I can honestly say that I love my job.  Every day is a smile day, working with the young people and especially the babies make me smile so much and there are always plenty of laugh out loud moments as you watch the children’s antics.  This is something that I am going to miss so much.  Throughout my career I am lucky to have been able to see some of the babies I used to work with grow up to be lovely young adults and I feel such a sense of satisfaction knowing that I was part of their lives for such a long time and definitely a resilience factor for them when they were going through such a tough period in their lives.  I still get young people asking to come and see me at the centre which is really nice and two twins I worked with in Penrith, stop at the roadside and wave to me as I drive past which is lovely.

Back in the day when I worked at Penrith we seemed to have more of a budget and were able to take young people out more.  I was even asked to take some children out to give the fosters carers respite to prevent placements from breaking down, which was a big responsibility when I had them on my own.  We often went to Wetheriggs Pottery to look at the animals and we particularly loved the pigs- there were always lots of piglets of various ages and they were so funny.  More often than not, they had escaped and would run up and down the path squealing and we had to jump out of the way to avoid them. 

I particularly remember one occasion when I was taking two young boys out who were aged 5 and seven.  They both really loved cars but said they had never been to a car wash before.  So, Pamela decided she would take them.  So, after briefing them that although there would be lots of water and soapy bubbles and reassured them that this would all be outside the car and we would not get wet etc.  We got a token and made sure all the windows were wound up tightly.  I kept reassuring them that it was ok and checked out that they were ok told them not to open the window or doors etc.  Both sat in the back excited eyes wide as saucers.  The water started and the brush came over the car then the boys suddenly shouted its raining in the car!  I said no it’s ok it’s outside but the boys repeated it’s raining in the car.  When I looked over my shoulder sure enough it was raining in the car my door seal had not worked and they boys got a little bit wet.  Both were ok but it still makes me smile now when I think of it?  You can plan all you want to but you just never know when you are working with children what will happen next. 

I have done all kinds of things in my role as a family worker which I am sure was not in my job description such as lay carpets, build wardrobes, paint and fill the planter at BFC and weed the outside at Penrith etc.  I know when I worked at Penrith that I went over and above to help families to stay safe and to keep them together.  I remember travelling to Newcastle in really heavy thick laying snow to ensure two foster children had family time with their family.  I also travelled in extreme snow to reach a family that was very isolated and at high risk of coming into care just to check they were ok and I can honestly say I very nearly had to spend the night with them the weather was so bad.  If anybody knows me really well though I am a positive person with a can do attitude and have in the past regularly rolled up my sleeves to clean and de-clutter some families homes. 

I am really proud though of the fact that I was part of a team who worked really hard and managed to turn some families around and thereby enabling them to keep their children with them and prevent them from becoming long term foster children. 

As everyone knows I especially love working with the babies and really hope in the not too distant future I will be a grandma myself.  In the meantime I will have to make do with sharing my nieces little girl.