A young person’s perspective on foster care
What do children and young people in care want from their foster carers?
Members of our Teen care council (TCC) recently set out to answer that question by creating a leaflet for prospective foster carers, sharing the qualities and support that matter most to them. The Teen care council (TCC) is made up of young people with care experience who work together to make positive changes for other children and young people in care.
As part of the project, TCC members took part in a creative workshop where they built models of their ideal foster carer and discussed what helps children and young people feel safe, supported and valued. The ideas from these sessions were then used to create a leaflet that will be shared with prospective foster carers.
What young people want foster carers to know
The young people shared a clear message about what makes a positive fostering experience. They said they want foster carers who take time to talk to them and make sure they are okay, remember birthdays and special occasions, and provide the essentials they need, such as food, clothing and a safe home.
They also highlighted the importance of helping them maintain positive friendships, supporting them to get to school, and caring for their emotional wellbeing as well as their physical needs. Patience, understanding, compromise, clear boundaries and staying calm were all identified as qualities that help young people feel supported and secure.
Creating a home
The leaflet also emphasises how important it is for young people to have a space that feels like their own. TCC members said they value having a clean and comfortable bedroom, the freedom to personalise their room and decorate it to reflect their personality. They also highlighted the importance of having access to things that interest them, such as books, games or technology.
These ideas tell us that fostering is about more than meeting practical needs. It is about helping children and young people feel settled, comfortable and part of the family.
Fostering through young people’s eyes
By creating this resource, TCC members have given prospective foster carers a valuable insight into fostering through the eyes of young people themselves. Their honest reflections show that while safety and stability are essential, it is often the everyday acts of care, kindness and understanding that make the biggest difference to a young person’s life.
Thank you to our Teen Care Council
We would like to thank TCC members for the time, thought and creativity they put into this project. Their voices help shape and improve our services and remind us why it is so important to keep children and young people at the heart of everything we do.
