More people encouraged to become foster carers in Gwynedd

As part of the latest campaign to recruit more foster carers, Maethu Cymru Gwynedd is highlighting the ‘support bubble’ created by social workers, which support foster families in Gwynedd every step of the way. 

With over 7,000 young people in care across Wales - 170of them here in Gwynedd - the need for more foster carers is increasingly pressing. 

There arecurrently more than 71 fostering households within the county but at least 12 additional foster carers are needed to ensure that children can stay in their local community, when it’s right for them.

Research conducted by Maethu Cymru nationally has highlighted misconceptions about the role of social workers, which may cause a barrier stopping suitable people from coming forward as potential foster families. Maethu Cymru Gwynedd is now working to debunk those myths, and highlight how foster carers are surrounded by a network of professional people who draw on their local experiences to support carers.

By fostering with a local authority, such as Maethu Cymru Gwynedd, a foster family will have access to:

1. Information andunderstanding around the social workers’ role, and how the wider fostering community can support them.
2. Confidence and assurance that social workers are caring, pro-active experts who work hard to support both young people and foster carers. 
3. Motivation to start the process to become a foster carer via a Local Authority.

Research shows that although more than three quarters of all social workers surveyed said that they had come into the profession to support and help families, fewer than a third believe that potential carers fear being judged by professionals and another third believed that social workers would be swamped with paperwork.

But a survey of current foster carers has shown that these misconceptions could not be further from the reality of foster care with Maethu Cymru. In the research, foster carers highlighted the importance of close and long-lasting working relationships to support young people to overcome challenges. They were also keen to dispel myths about social workers and the support they receive, and paid tribute to the dedication of their social workers.

These views have been brought alive by the stories of two people who have experienced the two sides of providing foster care in Gwynedd:

Nia Downey is a Senior Social Worker for Maethu Cymru Gwynedd. Her role involves helping with the day-to day-running of the fostering team and provide ongoing supervision and support to foster carers and members of the team. 

"We have foster carers from all walks of life looking after our children and young people in Gwynedd at the moment," says Nia, who has been a social worker for over 23 years.

"We need people from different backgrounds, cultures and with a diversity of life experiences to foster because we’re all about finding the right foster family for each individual child – and no two families are the same.

“When you foster with us, you will have access to dedicated local knowledge and support, a brilliant learning and development package and a close-knit fostering community, who we regularly bring together through various events and activities. Forming those friendships is another way of sharing all the knowledge, compassion and expertise we share between us.

“Fostering with your local authority means that you can help children and young people stay in their own local community, close to friends, their school and everything they hold close. This is vital for them to thrive given the amount of upheaval they’ve already been through in their lives.

“Our foster carers are a central part of this team and it is an absolute privilege to work alongside them to ensure the best possible futures for the children and young people in our care. 

“We encourage anyone who wants to make a difference to a child’s life to bring their skills and experience to the table and get in contact with us.”

Pat has been fostering with her local authority in Gwynedd since 2019. She is also a Fostering Wellbeing Pioneer, an innovative programme run by The Fostering Network which provides support to other foster carers, helping to improve wellbeing in the fostering community in Wales.

“During our five years of fostering, the support we’ve had from the team in Gwynedd has been absolutely fantastic,” says Pat. “We couldn’t have asked for a better team.”

“I am passionate about making the fostering experience within my community the best it can be, which is why I became a Fostering Wellbeing Pioneer. Happier foster carers lead to better wellbeing, which means better outcomes for the children who live with them.

“I love being a foster carer and a pioneer. I love getting everyone together for a coffee, a day out or a social activity of some sort! As a group of pioneers, we provide practical support to other foster carers whenever we can, such as helping with the school runs and babysitting. We also support each other emotionally during the more difficult times of fostering, which is just as important as the practical support.

“I am also passionate about recruiting new foster carers to join our wonderful fostering community here in Gwynedd and always happy to chat and share my personal experiences with people who are interested in becoming foster carers.”

For more information about fostering, or to make an enquiry, visit:https://maethucymru.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/