The Not So Secret Foster Carer

The Not So Secret Foster Carer Therapeutic foster carer and fostering ambassador. Raising awareness of the true professional role of the modern therapeutic foster carer.

Two previous award recipients at the Pamodzi Creatives Inspirational Women of Portsmouth awards, and two foster carers f...
01/09/2026

Two previous award recipients at the Pamodzi Creatives Inspirational Women of Portsmouth awards, and two foster carers from Foster Portsmouth had a great day at Parliament

Thank you so much, Stephen Morgan MP, for inviting us for the amazing Democratic Access tour of our UK Parliament last September

Wow!! It was all so beautiful. The House of Commons and the House of Lords were so fascinating and we learned so much.πŸ‘ŒπŸ˜Š Cream tea was pretty good, too πŸ˜πŸ«–β˜•οΈ

Thank you for sharing the day with me, Maggie Bebbington

We made it there and back in one piece, too 😁
(Maybe just one little hiccup with a London bus πŸ€ͺ 🚌)

We have some stunning architecture in the UK β€οΈπŸ€πŸ’™

As a foster carer it's important to harness the power of nature and the power of relationships as we spend time on self ...
28/08/2026

As a foster carer it's important to harness the power of nature and the power of relationships as we spend time on self care.

Dogs are vital for me. They provide therapeutic relationships for both me and the children I care for.

And yesterday, the amazing Jon Mainwaring captured the essence of those relationships as the girls and I relaxed at Sams Sunflowers in Hayling Island πŸ˜ŠπŸ’πŸŒ»πŸΎπŸ’œ

If only they could speak, what stories Dory and Hope would share.

For all the mummies, daddies & carers who's children struggle with the long holidays (or any holidays), I salute you!! πŸ™‹...
22/08/2026

For all the mummies, daddies & carers who's children struggle with the long holidays (or any holidays), I salute you!! πŸ™‹β€β™€οΈ

It's not easy if your child has additional needs or has a trauma back ground. These children thrive on routine & consistency. The breaks from the structure of the school week/day can often throw their world into panic with challenging behaviour often being the end result.

Especially for my foster & adoption parent friends and colleagues, hang in there, you're doing amazing. 2/3 of the holidays have now passed! I hope you're still smiling! You are all fantastic.πŸ˜€β€οΈ

Also, a huge thank you to the wonderful short breaks/sleepover carers who provide such excellent support.

With Foster Portsmouth, Portsmouth City, Southampton City Council Fostering Service, Fostering in West Sussex, TheraParent Fostering, Fair Ways Fostering, Stronger Futures Portsmouth, Brighter Futures for Children, Medway Council Fostering, Fostering Service - Hampshire County Council, Fostering North East and Fostering South East

Pictured is the schedule we use to help our children who struggle to understand time/days/weeks, etc. Our picture calendars with colour codes and stickers for activities are a great help. πŸ‘πŸ˜Š

19/08/2026

This is just beautiful πŸ‘ŒπŸ«ΆπŸŽΌπŸŽ΅πŸŽΆπŸ’šπŸ’œ

By clearly an amazingly caring foster carer at TheraParent Fostering, a lovely family foster care team πŸ«ΆπŸ’šπŸ’œ

ADHD, Autism, and Extreme Trauma ExperienceWhen we're together there's often no need for words. She finds others hard to...
16/08/2026

ADHD, Autism, and Extreme Trauma Experience

When we're together there's often no need for words. She finds others hard to be around. We gel so well. One evening we walked on the beach, wrote poems in the air, and rewrote songs with silly words. All by the sea 🌊 πŸ’™

SHE IS HEALING

Not all therapy comes from counsellors or doctors. (They have their place, but this is what suits her and me). She is super creative. This is my poem to her. Soon I'll share the one she wrote for me. βœοΈπŸ’œ She is my granddaughter 🫢

Golden blonde her crowning glory
She's the one to share her story
Creativity her strongest forte
I love her passion, her glow, her glory

Eyes of her birth stone, Aqua Marine
She sparkles and shines, an amazing queen
She doubts herself in too many ways
With passion and anger, frequent displays

I'll cheer her on for all my days
I love each gift, her quirky ways
When what she needs is time and presence
I'll always be there, offering in abundance

There's a sad side to her journey
A darkness she doesn't deserve
We'll help her overcome her challenge
With love, compassion and unending nerve

She erupts at times with a fiery passion
That's fast, and hard for her to fashion
We'll teach her each and every day
A healthy way, her emotions to display

She's the brightest spirit I've ever met
The bravest, boldest, kindest, yet
She doesn't believe she's got it in her
But I've no doubt she'll be a winner

