused on providing a safe, stable, and nurturing home life rather than working set shifts. There is financial support available; however, this is provided as a contribution based on bed nights and the care of the child, rather than a full-time salary. We encourage applicants to carefully consider whether this type of role aligns with their expectations, as it differs significantly from more traditional caregiving or support roles. Support from Barnardos You will not be doing this alone. Barnardos provides: an allocated foster care social worker access to 24/7 support from the Foster Care team caregiver training and ongoing learning opportunities support, guidance and resources a fortnightly board payment to help cover the day-to-day costs of caregiving regular check-ins and reviews #J-18808-Ljbffr