“Make a real difference this Foster Care Fortnight” says Gloucestershire Foster Carer
11.05.10
Tewkesbury foster carer Jack Lowe is issuing an appeal to people across Gloucestershire and the West Country region to consider a career in foster care this Foster Care Fortnight*.
Jack has been fostering with leading independent fostering agency Pathway Care since February last year and since then has provided full time care to a 14 year-old boy and is getting ready to foster 13 year-old Zac** through an innovative new scheme.
Jack, who turns 60 in July, together with his wife, Amanda are working under Pathway Care’s Safe Steps programme designed for young people between the ages of eight years and 16 years who have challenging behaviours and complex needs. These youngsters are at a greater risk of being placed in expensive long term residential care, or in many cases are already in residential care.
As Safe Steps is an intensive programme which facilitates and manages their transition to a stable family-based environment, Zac has been visiting the Lowes on his own terms for the past six weeks. This helps him become fully aware and comfortable with the new environment he is about to enter. It also helps the young person and the foster carers get to know each other before they live together.
When Zac first visited the Lowes’ he was suffering with low self esteem and had been living in residential care for five years. Jack, who has previous experience of working with children when he managed a dairy farm for The Co-operative Group, and Amanda, a clinical nurse specialist, worked closely with Zac and planned activities that would help them develop a bond.
Jack said: “Zac loves football so we’ve used that as way of getting to know each other. He’s a Manchester United fan and I support Stoke City, so there’s obvious room for banter there. We are going on a caravan holiday to Weston-Super-Mare in the summer.
“Because Safe Steps tries to manage the transition for those with disruptive or more troubling behaviour, we’ve involved Zac in decorating his bedroom. Not only has this helped form a good relationship between us but it’s helped give Zac some responsibility and the feeling that he does actually have a place of his own”.
With over 600 vulnerable children and young people in the region needing foster care support, Jack and Amanda are hoping their positive experience of Safe Steps will encourage current foster carers and those considering a role in foster care to think about working under the programme.
Foster care is a challenging role and the Safe Steps programme can be intense but it is not without its rewards. Jack has seen a sharp improvement in Zac’s behaviour since he has been visiting him and Amanda and they’ve also seen him flourish socially as he’s starting to make good friends with some of the young lads in their neighbourhood.
Jack added: “Zac had low self-confidence when he came to us and it’s been heart-warming seeing him make the effort with other children.
“He’s stayed with us so much recently that none of us can wait for the next couple of weeks to pass so he can move in full time. He introduces us to people as his foster carers and just keeps saying how excited he is.”
Jack believes that without Safe Steps, the whole process would have been more difficult for both the Lowes and Zac.
He said: “Safe Steps is a new way of forming an attachment with a child. They’re not walking blindly into a new environment which can be a traumatic experience for someone who has been in residential care or has had many placements. It helps takes the stress out of the process for everyone involved and the child doesn’t feel pressurised.”
Jack and Amanda each have adult sons of their own, Jack’s son is now 36 and a staff sergeant in the Army and his 20 year-old stepson is currently studying music, sound and technology at University. Jack credits them both as fantastic role models for Zac.
Jack said: “I really wouldn’t say you need to have children of your own to be a good foster carer, it takes patience and a real desire to want a make difference to the life of a child that really needs help.”
According to Pathway Care, fostering is challenging and not suited to everyone but for the right kind of person it can be hugely rewarding. The main reason for becoming a foster carer says the agency should always be a passion to help vulnerable children and young people to build a better future.
Martin Leitch, Pathway Care’s south west regional director, said: “Foster Care Fortnight is a vital reminder that children and young people in care are missing out on family life and the support and care that so many of us take for granted.
“So many of our youngsters are in care through no fault of their own. They’re pigeon-holed as troublesome or problematic, but so often they’ve had a very difficult start to life, they’re usually very scared and lacking in self-belief and this is where our Safe Steps programme is of real value.
“People are increasingly realising the benefits a career in foster care can offer such as flexible working and a competitive income. Foster carers come from all backgrounds and cultures and include couples with or without children, single and divorced people, and lone parents. We’re welcoming people across Devon and the south west who are existing foster carers or those who are considering becoming foster carers and think they have what to it takes to provide a loving and supportive home to those who really need one.”
A career in foster care offers many benefits including competitive rates of pay and flexible working. For more information about fostering please contact Pathway Care on tel: 0871 226 3760; or visit the website at www.pathwaycare.com
