At Lighthouse Fostering, we know that our greatest asset is our people. The strength of our support, the quality of our training, and the warmth of our community are all built by the dedicated individuals who make up our team. That’s why we love our ‘Meet the Team’ series, which gives you a chance to get to know the passionate professionals who work tirelessly to support our foster families.
Today, we are thrilled to introduce you to Tamara Watkins, one of our exceptional Independent Social Workers. Tamara brings a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for child-centred care to her role, making her an invaluable part of the Lighthouse family.
A Wealth of Experience in Children's Social Care
Tamara qualified as a social worker in 2013 and has since dedicated her career to working with children and families. Her journey has seen her take on a variety of crucial roles across the social care landscape, giving her a deep, multi-faceted understanding of the fostering world. This extensive experience is something our foster carers benefit from every single day.
Tamara's diverse professional background includes roles such as:
- Supervising Social Worker: In a previous role at another independent fostering agency, Tamara provided direct support and supervision to foster carers, helping them navigate the challenges and celebrate the rewards of their role. This frontline experience gives her a real-world understanding of what foster carers need to thrive.
- Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO): As an IRO, Tamara was responsible for chairing reviews for children in care, ensuring that their care plans were meeting their needs and that their voices were being heard. This role sharpened her focus on promoting children's rights and ensuring high standards of care.
- Panel Member: Serving on a fostering panel involves making significant decisions about the approval of new foster carers. Tamara’s experience as a panel member means she has a thorough understanding of the assessment process and what makes a strong, resilient foster carer.
- QA Officer and Form F Assessor: Quality Assurance (QA) is vital for maintaining high standards in fostering. As a QA Officer, Tamara helped ensure that processes and paperwork were robust and effective. Her skill as a Form F Assessor means she has been responsible for carrying out the in-depth assessments that explore the suitability of prospective foster parents, a cornerstone of creating safe homes for children.
This rich and varied career has equipped Tamara with a 360-degree view of the fostering system, making her an incredibly knowledgeable and effective Independent Social Worker.
A Passion for Supporting Foster Families
When you speak to Tamara, her passion for her work is immediately clear. She is driven by a profound respect for foster carers and a dedication to the children they look after. For Tamara, the most rewarding part of her job is hearing about the incredible difference foster parents make in the lives of children.
She understands that fostering is more than just providing a roof over a child’s head; it’s about creating a safe, caring home where a child can finally feel they belong. Her focus is always on supporting the foster family to build this environment, helping them to develop the therapeutic skills and resilience needed to help children heal from past trauma and grow in confidence. Tamara believes that well-supported carers are the key to positive outcomes for children, a philosophy that aligns perfectly with our ethos at Lighthouse Fostering.
Why Lighthouse Fostering?
We were keen to hear what drew Tamara to work with us. Her answer perfectly captures the unique spirit we cultivate within our agency.
Tamara shared:
“I especially enjoy working with Lighthouse Fostering because it has such a genuine family feel. Every foster family is known by the team, and the support offered is personal, consistent, and truly child-centred. I’m proud to be part of such an excellent agency that places children and families at the heart of everything it does.”
Her words highlight the core values that define Lighthouse Fostering. We are not a large, impersonal organisation. We are a close-knit community where every single person matters. Our social workers have manageable caseloads, which allows them to build strong, trusting relationships with the families they support. The 'family feel' Tamara mentions is something we cherish, and it comes from knowing our carers personally and offering support that is tailored to their specific needs.
Tamara’s pride in being part of an agency that is truly child-centred resonates deeply with our mission. For us, ‘child-centred care’ is not just a buzzword; it is the principle that guides every decision we make. It means putting the wellbeing, rights, and voice of the child at the forefront of our practice, always.
The Role of an Independent Social Worker
As an Independent Social Worker, Tamara undertakes a variety of vital tasks for Lighthouse Fostering, including completing Form F assessments for prospective foster carers. This is one of the most important jobs in the entire fostering process. It is an in-depth, collaborative exploration of an applicant's life, experiences, and suitability to foster.
Tamara’s warm, professional approach makes applicants feel at ease during what can be an intensive process. Her experience allows her to ask the right questions, provide insightful guidance, and produce high-quality reports that help our panel make well-informed decisions. Her work ensures that we continue to recruit resilient, compassionate, and skilled foster carers who can provide the very best homes for vulnerable children.
We feel incredibly proud and lucky to have someone with Tamara Watkins’ experience, integrity, and passion as part of our team. Her dedication to foster family support and her unwavering commitment to child-centred care make her a perfect fit for the Lighthouse Fostering family. The work she does is fundamental to our success in creating safe, loving homes where children can not only grow but truly thrive.