It can sometimes take but one moment in time to stir the soul. One image to encapsulate a reality that for many they had not seen and for others they did not want to see. Chances are if you are reading this, you use some form of social media. If you do, you will no…
Frustration. That was the overriding emotion I remember when I was a worker faced with a lack of ways to engage adolescents in life story work. I, like many others trying to engage adolescents in reflective dialogues akin to those of life story work, was frustrated. The year was 2005. Technologies such as MSN chat…
One evening several years ago my wife and I were watching a television programme about kids and my wife spoke about her aunt who had fostered and how she always wanted to do this. My brother was fostered then adopted so it was in my background so I said we can look into it when…
There was a strong reaction to the first episode of ‘Protecting our Foster Kids’. Our social media channels evidenced quite clearly that the programme left many of us teary, angry and in the main disappointed. The carers were described in many different ways, ranging from “hideous” to “caring” to “unsupported”. The truth of the matter…
Fostering vulnerable youngsters For over 20 years now I have had the great privilege to temporarily become part of numerous children’s and young people’s lives either as a respite foster carer, or in my work as a family support and parenting worker for Children’s Services, NSPCC, Barnardos , Survive and Wish for a Brighter Future,…
Foster Care Fortnight It’s Foster Care Fortnight 2015 and these next two weeks will see the sector talking to the rest of the country and for many, hearing something about fostering for the first time. Having worked in the sector for over 13 year I’d be forgiven for thinking that everyone must know what fostering…
I have always struggled with children being described as ‘angry’ or doing things because they ‘are angry’. How can a child or anyone be one simple emotion, unless it is to make things more straightforward and ‘tidy’ for the adults around them? Why is this such a problem for me? Because it seems so damning…
Following the latest proposal by the current government which could, as a result, find social workers at risk of being imprisoned if found guilty of willful neglect, I thought to myself ‘that’s a bit radical, what are they thinking?’ As I’ve pondered on it for the last few days I’ve come to the conclusion that…
Many of us have now seen the KFC advert or if not will do soon on a TV somewhere. In the advert a young boy is shown arriving on his first day of foster placement and sitting down with his foster carers to share KFC that evening. The story goes on to show him playing…
For children growing up in care, it can be difficult to ever feel settled, even when they leave the care system. I feel very strongly that all children deserve to feel as though they are truly cared about, and that they can be part of a loving family unit. In support of the work done…