Fair Ways Fostering Team are looking for independent, self-employed Form F Assessors to undertake competency-based Form F assessments for prospective Foster Carers. This is a self-employed contractor position and as such applicants will need be able to facilitate invoicing for Fair Ways for any work undertaken.

Working as a Form F Assessor you will be involved in a range of exciting and rewarding things like:

• Using your amazing communication skills - Building great relationships with potential applicants to ensure effective information sharing. Being mindful of appropriate management of sensitive information and challenging conversations.
• Supporting and developing potential foster carers - Analysing and assessing potential foster carer’s skills and experiences, identifying strengths, weaknesses, risk and areas for professional development.
• Confidently Presenting your findings – Compiling the assessments and supporting material by the agreed deadline and presenting the completed assessment to Fair Ways Independent Fostering panel.
• Working with an Outstanding team - regularly updating the fostering recruitment manager in relation to the progress of the assessment and sharing write ups of observations, meetings, discussions and references.
• Completing a fully supported assessment – Fair Ways will provide full administration support in relation to fostering statutory checks, greatly reducing the workload of the assessments overall.
• Fees: The Assessors will benefit up to £2,300 per assessment and receive comprehensive professional support and training, plus travel expenses, and administrative support.

Click here for full job details.

Fair Ways Fostering Team are looking for independent, self-employed Form F Assessors to undertake competency-based Form F assessments for prospective Foster Carers. This is a self-employed contractor position and as such applicants will need be able to facilitate invoicing for Fair Ways for any work undertaken.

Working as a Form F Assessor you will be involved in a range of exciting and rewarding things like:

• Using your amazing communication skills - Building great relationships with potential applicants to ensure effective information sharing. Being mindful of appropriate management of sensitive information and challenging conversations.
• Supporting and developing potential foster carers - Analysing and assessing potential foster carer’s skills and experiences, identifying strengths, weaknesses, risk and areas for professional development.
• Confidently Presenting your findings – Compiling the assessments and supporting material by the agreed deadline and presenting the completed assessment to Fair Ways Independent Fostering panel.
• Working with an Outstanding team - regularly updating the fostering recruitment manager in relation to the progress of the assessment and sharing write ups of observations, meetings, discussions and references.
• Completing a fully supported assessment – Fair Ways will provide full administration support in relation to fostering statutory checks, greatly reducing the workload of the assessments overall.
• Fees: The Assessors will benefit up to £2,300 per assessment and receive comprehensive professional support and training, plus travel expenses, and administrative support.

Click here for full job details.

We are delighted to announce that Fair Ways has been recognised with three finalist nominations at the prestigious National Children & Young People Awards, celebrating the dedication, innovation and passion of both our people and services.

The awards recognise individuals and organisations that are making an outstanding difference to the lives of children, young people and families across the UK. To have three finalists representing Fair Ways is a tremendous achievement and reflects our continued commitment to delivering compassionate, trauma-informed care, education and support.

Please click here to read the full article. 

At Fair Ways, we believe in making a difference through passionate care, support and education. Together, we aim to build an organisation that makes a lasting difference to society and leaves a legacy greater than ourselves and our individual contributions.

Our values sit at the heart of everything we do. We measure our wealth by the difference we make, rather than the profit we make.

Fair Ways is a leading children's services charity based in the Solent, delivering Fostering, Education, Residential and Family Services. We support over 400 children, young people, families and vulnerable adults each year.

We are now seeking new Trustees to join our Board and help shape the future direction of Fair Ways.

We are seeking Trustees with significant experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Education, Inclusion & Outcomes
• Governance, Compliance, Risk & Operational Audit
• Financial Governance & Audit (Chair of Audit & Risk)

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Location: Central Support (Portsmouth).

Contract Type: Part time.

Salary: These are voluntary positions, with reasonable expenses reimbursed.

Specific Hours: Trustees are expected to commit approximately 6–8 days per year.

Click here for full details.

