A Career in Fostering

Hi all,

What a lovely summer we have had so far. Hope you are all enjoying the weather.

We have been having an awesome summer, joining in with some activities hosted by our local authority for children with additional learning needs. We also had a fantastic day out at a local adventure park and zoo which was hosted by Calon Cymru. There were close to 60 foster carers there with their foster placements. Calon have held other days out including bowling and a BBQ.

My little one is now ready to chill for the rest of the summer holiday, so it has given me time to reflect on my career in fostering.

We started our fostering career with a different agency. We went through the application process, went to panel and welcomed our first placement; then it all became very disappointing for us as a family. We weren’t supported or valued and the matching process was non-existent. We decided to ask a friend who is a social worker who was the best agency to foster with; we had tried the local authority and it took nearly six months for them to respond to our initial phone call. Our friend suggested Pathway, who are now Calon Cymru Fostering. We handed in our resignation and began our journey with Calon.

We are now supported, 24/7, valued and matched perfectly to the young people that come to share our home. I have had the pleasure of attending some local shows to talk to people about fostering and hope I come across as genuine when I say that it is the best job I have ever had. My colleagues and I met so many nice people, who, hopefully will make the decision to join our, small but perfectly formed, team. The experts within our admin and management team make it all look so effortless, managing and supporting so many carers from such diverse backgrounds, everyone treated with equality, empathy and compassion . . . . children, young people and the carers too.

If you have a spare room, a big heart and at least one person available at home to support the child or young person placed with you, at all times then reach for the phone, make that call. Take the winter months to go through the process and be ready in the spring to welcome someone to share your home and make some amazing memories.

Take care for now

Daisy Doo and Julian too xx