Vacant job

Being a respite home or foster home means opening your home to children aged 0–18 who, for various reasons, cannot stay with their biological parents. Respite homes receive children for a limited time, often at short notice and at all hours of the day, while foster homes offer a more long-term placement that can extend over several years and sometimes throughout the child's upbringing. We are currently looking for at least one respite home and three foster homes that can provide their support.

As a respite home or foster home, you are responsible for the daily care of the child or youth and for meeting their emotional support needs. You support their education, encourage recreational activities, and help maintain contact with the child's biological family. The work is done in close collaboration with the child's social worker, and you will receive ongoing support and guidance from experienced foster care workers.

What is required?

You can be single or in a relationship – we welcome applicants from all types of family constellations. As a respite home, you need to have a residence with one or two available rooms and be available around the clock to quickly receive a child. As a foster home, you should be able to offer a stable and secure home for a longer period. For respite homes, you cannot work alongside the assignment and need to be home full-time. Respite homes are entitled to four weeks of planned leave per year, in consultation with the foster care worker.

Costs and fees

As a respite home, you receive a contracting fee (similar to a salary) that is paid regardless of whether you have a placement or not. The fee is for the effort you make but also for any expenses related to the assignment. For foster homes, compensation is provided in the form of fees and expense reimbursements depending on the child's needs. Respite homes are contracted for one year with the possibility of extension, while foster homes are usually offered more long-term assignments. Neither role constitutes employment with the municipality; it is an assignment carried out on behalf of the municipality.

How to become a respite home or foster home?

Submit your application, and one of our experienced foster care workers will contact you for an initial meeting. If you are deemed suitable, a foster care investigation will be conducted. A foster care investigation involves the foster care worker conducting in-depth interviews with each of the prospective respite parents to highlight the family's strengths and areas for development. We also obtain background checks from the Police, the Social Insurance Agency, the Enforcement Authority, and the social registry.