MEET THE TEAM - SPOTLIGHT

This month we’re introducing Cathy, our incredible Registered Manager ...

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘?

“A little over a year ago, I heard about a social enterprise in Salford that was looking to establish a new IFA aimed at tackling one of the primary practical barriers preventing people from becoming foster carers. We've all known for some time that there's a growing crisis in fostering, but there didn't seem to be many, if any, people doing anything truly different.

HOME was a blank sheet of paper: an opportunity to create a model that kept children, particularly brothers and sisters, at its heart, while enabling and supporting would-be carers who had the passion, skills and experience to provide stability and loving care, but not the space to do so. As a result, they often fell at the first hurdle. It was so obvious, yet also utter genius. It made no sense in terms of where I was in my career at that point, but it lodged itself in my brain. I couldn't stop thinking about it and the difference it could make.

And now, here we are with a truly innovative model that has morphed, adapted and grown based on the lived experiences of foster carers, young people, adults with care experience, and the applicants who are working with us. We're planning our first house move and approval panel, we have applicants in assessment, and we're visiting new 'would-be' carers in their current homes.

Fostering is hugely important because it provides children and young people with a safe, stable and nurturing environment at a point in their lives when it matters most. For me, being able to keep siblings together in foster care is especially important. Too many brothers and sisters are separated, not because that's what they need, but because the system doesn't have the capacity to enable them to grow up together.

I have a younger sister, and she is possibly the most significant relationship in my life. No one has known me longer or knows me better. I hold her story and she holds mine. We can share a look or say a single word and dissolve into giggles. Your sibling is likely to be the most enduring relationship in your life, and that is precious.”

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲?

"I think it's meeting the most incredible people. It's a real privilege to be leading a service that is making a difference to people's lives, and the reflections our applicants have shared with us remind me every day how lucky we are to be part of HOME. No two days are the same. I'm never quite sure what I'm going to get, other than knowing that at some point there's always a smile and usually a laugh!"

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

"It may sound cheesy, but it's true: getting our registration decision from Ofsted back in April. It was a challenging process for us, as it often is when you want to do something that's new and not 'the norm'. Allan and I have been part of every policy, process, discussion and meeting while building HOME. Although there were times when I wasn't sure we were going to get there, the passion, commitment and focus on our goal of supporting more people into fostering, to enable better outcomes for children, kept us going. And although we had to flex and adapt, we got there.

I'm very aware, though, that this may soon be surpassed by the moment our first applicants get the keys to their new property!"

𝗙𝘂𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁

"Water is my happy place – in it, on it, under it! My dream is to live by the sea one day!"

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