I love this girl with all my heart
She's funny, clever, really smart
I hope she knows how much I care
I'll hold her close, forever there

With Foster Portsmouth πŸ’™πŸ§‘Thank you, The News, Portsmouth, for this article and for the campaign, 'Fostering a Better Fut...
12/08/2026

With Foster Portsmouth πŸ’™πŸ§‘

Thank you, The News, Portsmouth, for this article and for the campaign, 'Fostering a Better Future'πŸ‘ŒπŸ’™

Link to story in comments

As part of our new campaign to encourage more people to think about fostering, we speak to Jo Austin - who has given a loving Portsmouth home to 25 young people πŸ’•

Today is INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAYAnd how lovely, with my passion for getting things right for our young people of today t...
12/08/2026

Today is INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY

And how lovely, with my passion for getting things right for our young people of today that I/we are front page of the The News, Portsmouth with Foster Portsmouth, the Portsmouth City Council fostering team and their 'Fostering a Better Future' campaign, not once, but two days running. πŸ‘πŸ‘ŒπŸ˜Š

I am very lucky to be able to combine my passion for supporting children and young people by remaining as a Short Breaks and Supported Lodgings carer while also working with the amazing team at the URBOND Youth Development Programme as Youth & Family Support Worker.

Children, teenagers, and young adults often get a bit of a bad press. If only you could see what I see; the potential, the goodness, the inspiration, the care, and the creativity in our amazing young people.

So, here's a shout out to all the amazing people who work with children; our teachers, nurses, carers, parents, etc etc.

And a great big shout out to the wonderful children we care for and the children at URBOND and URBOND Child Education in Guinea

With Foster Portsmouth Our 'Small but mighty' team will continue to work as a collaborative community to share the exper...
11/08/2026

With Foster Portsmouth

Our 'Small but mighty' team will continue to work as a collaborative community to share the experience of foster carers and help to change the narrative around foster care

We want to encourage people to come and talk to us

We'd love to share our stories with you πŸ’™πŸ§‘

The News launches campaign to support foster carer recruitment in the wake of a concerning decline

Parenting can be challenging these days, let's not forget to tell our young adults all the goodness we see in them. πŸ«ΆπŸ’šFo...
10/08/2026

Parenting can be challenging these days, let's not forget to tell our young adults all the goodness we see in them. πŸ«ΆπŸ’š

For number 3 πŸ’š

I can't explain why I felt so compelled
But being mum was what I loved to be
Two beautiful babies I already held
But Mother Nature called, then I had three

This tiny girl so perfect and fine
Made me a mum for the final time
I wasn't to know what life would bring
But I knew being mum was my most precious thing

The days flew fast with my busy tribe
But this cute baby had a beautiful vibe
She made people laugh with her mischievous ways
Leaving trails of destruction in her chaotic ways

A baby who brought us much pleasure and love
I held her tight, this child from above
She taught us to treasure each moment that passed
Though I didn't know that she'd be my last

She mastered the stairs before her time
She was agile and fast this child of mine
No play pen could contain this spirited girl
Her days were spent in a magical whirl

School was a challenge, a bit of a fight
As social media issues came to light
Bully's online made it hard and unfair
She couldn't cope, didn't want to be there

Dark clouds cast a shadow as family passed
Death brings such sorrow, hard and fast
We weathered the storm, standing side by side
As the winds of change blew in with the tide

College taught her all things new
Hair and beauty she learnt, childcare too
She achieved such wonderful things
Though fear and anxiety became a thing

We adventured in Spain, just her and me
Escaped for a while to live by the sea
To take stock of our lives and look anew
At what life could bring, to regroup, too

We shared so much, became best of friends
A time we wished would never end
But life and family were a greater pull
We returned to England, refreshed, with hearts full

She's a mummy now, she also has three
We're far too similar, she and me
I wouldn't change her, she's perfectly formed
My life was enriched, the day she was born

There was sadness at times as a mummy she toiled
It's easy to see how life can be spoiled
When people arrive who are toxic and cruel
The world becomes hostile, energies fueled

But this chapter went as fast as it came
My beautiful girl became calmer again
She's crafted a life where she's top of her game
She's a supermum, a champion, she's worthy of fame

Her babies all came with additional needs
But she's consistently present to comfort and please
They test her endurance each passing day
While she researches and learns best parenting ways

The love that she shares is fierce and strong
She's compassionate and caring, she'll do you no wrong
Though she doesn't always see that she's kind
And underestimates her powerful mind

I love everything about my girl
To love her more is impossible
You can't help but be drawn to see what I see
In this queen of hearts, in my mini me

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Portsmouth
PO1

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