Angel's Story

 

Angel has been fostering for 6 years and has helped with a number of transitions for both individual children and sibling groups. We spoke to her about helping children in care to move on to adoption.

Many foster children continue to have contact with their birth family. As long as it is in the best interest of the child, the aim is to build that relationship back to being a permanent one. Wherever reunion with their birth family is not possible, children in care can then move on to a stable long-term placement. This often means adoption. Foster carers are heavily involved in this process, from initial meetings to preparing a child for moving to a new family.

“[it’s] always nice to leave space in the album for the family to add photos as they make more memories together in the life they’re going to share.”

During a placement, Angel works with the children in her care to create a record of their journey through memory boxes and photo albums. Angel explains that it’s “always nice to leave space in the album for the family to add photos as they make more memories together in the life they’re going to share.” As the transition gets closer Angel  makes the child feel sure she is positive about the move because, she explains, “Children need to receive clear signals that the current carers give permission for the future significant adults to take on their care.” Using the knowledge of the child that she has built up during their time together, Angel explains everything to them in a way they understand to prepare them for moving on.

“I had to make it feel it was going to be better than what he’d had in the past... it settled him completely.”

As the primary caregiver, foster carers are in a great position to work with the ‘family finder’. A family finder is a social worker whose job it is to find a suitable adoptive placement, and often foster carers can help give information on the child’s personality and needs. Angel relates how with one child, “I had to make it feel it was going to be better than what he’d had in the past... it settled him completely.”

Positivity is really important for Angel and she makes sure she is always “thinking ahead to try and iron out any stumbling blocks with positive, constructive ideas” . She adds that a key part of the role of a foster carer is being “an advocate for the child”.

Angel’s work really has changed lives. She happily tells us of a great success story where two ‘adventurous little boys’ she had cared for were able to find a permanent home with a couple whose home had lots of outdoor space. Angel told us, “They’d really sort of found their feet after a few months. They’d settled because they’d found the right placement - the right future for those boys. And they live a good quality life which of course is what you want for everybody.”

“A lot of them do keep in touch and it’s lovely to see them thriving. That’s the joy!”

Angel emphasises that the transition to any new care arrangement should be gradual, so as to “allow those new bonds to develop, become stronger and the relationships begin to change”. She explains how a child is encouraged to feel comfortable with the arrangement “by the foster carer including the significant adults in the activities and taking a back seat to allow the significant adults to lead on the activities.”

A successful transition to a new home can mark the end of a foster carer’s relationship with the child in care, but often there are many chances for the foster carer and the child’s new family to continue to meet up. Angel reflects happily that, “a lot of them do keep in touch and it’s lovely to see them thriving. That’s the joy!”

Foster Carers like Angel transform children’s lives in Rotherham every day. There are many different types of foster care to meet the needs of children in care. You might feel that you would be great at short term placements, where you can help to prepare a child to find a loving, stable home before adoption. Alternatively, you could be the person to give a child long-term stability - some fostering arrangements last until the child is 18. Either way, you’re offering a safe and loving environment where a young person can flourish.

Ready to find out more?

Book a call back with one of our fostering advisers for a friendly chat.