In the words of Jo, Foster Carer, Wrexham.
When you embark on your fostering journey, you soon come to realise that there’s an array of people that will cross your path, or rather come up it and into your home, as your home is now your “office!”
Our door is always open, not only to the children we welcome into our home, but the many professionals involved in their care.
Child social workers, supervising social workers, safeguarding officers, guardians, to name but a few.
All these wonderful people who are invested in the care of the children we foster.
I have been fostering with my husband Boz for 10 years now and have met many professionals along the way. Some have really felt like a part of our family and we have enjoyed many conversations over a brew and a biscuit!
Schools
Schools play a massive part in a foster child’s life and are often the first to raise concerns for their welfare and involve social services. They are therefore heavily invested in the child’s future and if you form a good relationship with the school, they are often armed with all the background information that you need and will assist in supporting the child through this difficult time in their lives.
I’ve had great relationships with schools as I work as a Teaching Assistant myself and have an understanding of supporting the child in an education setting. One teacher in particular is still a friend to this day even though the child left her class 2 years ago.
Foster Children
Your relationship with the children coming into your care is often tenuous at first, both trying hard to impress and make the other feel at ease. This honeymoon period doesn’t always last, but that early bonding makes a good foundation on which to build secure attachments, a healthy and happy relationship.
Birth Children
The relationship between our birth children and the children we have fostered has been the most important one. Our children were 11 and 13 when we began fostering and they found it all a bit of a shock at first. They tried so hard to welcome them, bringing their pet hamsters to show them and break the ice. But they found sharing Mum and Dad with these little strangers quite difficult. Over time they got used to welcoming children into our home and now consider themselves siblings to the children that we foster long term. At 21 and 23, they’re adults and have become a great support to us, both in a practical sense and emotionally too.
Friendships
Lastly, the friends we have made along the way. The fellow foster carers we have met. These relationships are invaluable. We have a group chat where we can have a bit of banter or seek support and advice, when needed. We meet once a month and fully enjoy the camaraderie!
Fostering is a unique and rewarding role but without a support network of friends and professionals, it would be a lot more challenging.
