I am the Family and Education Support Worker at Safe Base Fostering.  What does that mean?  

 I offer the carers support with the young people that reside with them and support the young person in placement.  The support is varied e.g. transporting the young person to an appointment, taking the young person out allowing the carer to attend an appointment, providing respite for the carer particularly if the young person is not in education. In regards to supporting the young person I undertake direct work should this be identified, this could be either working with the young person around their wishes and feelings, self-esteem, identity a whole variety of different things. 

In relation to Education I attend Education Meetings for the young person in a supporting role to their carer and assist if appropriate the carer in accessing relevant resources/services identified to ensure that the young person is supported to work to the best of their ability. 

 I think of myself as being a very thoughtful and kind individual and I am at my happiest when I am engaging with the Young People.  I thoroughly enjoy getting to know each individual young person that is within our Agency and I do this by visiting them every 3 months to undertake a well-beingvisit.  My initial well-being visit involves me handing over a Memory Box for each young person to use during their time in placement. Memories are important and I aim to get the children to have fun memories of their time with Safe Base Fostering.   

 During the school holidays I organise activities for the young people.  These activities are a great opportunity to engage with them and join in the fun.  I like to think I am as agile as some of these young people but my body tells me different.  But if I can I will have a go (within reason).   

 I started working for Safe Base Fostering when it opened in 2016.  Safe Base Fostering are my work family.  We support each other as families do and our family has grown from 5 to 10 in the 6 years we have been up and running.  I do believe I have the best job and the best team around me.  I am proud to be in the Safe Base Fostering family. 

 Prior to working with Safe Base Fostering I worked for Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Children’s Services.  19 years I worked here.  I was a Family Support Worker in the Children in Care Team.  I met some amazing young people who I felt humbled to work with.  I am passionate about young people’s voices being heard and I know I made a difference in some of these young people’s lives.  One of the young people I worked with now has an important role working in Safe Base Fostering. 

My home life looks like this:- 

 I live in a small village with my husband and my rescue dog.  I fostered him first (yes I tried my hand at fostering) then decided I wanted to give him a permanent home so adopted him.  We enjoy long walks together on a weekend and he is a very loved member of our family.  I have a son and daughter who I am very proud of and I have a grandson and granddaughter. 

 I enjoy a couple of holidays a year relaxing on a sunbed and not moving until the sun goes down.  I love visiting new places.  It would be the ideal world for me if Safe Base Fostering opened an office in a hotter climate and I could transfer there as I am not leaving this fab job and “family” till I am at least 77 lol. 

 Hope you enjoyed reading about Tracy Carmichael the Family and Education Support Worker.