To understand what this looks like in practice, one of our Senior Family Support Workers shared a reflective account of their time in the team:
My time working within Dumfries and Galloway Kinship Care Team has been a truly rewarding experience.
It is important to recognise that kinship carers can face a unique set of challenges. This includes balancing work commitments, caring responsibilities and their own families. It is rewarding to know that I can offer guidance and support to help carers navigate this.
As a team we have strengthened bonds with kinship carers right across Dumfries and Galloway ensuring that they feel heard and not as alone on their journey.
One of the biggest rewards for me is facilitating the kinship support groups. Our kinship support groups give carers the opportunity to have their views heard and taken forward as the service continues to develop. I personally feel lifted and inspired after every support group that I attend, and carers have shared with me that they feel the same way.
This reflection captures what so many staff describe: that being present with kinship carers through listening, supporting and creating space for shared experience can be as impactful as any formal intervention. Support groups, phone calls and everyday conversations become vital threads that strengthen the wider support network around each child.
My passion is to work alongside kinship families to make a positive difference to their lives and to form strong connections. This gives me a real sense of fulfilment and purpose. I recognise that kinship carers play a crucial role in the lives of the children and young people that they care for.
I feel truly humbled by the sacrifices made by kinship carers and motivated by seeing the children feeling safe and cared for by someone within their family network, who they already know and love them.
My role is not just a job, it is a true connection with some of the most remarkable and selfless people I have met. It is a privilege to be able to develop connections and form relationships with kinship carers right across Dumfries and Galloway.
This is only the beginning for our team, and I look forward to seeing how the service develops, ensuring that kinship carers are at the heart of everything we do.
These words reflect the dedication that underpins kinship practice across the region. It is work defined by partnership, trust and humanity, supporting carers not only through challenges but in celebrating the strength they bring to children’s lives.