Ive been a foster carer for more years than I care to remember, and before that I worked with disadvantaged youth.
I am a specialist carer and my speciality is remand fostering.
Fostering is my whole life; i work with young males who have been all way through the care system, usually upwards of 20 placements, in and out of numerous residential s. Young men who are not in education, who are in trouble with the police, have criminal convictions, who need somewhere to go on leaving prison and who have substance misuse and anger issues.
Most people would likely freak out at opening their home to these young people but in all honesty these are the young people that need the most love and support. They entered the care system through no fault of their own and had the worst start to their young lives. I like to try to help these young people, the young people that most people, including society have given up on, and let me tell you there is no more of a rewarding role than that.
Humour is the key to creating relationships, also being open and honest and having a fridge full of food. I fully respect those young men that walk through my front door and they respect me in return. My job is to help them respect and learn to love themselves again.
Safe Base fully supports me in my day to day role and i can call them night or day to offload, which believe me, sometimes you need to do. When I look back on my fostering journey (as I am planning on retiring soon) i feel proud and humbled to have been part of so many young people lives, knowing ive helped them on their way by supporting them through a chapter in their lives where an adult truly cared for them.
If your thinking about fostering there really is no better agency out there than safe base. Pick up the phone and give them a call. It really will be one of the most rewarding things you’ve ever done.
