Voices of Fostering

Tim - My Role as a Support Worker

• National Fostering Group • Season 3 • Episode 29

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In this episode of Voices of Fostering, we are joined by Tim, a dedicated support worker from the National Fostering Group. Tim shares insights about his role, the challenges faced by foster children, the importance of building trust, and the immense support network available to foster carers. 

Tim also addresses common misconceptions about fostering and highlights the rewarding aspects of his job. Tune in to learn about the significant impact support workers have on the lives of foster children and the fostering community.

If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.

If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email podcast@nfa.co.uk

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Helen:

Hello, and thank you so much for joining us for this episode of Voices of Fostering. I'm delighted today to be joined by one of our lovely staff members from the National Fostering Group, uh, one of our support workers, who's Tim? Hello, Tim. Hello. Hi. Thanks so much for joining us today. Um, so Tim, tell us a bit about your, your role within NFG and um, and what a support worker does.

Tim:

Okay. Um, we work directly with the young people in foster care. I. Um, we get referrals through, from, uh, social workers or, or from our, um, supporting social workers, uh, to do direct work with young people if necessary. So if any issues have arisen regarding behavior or you know, their sort of place within Foster and how comfortable they are, how happy they are, um, we go in and. Speak to these young people form relationships, um, you know, prove to them other adults can be trusted. Um, we work a lot with the, with specific package, um, within Fosun as well. The Invictus package is something that we do a lot of, which is guaranteed support work. Um, and it, a lot of it's about building relationships with young people and making them comfortable within fostering generally.

Helen:

Yeah. And can you give us an example, Tim, of, of, you know, a challenge that might arise in a child or young person's life, who's, who's, you know, in a fostering home, um, what, you know, what sort of challenges can arise and, and how you assist with them.

Tim:

Sure. Um. Uh, there's a myriad other things, I guess. Um, it primarily when young people come into care, um, obviously there's a big adjustment to their lives, become comfortable in a new family, in a new home. Um, so we don't do a lot of co conversations, a lot of exploring ideas and feelings, um, that sort of thing. Very, it can be very general and as well as very specific. It de depends on the needs of the, of the young person really.

Helen:

And if anybody you know, is listening today or watching and they're thinking about becoming a foster carer, but they're worried about, you know, these things that do arise, these challenges that do arise, how would you reassure them really, that there is a massive network of people around you. Isn't that, it's not like you just get approved and then, and then you're left to it by yourself. There's, there's so much support. You are literally called a support worker. So there's, there's a lot of support there, isn't there?

Tim:

There is indeed. Um, obviously there, there's direct support workers like myself. Um, there's a massive team of professionals involved in, in fostering, particularly in this agency, a lot of, uh, very experienced, uh, professionals working with children and working with families in, in all different aspects. So yeah, you, you're never alone in this sort of thing. And I would say this for the group, it's, it's excellent app. Getting people to network and there's obviously contact with other, um, foster carers. There's a buddy system, that sort of thing. So it's, uh, you know, you're, you're part of a network where you can share best practice and talk each other and, um, share ideas and see what fits and see what doesn't fit, see what's worked in the past and what might work for a young person. Um, there's also support groups. Many support groups for different parts of the agency, um, different parts of the region rather. Um, I myself run a, a men's support group, men Who Foster, um, which is the, the northwest region. So there's, yeah, there's, there's countless people to talk to and to. Unload if you need to and to, like I say, get best ideas, best practice, that sort of thing. A lot of professionals in there. Yeah.

Helen:

And I think it's really important for people to access that community, isn't it? Because once, once you do become a foster carer, there's lots of other people who are doing it as well and you can all support each other.

Tim:

Yeah. Yeah. Precisely that. The, the support groups are, are usually well attended for that reason alone. Just to come and talk about your experiences, we, the reason we set up the men who Foster group particularly is, um. We found that there, there, there was nothing available for just men who foster. Obviously the, the male experience is, is quite different too, that we, we are often not the primary carers, things like that. So to come and speak to people who are in a similar position as yourself, uh, with more or less experience, um, is, is really valuable we find. Yeah.