When searching for a new job, salary is only one part of the picture. The right employer will also invest in your wellbeing, career development and work-life balance. 

At Fair Ways, we believe that looking after our team members enables them to provide the very best care, support and education to the children and families we work with. As a charity, every decision we make is centred around making a positive difference, not only for those we support, but for the dedicated people who make that possible every day. Fair Ways reinvests its surplus back into the charity, helping to improve services while continuing to invest in our workforce. 

If you’re looking for children’s residential care jobs, support worker jobs, teaching jobs, therapeutic careers or social care careers, here’s why Fair Ways could be the perfect place to build your future. 

A Career That Makes a Real Difference 
Every role at Fair Ways contributes towards improving the lives of children and families. Whether you’re working in one of our Residential Children’s Homes, Schools, Fostering, Family Services or Central Support teams, you’ll be part of a charity driven by our values, purpose, compassion and innovation. Our teams don’t simply come to work, they help children build brighter futures. 

Click here to read the full article.

​We are looking for a Social Worker to support the growth and development of our Registered Family Centres in Southampton. The Family Centres are made up of a number of self-contained flats or pods each with their own bathroom and kitchen facilities and a separate bungalow which can accommodate an additional 2 families. Families will be referred to the Family Centre if there have been concerns identified around the safety of the children within their existing family unit. Once with us, the families will be continuously encouraged, assessed and guided through a 12 week stay where they are monitored 24/7 to encourage sustainable positive parenting changes.

As a Social Worker with Fair Ways you will deliver the highest standards of care and support to our children, families and vulnerable adults through:

• Assessing and Observing - To take a lead role in parenting assessments through formal and informal observations of the residents with their child ensuring a high-quality service is delivered and maintained.
• Keeping Children, families and vulnerable adults Safe - Managing any presenting safeguarding issues in accordance with Fair Ways Policies and Procedures to keep children, families and vulnerable adults safe from harm for the duration of their assessment.
• Supervision and training - To line manage a small number of direct reports offering reflective supervisions, guidance and undertaking monitoring of any required training and development in line with our professional development and progression plans.
• Being a clear and confident communicator - To attend and contribute to multi-agency meetings, court hearings and other forums to represent the Residential Family Centre and support the Assessors.
• Building strong professional relationships - To proactively maintain safe supervision levels and respectful relationships with parents and children through effective support, guidance and care ensuring the maintenance of safe practice.
• Accurate and detailed report writing - To maintain full oversight of the assessment process for families for the full 12 weeks, writing the parenting assessment reports for courts. Maintaining effective, regular communication with outside agencies regarding parenting capacity.
• Being a Trauma Informed professional - To oversee and model trauma informed responses through the individualised use of therapeutic and (in some services) physical intervention to ensure families are supported appropriately during times of crisis and to demonstrate an understanding of the parents’ early life experiences.
• Supporting and developing new initiatives - To support the management team to develop the community-based assessment and outreach packages for family transitions into the community.
• Committing to your personal and professional development - To manage personal and continuous professional development through self-assessment, supervision and training.

Click here for full job details.

On Monday 11th May, Fair Ways partnered with Portsmouth City Council’s Foster Portsmouth to host The Portsmouth Fostering Friendly Business Summit at Portsmouth Guildhall, bringing together organisations from across the city to strengthen Portsmouth’s messaging as the UK’s first Fostering Friendly City.

The event welcomed approximately 90 attendees for an inspiring afternoon focused on raising awareness of fostering and exploring how employers can better support foster carers and care-experienced young people within the workplace and wider community.

The summit featured a powerful line-up of speakers and lived experience voices, including Sarah Daly, Director of Children’s Services at Portsmouth City Council; care-experienced young people; Chris Wild, Director of Social Impact at Foster Greatness; foster carers from both Fair Ways and Portsmouth City Council; Mark Owers, Chief Executive of the Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers; fostering-friendly employer success stories; and Mark Jowett, Head of Children We Care For at Portsmouth City Council.

