Every child needs safety and stability to grow and flourish but, sadly, some children cannot rely on their family network to provide that kind of home and so need the support of a foster carer.
Shalene Lemmie has been a social worker for 21 years, currently in the London borough of Tower Hamlets’ fostering recruitment and assessment team. Across her career, she’s worked with foster carers from all backgrounds – single and married, parents and those without children, LGBTQ+ and heterosexual, as well as religious and non-religious. Some are busy working professionals, while others work part-time. Others may have experienced foster care themselves, which helps them empathise with their foster children in a different way.
