Jackie's story
Jackie believes it's never too late to make a career
change. She had 17 years of experience in social work before she
became a foster carer - but it wasn't a rash decision.
She and her husband thought about fostering for a long time
before they decided to take the plunge. They chose Action for
Children because they had heard how good a service it is and how
much it supports the carers.
Personal development
Jackie has immersed herself in training, reading books and
articles about fostering and is continually learning about
different caring techniques and the strategies that are a key part
of her role. She says Action for Children encourage this and is
great at providing training opportunities for their carers.
When Jackie and her husband first became carers, it was a change
to their previous lifestyle. As the full-time carer, Jackie was no
longer going out to her work every morning - that routine had
changed. She now works at home caring for a young person, so this
was her new 'workplace'. She says that there are
also adjustments they have had to make in their home and
lifestyle to ensure a safe environment for the young people they
look after.
In someone else's shoes
"I always put myself in the place of the young person," Jackie
says. She thinks about how they must feel when they first come into
a new home, so she aims to put them at ease and make them feel
welcome.
Jackie believes that carers are learning all the time. "It's a
continual learning curve - not only do you learn about the
best techniques and approaches for caring for your particular young
person, you learn a lot about yourself and your coping
mechanisms."
Support and guidance
The support given by Action for Children is amazing, above and
beyond what she feels other fostering agencies offer their carers.
Fantastic 24/7 support is available, and she says, "it's great that
there is always someone there to speak to for help and
guidance." She feels that every member of the Community Alternative
Placement Scheme (CAPS) team is happy to help and she feels
fully supported and encouraged.
Now they have been with Action for Children's CAPS project for
three years. In that time, the young person she cares for has come
on "in leaps and bounds", and has progressed extremely well in
their care.
Jackie enjoys her new profession. "It is a challenging job and a
hugely rewarding job, as you are working with young people who have
gone through difficulties in their life." She is devoted to helping
young people reach their full potential. And she "totally
recommends" a career in fostering!
Contact us
Do something life changing.
Foster.
For a free information pack or more information on fostering
our simple, online contact form., call 0845 200
5162 or read our fostering report.