Throughout the afternoon, attendees heard moving personal stories, gained a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within fostering, and discussed the vital role businesses can play in creating supportive and fostering-friendly workplaces.

The event also highlighted the growing momentum behind the Fostering Friendly initiative across Portsmouth, with an incredible 140 organisations now signed up as Fostering Friendly employers. This continued commitment from businesses across the city demonstrates a shared determination to support foster carers, children, and young people both in and outside of the workplace.

Click here to read the full article.

Around 50 guests gathered at Gunwharf Quays on Friday 29th May to celebrate the official unveiling of the Fair Ways Phoenix, marking an exciting milestone in the growing Phoenix Journey project.

The event took place outside The Old Customs House and brought together supporters, partners, local leaders and members of the community to witness the unveiling of the striking wooden sculpture, which now stands proudly as a permanent feature in one of Portsmouth’s most visited destinations.

Guests heard from Fair Ways Managing Director, Gareth Webb, Leader of Portsmouth City Council Steve Pitt, Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin and representatives from Gunwharf Quays, all of whom spoke about the importance of the project and the positive impact it is already having across the city.

The unveiling follows the successful live carving event held at Gunwharf Quays in April, where visitors watched the sculpture take shape before their eyes. Throughout the carving process, hundreds of people stopped to learn more about the Phoenix Journey, its connection to care-experienced young people, and the powerful stories of resilience and hope that inspire the project.

Click here to read the full article.

E​ach year, we produce an Annual Impact Report highlighting our achievements, the progress we have made, and the positive difference we continue to create across our organisation and wider community.

The report shares stories from throughout the year, showcasing the people, partnerships, and initiatives that help shape our work and support those who rely on our services every day.

Our 2025 Impact Report reflects another year of growth, collaboration and meaningful impact. From expanding programmes and strengthening community partnerships to investing in staff wellbeing and development, this report demonstrates how we continue to evolve while staying true to our values and purpose.

For the full report, click here.

Location: Swaythling, Southampton

Salary: £31,070 per annum

Contract Type: Full time
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Specific Hours: 37.5

Are you ready to make a meaningful impact to the lives of young people? As a leading provider of Supported Living homes, we are actively seeking compassionate Support Workers for our home in Southampton. Join us and be a part of a team that empowers young adults to navigate the path towards independence and success. Our Post-16 supported living provision consists of a collection of small family homes and can accommodate a number of residents at a time. Each young person has their own private room and shared access to communal areas. Our aim is to provide stability, consistency and acceptance, with the emphasis on young adults being responsible for themselves.

As a support worker for Fair Ways Supported Living, you will be involved exciting and rewarding things like:

• Rewarding Connections: Utilise your excellent communication skills to understand and connect with young individuals. Collaborate closely with our team to address significant issues and provide the support they need to thrive.
• Inspiring Growth: Go beyond surface behaviours and make a real difference in their lives. Use a variety of approaches, including social life skills, therapeutic activities, and effective role modelling, to guide and mentor young adults.
• Being part of a supportive Team: Join our amazing team of dedicated professionals who share a common goal of caring for and supporting each resident. Together, we create a nurturing environment where young people can flourish.
• Providing Individualised Care: Be at the heart of their care plans, focusing on their personal development and well-being. Offer guidance and support in areas such as nutrition, medical needs, hygiene, and help them explore work placements, education, and personal interests.
• Fostering Independence: Empower our residents to become more self-reliant by supporting them in daily tasks within a home setting. Be a catalyst for their growth, helping them transition into independent living.
• Building respectful impactful relationships: Act as a key worker, liaising with professionals and external agencies to ensure comprehensive support. Manage administrative tasks efficiently, including accurate record-keeping and reporting.
• Being a Trauma Informed professional: Using our industry recognised RiiSE training to deliver trauma informed responses through the individualised use of therapeutic and, where appropriate, physical intervention to ensure our children are supported appropriately during times of crisis.

Click here for full job details.