Voices of Fostering
Voices of Fostering brought to you by National Fostering Group.
Everyone’s life takes a different path. As children and young people decisions can be made for us that shape our lives forever – whether for good or bad. As adults, we have the opportunity to make our own choices. And what we choose can have a positive impact on us and the world around us. Particularly if one of those choices is fostering. When you listen to the stories of children and young people whose lives have been touched by foster carers, you start to see the impact that fostering can have. When you decide to foster, it’s hard to imagine just how big a difference you could make. Not just to the young people you foster, but rippling out into countless other lives. Your choice to foster could transform the life chances of some of the most vulnerable people in society. In this podcast, you’ll hear young people who were fostered, birth children and foster carers talking openly and candidly about their experiences. You’ll get to understand why fostering can be simultaneously the most rewarding and the most challenging thing you’ll ever do and why embarking on this extraordinary journey changes people forever. If you’ve ever been curious about what it really means to foster, what difference it really makes, you’ll find the answers here.
Voices of Fostering
Julie - Empowering Foster Families
Welcome to another episode of Voices of Fostering! In this episode, we are joined by Julie, a dedicated team support worker from National Fostering Group. Julie shares insights into her role, which involves organising events for children and providing one-on-one support for fostering families.
She also discusses the challenges new foster carers face, the rewarding experiences in her job, and addresses common misconceptions about fostering.
Julie's passion for making a difference in the lives of children and fostering families shines throughout the conversation. Tune in to learn more about the vital support offered to foster carers and the incredible impact of fostering.
If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.
If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email podcast@nfa.co.uk
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Welcome to Voices of Fostering. And today on the podcast we're joined by one of our lovely team from the National Fostering Group, one of our team support workers. Uh, so welcome Julie. Hello. Thank you for having me. So firstly, Julie, just tell us a little bit about your role. What does a team support worker do?
Julie:Um, I think primarily I deal with. Child engagement. So I'll organize events and activities for our children and young people, and it, in fact the, the fostering families, uh, during the school holidays. Um, I often do one-to-one support as well. So if we have children, perhaps not in full-time education, um, I will go take them out for the day or just to give the, the foster carers that bit more support around that. Um, I do work very closely with our recruitment officer, Tina, who is amazing. So, you know, when we have new carers coming through, I will sort of meet them then and just answer any questions and support however I can. Um, there's a lot of support generally with the, the team themselves. So be it, the support work, uh, sorry, the supervising social workers or the team manager. Um, so. Wherever there's a need identified. I'm there to support.
Helen:So do you meet people when, when they're in the assessment process, before they become foster carers?
Julie:I've met a few of them because, as I said, our recruitment officer, um, what she does is she will engage with the carers in assessment and invite them along to events that she's planned for our foster carers, be it an afternoon tea we've done. Um, glass painting pottery. Um, so they will join us because it gives them a really good insight into, um, what a foster carer's role is. Um, they get to meet me so I can sort of give them the, um, information about where I will come into their family, um, to support them, their birth children, the children that are living with them. Um, so I always sort of try to make a point of. Being present as much as I can on those occasions so that, um, you know, I can meet the families that are coming through.
Helen:And what would you say, Julie, is one of the biggest challenges or some of the biggest challenges that foster carers face? And, and how do you help those, you know, overcome those issues?
Julie:Yeah, I think initially, uh, with new foster carers, the, the biggest challenge for them is really sort of adapting to their new role, uh, the new family dynamics because it does affect, um, the whole family if there are birth children there. Um, so as I say, I'm an, I'm a contact, uh, in contact with them all through that. Um, whether they've, uh, need some help. With training or if there's some attachment issues or behavioral issues. Um, and I think it's just really letting them know that you are not on your own. Um, we've got foster carers that have been fostering with our agency at Children First for 25 years, and we've also, you know, we've got that continual flow, thank goodness of new carers, uh, coming through. So, um, it's really sort of. Managing their expectations. Um. We're at, there's somebody on the end of the phone, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. So it's really, uh, making them realize that they're not on their own. And we will support as much as well whenever we can. Really. Yeah.
Helen:And I imagine you've worked with so many families now and you've supported so many foster carers. Can you think of a, a particular scenario, like a story that you can tell us about where, you know, you really have felt, oh, that was a job well done. Do you know what I mean?
Julie:Yeah. I mean, to be perfectly it is, it is a difficult question because, um, you know, every child's unique. Yeah. And I, I get different things from different, um, support sessions that I do. But I have worked very closely with, uh, one of our foster carers that's been with us about eight or nine years. And she fundamentally does the parent and child, um, placements. So quite often she gets, um, young moms, uh, often under 18, you know. I did get the opportunity to work with one particular mom who was very, very young, you know, a child herself. Um, she was very insecure. She was like a deer in headlights, you know, she, she was trying to come to terms with what had happened to her. That she'd had a baby herself. Um, and then being in a, somewhere that wasn't her home. So I sort of had an initial meet with her and I went on a, a weekly basis. It started with just, you know, small conversations. Um. Really trying to, for me, it's trying to find that common ground with each child, so what they like doing. And that's usually a good way to get them opening up and talking. Um, and in this particular case, for me to work with her over a period of quite a few months to then sort of step back and see how she'd blossomed, how her confidence had grown. You know, she. She wasn't able to look people in the eyes when I first met her and, and to meet her to, to sort of arrive at the house and she'd have the door open, ready, you know, eager. So, where are we going today? Where are we going today? Because it was important that she, she was allowed to be a child as well. And you know, it's important that. Each child's, uh, you know, they feel seen, they feel heard, and you know, they've all got their voice. Um, and that really meant a lot to me because we formed such a, a close bond from that. So that was great.