Helen:

Mm-hmm. Um, what would you say, Tim, as some of the common misconceptions about fostering, what do you think are some of the things that people worry about or people assume that that may not be true?

Tim:

Um, I think further to what you've said there of like, if, if there's a lack of support, there isn't, there's, yeah, there's a lot of people to talk to. There's a lot of people very invested in, in making young people's lives more comfortable and within the foster, uh, fostering industry. Um, something I've experienced sort of on a personal level is. Just trying to talk to people about the job. I do. And there's a certain ignorance of, um, you know, don't you just work with naughty children, which is obviously widely accurate. And that's, that's not the sort of thing we're involved with. You know, that we, we deal with very complicated children, very complex children, and generally being displaced from their normality to a new normality, really. Um. So it is, it is went through those sort of things and prejudices regarding the type of of children you're gonna work with and the families, you know, being difficult and different things like that. And, and obviously these are all individual things. Um, but yeah, if anyone wants to talk about fostering, I'm, I'm quite happy to tell 'em that they're wrong if they have those.

Helen:

And do you find that you are quite passionate about fostering in your everyday life, Tim? Like, you know, in your, yeah. In your personal life as well. Are you a big advocate for fostering?

Tim:

Yeah, absolutely. I, I, I mean, I absolutely love my job. I'll, I made no, no bones about it. I've, I've, I've worked with for the agency for just over 10 years now. Yeah. I'll continue doing so until my legs give out. Um, I worked in, in other agencies with, with children contact centers. Um, I. Youth clubs, schools, that sort of thing. Um, and I feel I'm in the right place best suited for my skills and best suited to do the best we can for young people. And I think fostering is an excellent option. And

Helen:

yeah,

Tim:

it's, it's a, it's a great, uh, a great thing to do if you can.

Helen:

Yeah, it's, it sounds to me like you've got one of those jobs that is more than just a job. It's like you really sort of doing it with your heart. It's not just something that, you know, pays the bills sort of thing.

Tim:

Oh, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's, uh, yeah, it's, it's, it's not a normal nine to five. It isn't when we're dealing with some of the best young people out there, and to be able to, to feel you've done something worthwhile at the end of the day is, is really valuable to me. Um, I. Yeah. Like I said, I mean, I work with the best kids. They're, they're fantastic. I'll, yeah, everyone I've, I'm, I'm working without the middle past and present. I still have relationships with the young people who've, who've left care system a few years back. You know, I've, I, we work with these young people and looking at the rise every week, so, you know, you, you do develop. Those sorts of attachments, which, uh, yeah.

Helen:

Positive. And you, you say that, you know, a lot of the work that you do is very, very valuable and it feels really worthwhile for you, what would you say is the most rewarding part of your job, Tim?

Tim:

I suppose it depends on what, what, what needs addressing at the time. Um, I, I often sort of, when I first meet a young person, I'll, I'll on an initial visit of saying, you know, I'm, I'm gonna be your support worker, will. We tend to have a, a little bit of a, a sort of spiel of, um, you know, I'm not a carer, so I'm not gonna discipline you in that way. We're going to explore ideas and talk about alternatives for behavior, that sort of thing. I'm not a social worker, so you know, I'm not gonna, we're not gonna lipsticks in the middle of the night and move on. Um, so we, we sort of develop a, in that different space and it's sort of, it's a, a little bit easier to sort of build trust and relationships and that, that sort of thing. So. Um, so I feel like I just rambled there. Sorry. It's

Helen:

all right. Ramble away, Tim. No, you're not rambling at all. Do you think there's, there's any moments that stand out for you, like maybe where your support has really made a difference to a particular, uh, foster carer or, or foster child? Can you, can you think of any instances?

