At Lighthouse Fostering, we believe that exceptional foster care starts with exceptional foster carer support. While our primary mission is to provide safe and nurturing homes for children, we know that this is only possible when our foster carers feel valued, heard, and comprehensively supported. Recently, during an annual review, one of our amazing carers shared some feedback that perfectly captures the essence of what we strive to achieve every day.
Their words mean the world to us:
“We feel fully supported by the whole team. Despite being very busy, our Supervising Social Worker always checks in to make sure we are ok. She has persistently chased up the Local Authority Social Worker for outstanding matters as well as making sure our requests are heard and dealt with.”
This powerful testimonial goes right to the heart of our philosophy. It highlights the proactive, persistent, and personal nature of the foster carer support that we consider non-negotiable. It’s a reminder that fostering is a team effort, and our role is to be the most reliable team members our carers could ask for.
The Foundation of Great Fostering: Unwavering Support
Fostering is one of the most rewarding roles anyone can undertake, but it is not without its challenges. Foster carers navigate complex emotional landscapes, manage demanding behaviours, and work with a network of professionals, all while providing day-to-day care. To do this effectively, they need a rock-solid support system.
This is where Lighthouse Fostering comes in. We see our relationship with our carers as a partnership. Our job is to empower you with the tools, resources, and emotional backing you need to provide the best possible care for the children in your home. The feedback from our carer underscores three key pillars of our support model.
1. Proactive and Personal Check-ins
The comment, “our Supervising Social Worker always checks in to make sure we are ok,” is crucial. We don’t wait for our carers to be in crisis before we offer support. Regular, meaningful contact is built into our practice. We understand that fostering can sometimes feel isolating, and a simple, genuine "how are you?" can make all the difference.
These check-ins are about more than just ticking a box. They are an opportunity for our social workers to listen, offer guidance, celebrate small victories, and troubleshoot minor issues before they become major problems. It’s about building a trusting relationship where carers feel comfortable sharing both their triumphs and their struggles without fear of judgement. This proactive approach ensures that our carers feel seen and valued, not just as professionals, but as people.
2. Persistent Advocacy for Carers and Children
The statement, “She has persistently chased up the Local Authority Social Worker for outstanding matters,” highlights a vital part of our role. Foster carers are often the central point of contact in a child’s life, but they shouldn't have to carry the administrative and logistical burden alone. Our Supervising Social Workers act as determined advocates for our foster families.
Navigating the wider care system can be complex. There are often multiple agencies and professionals involved in a child’s life, and communication can sometimes break down. Our team takes on the responsibility of chasing up responses, clarifying information, and ensuring that the needs of both the child and the foster family are being met. This persistence removes a significant layer of stress from our carers, allowing them to focus their energy where it’s needed most: on the child.
3. Ensuring Carers' Voices Are Heard
Finally, the feedback that our social worker made sure their “requests are heard and dealt with” is fundamental to our ethos. We believe that foster carers are the experts on the children in their daily care. Their insights, observations, and requests are invaluable. We are committed to ensuring that their voice is not just heard, but is influential in the decision-making process.
When a foster carer raises a concern or makes a request, we treat it with the urgency and respect it deserves. We work to ensure that these requests are communicated effectively to the relevant authorities and that they are acted upon. This validates the carer’s professional judgement and reinforces their essential role within the professional team around the child. Fostering with heart means empowering our carers to be confident and effective advocates for the children they look after.
Building a True Fostering Community
Excellent one-on-one support from a Supervising Social Worker is the bedrock of our approach, but it is just one part of the wider fostering community we cultivate at Lighthouse Fostering. We believe that peer support is just as important.
We facilitate this through a variety of channels, including:
- Regular Support Groups: These provide a safe space for carers to share experiences, exchange practical tips, and offer mutual encouragement.
- Community Events: From summer fetes to our annual MacMillan Coffee Morning, we create opportunities for our foster families to connect in a relaxed and informal setting, building friendships that last a lifetime.
- Dedicated Training: Our training sessions are not just about learning; they are about learning together. Carers from different backgrounds come together to develop their skills, sharing insights from their own unique journeys.
This sense of a connected fostering community ensures that no carer ever feels like they are on their own. There is always someone to turn to who understands the unique joys and challenges of the fostering role.
Why This Matters for Children
Ultimately, our unwavering commitment to foster carer support is for the benefit of the children. A supported carer is an effective carer. When carers feel secure, valued, and listened to, they are better equipped to provide the therapeutic, patient, and resilient parenting that children who have experienced trauma need to heal and thrive.
- Stability: Carers who feel supported are less likely to experience burnout, which leads to greater placement stability for children. This consistency is one of the most important factors in helping a child build secure attachments and recover from past trauma.
- Therapeutic Parenting: When carers are not burdened by administrative stress, they have more emotional capacity to engage in the demanding work of therapeutic parenting—responding with empathy and understanding to challenging behaviours.
- Better Outcomes: A strong support network around a foster family directly correlates with better outcomes for the child, including improved educational attainment, better emotional wellbeing, and stronger social skills.
The feedback we receive from our carers is more than just a compliment; it’s a key performance indicator. It tells us that our approach is working and that we are succeeding in our mission to create an environment where both foster carers and children can flourish. Fostering is a journey, and at Lighthouse Fostering, we are proud to walk that path alongside our incredible carers, every single step of the way.
If you are considering fostering and want to join an agency that places your wellbeing at the centre of its practice, we invite you to learn more about the Lighthouse family. Experience the difference that true support can make.