Working as a Fostering Recruitment Officer and also part of a family who fosters in Gwynedd, Lisa knows better than anyone that her work is far more than just a job – it’s close to her heart.
Each time she speaks to a prospective foster carer, she’s not just sharing facts and figures, she’s sharing personal experiences.
What will fostering mean to them and their families? What it’s really like to welcome a foster child into your family, and the strength it takes to say goodbye when a child moves on.
In this blog, Lisa, who has a background in Social Work, shares both sides of the journey: the professional knowledge she has gained from helping others take their first steps into fostering, and the personal insights that come from welcoming foster children into her own family.
Lisa’s story, in her own words…
Working for the Maethu Cymru Gwynedd team is more than just a job to me – it’s personal and incredibly relatable to my own life as I’ve experienced firsthand what it means to be part of a family who fosters children.
My background in social work has also given me a deep understanding of why children come into care, allowing me to approach fostering with empathy and insight.
how it all began
Working with children has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember.
Studying Child Development at GCSE sparked my interest in how children grow and develop, and I guess it was the first step on a path that led to my career working with children.
I volunteered at a local youth club, which inspired me to pursue a Health and Social Care course when I was in sixth form in school, followed by a degree in Social Work at Bangor University.
After completing my degree, I began working as a Social Worker in Cyngor Gwynedd’s children’s team when I was 21 years old. I later moved to the fostering team, where I’ve been ever since and where I truly realised this is what I’m meant to do.
There’s something incredibly special about being part of a child’s success story and that passion has grown stronger through fostering.
my family fosters
My in-laws, Karen and Steve, are foster carers in Gwynedd.
They have been fostering with Cyngor Gwynedd since before I became part of the family, which is over 20 years ago now! They have fostered both long-term children and babies who stay only for a short time.
Darren (my partner) and my two sons, Elis (14) and Owen (9) are very involved and impacted by fostering – it is a shared, family experience.
Being part of a family that fosters children has given me a genuine insight into the joys, challeneges and life-changing impact of fostering.
It has allowed me to connect with prospective foster carers on a real and honest level because I truly understand what fostering involves – not just from a professional perspective, but from real life experience.
This connection helps me to support others with empathy, authenticity, and a strong belief in the difference fostering can make, not only for the children in care, but also for the foster carers and their families whose lives, like ours, has been enriched by the experience.
helping others to start their fostering journey
It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of a process that starts with someone’s passion to help others, which then grows into a life-changing journey of love and care. The impact is real, the stories are powerful, and I feel so honoured to play a role in something so meaningful.
Being part of a family that fosters children has taught us all, especially my own two boys, about compassion, resilience, and the importance of kindness and inclusion. It’s shown us the true meaning of family, not just through blood, but through love.
fostering brings us together
Fostering brings our family closer together, giving us a shared purpose and a stronger bond.
Our weekly Sunday lunch is one cherished tradition where we all gather around the table at Karen and Steve’s house. For foster children, sitting around the table is especially important as it gives them a sense of stability and belonging, helping them feel like a part of the family.
Elis and Owen have embraced the foster children with open hearts, seeing them not as strangers or visitors, but as part of the family.
From the very beginning, they treated them like their cousins. It’s so heartwarming to watch those relationships grow naturally.
part of of each other’s life story
We’ve always been honest and open with our boys about Taid and Nain’s role as foster carers.
They understand that some of the foster children may eventually move on, and the reasons behind it.
They understand that even if the children were only with us for a short time, we are still an important part of their life story.
Equally, those children have become a meaningful part of ours. We will never forget the connections we’ve made with them and will treasure the moments we shared together, forever.
“They are both incredibly proud of their Taid and Nain, which is lovely to witness. They admire them for their big, loving hearts and see the work they do as foster carers as something very special – always welcoming children with open arms.”
it’s okay to ask questions!
When I sit down with someone thinking about fostering, I don’t just speak to them as a recruitment officer – I speak to them as someone who understands.
I know the sort of questions that prospective foster carers want to ask from practical questions to the more personal and emotional questions – sometimes, the ones they’re most afraid to ask. The excitement, the nerves, and how to deal with saying goodbye when a child moves on.
Fostering is a big step and it’s totally okay to voice any concerns. As a recruitment officer – and a former Social Worker myself – I always reassure people that no question is too small, too silly, or too difficult.
And when I talk about fostering, I’m sharing real-life experiences. I think that’s what helps me connect with prospective foster carers.
thinking about fostering? reach out for an informal chat with me!
If you’re thinking about fostering but feeling unsure or overwhelmed, reaching out for a no-obligation chat is the best first step you can take.
There’s absolutely no pressure and it’s not an interview – just an open, honest conversation where you can ask as many questions as you like, share your concerns, and discuss whether fostering is right for you and your family.
Fostering offers a great deal of flexibility, allowing people from all walks of life and backgrounds to make a real difference to a local child’s life.
Whether you work full-time, part-time, or from home, fostering can fit into your life.
So don’t hesitate to get in touch – it could be the start of a life-changing experience!
“As someone who works closely with foster carers and their families here in Gwynedd every day and is part of a fostering family myself, I’m here to listen, support, and guide you through the process.”
If you live in Gwynedd, you can get in touch with Lisa here.
If you live anywhere else in Wales, visit Foster Wales for more information and to find your local authority fostering team.