Tim:

I suppose that there's, there's a sort of few like. He feel sort of low key, really, of like, there's, I'm just thinking of a young person. He's, he's no longer with us, but I, I, um, he, he went back to his, to his birth family. Um, it was all planned and, you know, it took a long time to happen and all these things, they did the, the right amount of work for his parents to, to take him back. Um, but I had a message off him, uh, just before Christmas and it, it was just that sort of glowing thing of like, I was so, I'm so pleased that, you know, we. We, we did the things we did in the timescale we did, and you were very valuable to me and like, I'm sorry for doing this and yeah, blah, blah, blah. Just those sort of small, the things that are hard to measure, there's no real metric for it. It's just I've seen a young person developing the life he's working now, which is fantastic. And there was, yeah. There was a lot of conversation over the years of him, you know, really failing in life and he's, he's like, he's turned it around and I think the support work was instrumental in that. Obviously his foster care is, are fantastic as well, and everyone else involved in his journey, but I, I sort of felt that on a personal level.

Helen:

Yeah, absolutely.

Tim:

It's young man up for, for the future and he's, he's absolutely thriving, which. That's it, that's its reward, you know? Yeah.

Helen:

And there's probably even more of them that you don't, you're not even aware of, you know, maybe they haven't sent you a message or got in touch and you've touched so many people's lives that that's incredible.

Tim:

Yeah. A lot of young people, uh, a lot of young people now, right? Yeah. It's 10 years. 10 years. They, so, yeah. Yeah. I've got young people I work with now who, who, it depends on the young person and the personality of, you know, I get a, a, a card every. Sort of Christmas and birthday off, uh, one of my young people, um, who's, um, who's autistic, and it, it's just, again, it's, it's sort of embarrassing, but it's sort of like a glow and review of how much you, you respect my time and how much, how much you love spending time with me. And his carers often reflect that as well of j just being with that young person is, is valuable to him and his life. And that, I mean, it's just lovely to hear, isn't it? Yeah. But yeah, it's, it's sometimes hard to see the reward because we live in the moment and. Just a young person going on and going on a further education is, is a big deal. Just finding that out or, yeah. You know, if they give me a ring and say, oh, I've got a job, or, or whatever. I know the young person, I've just, yeah. Again, at Christmas he's like, I'm working now. It's. Magic. Yeah, it's lovely to hear those.

Helen:

So we have a lot of people who listen to the podcast, Tim, who are obviously doing their research, thinking about maybe, uh, becoming a foster carer, maybe applying or finding out more. You work with. Um, foster children and young people and foster carers. You have firsthand experience of it. You obviously love it, you know, what advice would you give to those people who are thinking about it?

Tim:

I suppose you've gotta ask, can you offer a caring, loving home to a young person who might present challenges and, you know, do, do you have the requisite patients and understanding to, to work with the young person who's gone through a very difficult time. Um. Again, like I said before, we very much encourage people if you've got that mindset and they do want to, to do something positive for young people or try and positively affect a young person's life, I think. I think Foster's fantastic. Yeah. Really do.

Helen:

And they need to rest assured that there's so much support for them. And they'll meet people like you, uh, yeah. Who'll help them

Tim:

bring, bring the agency and they, they'll, they'll tell you everyone involved and. It is, it's very well covered in, in that respect. You know, there's always someone to talk to. There's a, there's that, you know, the on call and there's always someone 24 hours a day. If you don't, you know, if you're not got time to speak to your buddy or your own network of people, or if I'm in bed, you know, there's always someone available. You do

Helen:

have to sleep at some point. Oh yeah,

Tim:

there's, there's tons of professionals here.

Helen:

Tim, it's been fantastic speaking to you and hearing about your role, uh, within the National Fostering Group. Uh, what an incredible impact you're making on children and young people. So thank you so much for your time today.

Tim:

No problem. Thanks very much.

Helen:

Thank you so much for joining us for another episode of Voices of Fostering. If you'd like to find out more, head online and search National Fostering Group and make this the year you foster.