Amanda Tinnion, a former team manager from Dipton, is urging others to consider a career in fostering, as the pandemic has resulted in many people across the UK looking for a career change where they can make a positive contribution.
With over 35% of people feeling unsatisfied in their current jobs [1], and 20% of people planning to switch to a career that helps others [2], a foster mum is calling on people across Durham and the North East to consider a rewarding career in fostering as the number of children and young people needing a safe place to live continues to rise.
A team manager at Virgin Media, Amanda, 42, become a full-time foster carer when she was made redundant.
Parents to two of their own children, seven-year-old Ella and nine-year-old Charlie, fostering had been something Amanda and her partner, James, 39, an ex-press shop worker for Nissan, had been considering since their son was born, but they never felt like it was the right time.
As their children grew older and Amanda continued to work nine to five, she also had a side job with a health and wellness business, Forever Living, and would regularly attend job fairs in Newcastle. It was there where she met a social worker and foster carer who works and fosters with the Fostering Company North East – an independent fostering organisation and part of the Five Rivers social enterprise family, which is based in North Tyneside and has foster carers across County Durham – and started talking about fostering opportunities in the area.
In a further twist of fate, a week after, Amanda was made redundant when Virgin Media closed its Gateshead office. For the first time, Amanda finally felt like it was the right time to foster.
Discussing her motivations to change careers, Amanda said: “James and I always talked about fostering ever since Charlie was born. My mum’s best friend fostered her niece when I was younger, so I had been exposed to fostering from a very young age and always knew it was something I wanted to do later in life. But once we had our daughter and James and I were so busy raising two young children and very happy in our careers, fostering didn’t feel right at the time.
“Fast forward years later and I was made redundant from my job. I had no idea what I was going to do and felt completely lost. Sure enough, fate has a funny way of working things out and I was introduced to the Fostering Company a week later, and the rest is history. It was meant to be.”
After being approved as foster carers in 2018, the couple have been fostering for over three years and are currently caring for three young siblings, Connor*, Emily* and Rebecca* on a short-term basis.
Speaking about the children in their care, Amanda said: “When we started the fostering process, we noted down in our application that we could foster anyone including groups of brothers and sisters as there are so many cases where siblings are often separated from one another and live in different homes.
“Since we started fostering, we’ve only looked after groups of siblings, a total of eight children, and although it’s been challenging at times, keeping them together is so important for us. It’s also important to show our own children that when the going gets tough, you will always have your brother or sister to lean back on when you need them most.”
Offering advice to anyone considering a career change to fostering, Amanda said: “I think there’s this idea that you need to have a child-minding background or something similar to become a foster carer and it’s just not true. You go through pretty rigorous training to become a foster carer from learning about safeguarding to understanding trauma, but you’ll find some of the things you did in your old job, like having routines and supporting people from a range of different backgrounds, will come in handy when you start fostering.
“Having said that, fostering isn’t for everyone. You need to provide a loving and safe home, but most importantly you need to be there for the late-night cuddles and always be there to listen.
“Love, and someone to listen to them, is the only thing these youngsters want, they don’t ask for anything else. So, if you can give that, you can really make a difference to a child’s life.”
The number of children needing foster care in the UK has risen by 36% in the last year [3]. With more children and young people in need of a loving and safe home, fostering can provide the job stability and flexibility, which people are valuing more. It’s a vocation which can be done from home and is suitable for singletons, couples, and families alike.
Commenting on Amanda’s journey as a foster carer, Camilla Hunter, registered manager for Durham at the Fostering Company North East, said: “Amanda has done an amazing job at taking the skills she already had from raising her own children and from her last job and used them to help and support groups of siblings in need – something we desperately need more people to do.
“Although fostering is 24/7 and very different to a traditional nine to five job, Amanda is an excellent example of someone who is so dedicated to those in her care and truly wants to make a positive impact on their lives.
“The pandemic has changed how people want to live their lives and has reminded us that life is too short to not do something you love. And with more people inspired by the pandemic, there is a renewed sense of life to help others and to be in a job that feels rewarding.
“We offer 24/7 support from qualified and experienced staff and a wide range of specialist training.
“There is no need for previous experience, but we are keen to hear from people who are nurturing, compassionate and enjoy supporting others, as well as anyone who has questions about fostering and the variety of roles available.”
People from across England, from all backgrounds and communities can be considered to become foster carers but they must be over 25 years of age. This includes single people, co-habiting couples, LGBTQ+ couples and people living in rented accommodation. You will need a spare room for each foster child.
You can find out more about fostering with The Fostering Company North East by attending a virtual event. To see all upcoming dates and book a place, visit: www.thefosteringcompanyltd.co.uk
The next virtual events will take place over Zoom on Tuesday, March 22 at 7pm, Friday, March 25 at 7pm, and Wednesday, April 6 at 11am.
For more information on foster care, visit: thefosteringcompanyneltd.co.uk
Call the enquiries team on 01912 836 774
Email info@thefosteringcompanyltd.co.uk.
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