Written by Danielle, a foster parent representative from FCA South Western, this reflection shares her experience of attending FCA’s National Foster Parent Rep Forum. Bringing together staff and carers from across FCA, the forum offered valuable updates, shared insights, and powerful reflections on fostering, including the importance of support, self-care, and the lasting impact foster parents have on children and young people.
“I arrived at the National Carer Representative Forum feeling incredibly nervous after a three-hour journey from sleepy Devon. However, as the day unfolded, I found myself completely inspired by the speakers and the discussions, and I left feeling even more passionate about fostering than before.
The forum was very insightful, bringing together representatives from across the fostering community to share updates, insights, and experiences. It was a powerful reminder of just how meaningful fostering truly is and the importance of the role we play in offering children safety, stability, and unconditional love. Hearing from a care-experienced adult was particularly impactful and gave me time to reflect on the lasting significance of what foster carers do, including the importance of consistency and the small but meaningful things that stay with children and help shape their futures.
A key takeaway from the second day was the importance of self-care for foster carers, and how essential it is to “fill your own cup” so we can continue to support and nurture the children in our care effectively.
I also found it incredibly interesting to hear about approaches in other regions and to learn more about topics I had previously only heard mentioned, including secondary trauma, which gave me new insight into how it can affect foster carers and the importance of recognising it.
Overall, the forum left me feeling inspired, reflective, and even more committed to the role we play in shaping the lives of the children we care for.”
