When people ask me what I do, I explain that I am a foster carer recruitment officer and then come the questions. like, “Is it a hard job? What do foster carers actually do? Why is it difficult to recruit foster carers? Are there lots of children in care then?”

The answer to the first question is… YES, it is very tough role and I could go on for ages about why and all of the factors that need to be considered for the role of a foster carer and the many children that need care right now all over the country. The Fostering Network statistics state that ‘Nearly 70,000 children live with almost 55,000 foster families across the UK each day. This is nearly three-quarters of the over 98,000 children in care away from home on any one day in the UK’.  It’s a huge conversation.

Its after these conversations that I realise that I still have a great passion for my job to try to find these people that we need so so badly.

After meeting and speaking with many foster carers over the years, learning about the ins and outs of the role from an emotional/mental and professional perspective and getting to know them as people, one thing I can say is Wow!

The ‘job’ that they do is so unique, so extraordinary and so very commendable!

Imagine being a parent (which we all know is a 24/7 role), giving a child emotional/mental/physical support, a comfortable warm home with routine and structure, encouraging them to be their own person, the best person they can be, giving to them and getting them through life experiences and ultimately prepping them for their own path into adulthood. As we all know, it’s a tough old world out there.

On top of this, as a foster carer you are a professional. You are their advocate, you are Chrysalis Care’s eyes and ears, so we can all support children and young people in any which way they need, whether that be mentally/emotionally/physically/medically/educationally and ultimately be there for a child no matter what.

Sadly, many of the children we care for have already suffered some kind of trauma, so we need you to manage behaviours, some of which may have not yet have been identified. We need you to keep records, safeguard yourself, attend training sessions, work with many teams of professionals to ensure the child is helped and protected, so they can thrive.  Above all, we need you to look after yourself, be resilient, communicate with the Chrysalis Care team and your own supervising social worker, so we know that you’re ok too!

Phew, it’s a lot.  Such a lot, that this began as one blog but has had to be separated into Part 1 and Part 2!  To read part 2, click here and if you’ve read enough and are ready to explore fostering with Chrysalis Care, visit www.chrysaliscarefostering.org or email info@chrysaliscare.org

https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/advice-information/all-about-fostering/fostering-statistics