Meet Our Admin Team

The Admin Team is the backbone of Calon Cymru and works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly.

They are based in our Cardiff office but support all of our foster carers and staff across South East and West Wales. The team handle a wide range of tasks on a daily basis, from managing phone calls and guiding prospective foster carers through their assessments, to providing ongoing support to our wonderful team of foster carers. Additionally, they are a vital resource for all staff members.

We recently sat down with them to learn more about each of their roles and responsibilities. Currently, there are five members in the Admin Team, but they are seeking a sixth person to join them. Could that be you?

Meet Michelle

Can you tell us a bit about what you do at Calon Cymru?

I am the office manager/senior administrator and look after the admin team. We deal mostly with the carers, everything from taking telephone calls from someone interested in becoming a foster carer, all the way through the fostering journey including working with the assessor to process checks, organising panels, carer training, annual reviews. We also cover all the general admin duties, including catering, post and event organising.

What part of your job do you like best?

I love the people I work with, and I love that I know the work we do goes some way towards helping the children and young people in our care. I also really enjoy the extra tasks that I get involved in like event planning for Decade club, coffee mornings, and other events.

Meet Elena

What is your role at Calon Cymru?

I work closely with Gareth Powell, who is our Learning And Development Manager to coordinate carer and staff training. I work in the Cardiff office taking general calls and queries and supporting my fellow admin team to ensure we have the best support system in place for Carers and Social Work staff to use as and when required.

What made you want to work in foster care?

To have the opportunity to support the carers and the social workers who do the most important job! A small cog in a big wheel that makes such a difference to children’s lives.

Meet Debbie

What is your role within the admin team?

We host a panel every month, and I am the administrator for that. I ensure everything is prepared ahead of each panel, from inviting applicants and already approved foster carers, to ensuring the panel members receive all required documentation with plenty of time to read through it. My role on panel day is to take the minutes and support the panel in any way I can, as well as be a friendly face for the foster carers and applicants who are attending.

Why did you want to work for Calon Cymru Fostering?

It sounded a really good organisation to be a part of, supporting social workers doing such a worthwhile job, supporting foster carers and the children in their care. When I joined, I found it to be an interesting job and a great place to work. It is well run, with very supportive managers and colleagues. I left for a while and was then asked to come back, which I did, and I haven’t regretted it!

Meet Madhu

What do you do at Calon Cymru?

I’m the assessments administrator. From the moment an application from a prospective foster carer arrives with me, I’m on hand to help with anything and everything, right up until the day of panel. I work very closely with the Assessing Social Worker, the QA Manager, and the applicants, as well as any other professionals who may be involved. A lot of people say I am the glue in the assessment process!

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

I consider it a privilege to be part of the assessment process for each foster carer. It’s such a personal journey, and I find it so rewarding to be a part of it. I truly admire every person who goes through the assessment process to become a foster carer.

Meet Kath

As one of the Calon Cymru administrators, what do you do on a daily basis?

My lead responsibility is to raise, and process updated, and any new DBS and local authority checks for foster carers, and their household members, as well as any people who offer support to the foster carers. I also liaise with Social Workers, notifying them of check status, and resolving any queries and requests for risk assessment when necessary.  I also instigate, prepare, and request updated medicals for carers. Monitoring of all checks is carried out on a daily basis, as well as the updating of records and our main database to ensure compliance.

How long have you been with Calon Cymru Fostering? What did you do before?

I have been with Calon Cymru Fostering since July 2022.  I was previously Administrator for Regional Foster Families, a smaller fostering agency.  I was a bit apprehensive at first, as I was the only Administrator in RFF, but I was welcomed and supported by a fabulous Admin Team and settled into the role and the Calon ‘family’ in no time. 

Our fantastic team of administrators make a real difference in the lives of children looked after in South and West Wales. They are there to support all foster carers and members of staff, and truly epitomise the phrase ‘not all heroes wear capes’! If you are interested in joining the team, you can find out more information here.