Helen:Yeah, that sounds so rewarding. Julie, would you say that's one of the best parts of your job?
Julie:Oh, definitely. I mean, I get to form really great relationships, you know, and, and as a support worker for me. Um. There is no typical day. Um, you know, things can change very quickly. Support can be needed. I could be supporting admin one minute and then I could be taking a group of children to play virtual gaming, which, you know, is, is fantastic. So, you know, I get to have fun as well. And I think the children see. Because we do form these strong relationships and, um, during all the events and activities, it's bringing everybody together and it just, it just feels like a real family, um, thing. You know, we're, we're a small agency, part of the national fostering group, so the resources we've got are phenomenal. But being a smaller agency, we do maintain that family feel. And, um, yeah, for me it's just giving children the best possible outcomes and it's, I love it. I love it. I really do.
Helen:What would you say, Julie, are some of the biggest misconceptions around fostering?
Julie:I think, um, quite often I've met. With people that are in the assessment process, but I've also met, you know, with family and friends, um, you know, that have sort of asked, you know, what, what's it like fostering, because they may think sometimes that they're too old or, you know, I work full-time so I can't be a foster carer. And it's, it's not. That's not the case at all. You know, it's, it's having the, the flexibility to, uh, be able to support that child, whatever, you know, whichever way they need with health appointments. Um, professional meetings, um, sometimes we've had people, you know, we have quite a few, um, single carers at, at children first, so, you know, you don't have to be married, you don't have to be in a relationship. Um, I think fundamentally it's, you know, if you've got a spare room and uh, you've got that. Desire to make a difference in children's lives, you know, that's, that's what it's all about. Um, so any, you know, any. Any sort of worries they have, um, you know, we can alleviate that, you know, and, and, and get online, you know, national Fostering Group is so visual on social media now. You know, get online, watch the podcast, you know, that, you know, I, I love, you know, I love watching them. They're amazing because you get so many perspectives. Um, and I think that reassures a lot of people.
Helen:Yeah, I imagine you are a massive advocate for fostering in your life in general, aren't you, Julie? Like do you, do you find yourself talking about it a lot in your personal life as well?
Julie:Very much so. Yeah. Very much so. I can't tell you the amount of times I've said to people, oh, but you know, I need to win the lottery and buy this big house, and I just want it because you. You know, you, you want to help in any way that you can. Um, and I'm really lucky 'cause all you know, my family and friends, they are really interested in what I'm doing. And, you know, everybody sort of tells you on a daily basis you're doing such an amazing job. And, um, and I feel that, you know, I do feel that I'm making a difference and I'm, yeah, I'm always out in the high street putting leaflets in the dentist. And the doctors and in the supermarket.
Helen:So, so when you say winning the lottery and buying a big house, do you mean like putting foster children in it?
Julie:Lots of children. Oh yeah. I'd love it.
Helen:That's amazing. Uh, you know, I
Julie:mean, I, you know, I do live on my own. Um, you know, I've got a one bedroom, uh, apartment. Um. But I just, you know, I just think it's amazing, you know, the opportunity to, to foster and, you know, the foster carers that we've got, they are, they're just, they're phenomenal people. They really are.
Helen:And I think it's important as well, that people see the, the, the staff who work for the national fostering group like yourself, you know, it's not just a job to them. Um, it really is, you know, it's your life, isn't it? It it means an awful lot to you. Yeah.
Julie:Yeah, a hundred percent. And like I say, we've got, you know, being a smaller agency, we have got, um, you know, a really cohesive team. Um. And it's great because we all know each other as work colleagues, but also on a personal level. So I think we've all, within the team formed our own, you know, these special bonds and friendships and um, and that that, you know, plays out into the foster carers. You know, quite often Mel Pop for a coffee if they're, you know, in the area or sometimes just call up just for a chat and a catch up, you know? So it really is, it's a huge part of my life. Yeah, I'm, I'm, I'm really proud of it. I really am.
Helen:So you should be, and finally, Julie, if there was anybody watching or listening who was thinking about, you know, becoming a foster carer, but there may be just sort of teetering on the edge, you know, how, how would you encourage them to go for it?
Julie:Well, again, like I said before, you know, national fostering group now are so visual on social media, you know, um. Give us a ring, give, you know, ring National Fostering Group. Um, go online, you know, watch the podcasts, um, watch the interviews. Um, uh, any member of our team are always there to, to give advice or, you know, anything like that. So, um, I think if you've, if you feel that it's something within you that you want to make a positive change, um, fostering is just, is, you know, the best way to do it. It really is.
Helen:Julie, it's been so fantastic speaking to you. Thank you so much for your time today. And you just a, a fantastic example of when somebody makes that step, they get in touch with the National Fostering Group. They're gonna meet lovely, passionate people like yourself that are gonna help them along the way on their journey. So thank you so much, Julie.
Julie:You're welcome. Thank you.
Helen:Thank you so much for joining us for another episode of Voices of Fostering. If you'd like to find out more, head online and search National Fostering Group and make this the year you foster.