Category: Progress Fostering

On a recent weekday morning, Carla, the therapeutic development officer at the Ofsted-outstanding Progress Fostering Service, posed the question that frames every support session she runs: Who is this child beyond the label?

“Every child is completely individual, regardless of their background and needs,” she regularly tells foster carers when they gather during one of her several sessions with them, at Progress House, elsewhere or online.

That premise, that diagnoses illuminate but do not define, has guided Progress as it navigates a surge of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The number of such referrals has doubled since the pandemic, stretching Britain’s 56,000‑strong fostering network.

To meet the demand, Progress leverages the Solihull Approach, a 12‑week programme that Carla leads several times a year. When carers first hear the length, she said, “they usually think, Twelve weeks? That’s a long time.” But by the final session, the mood shifts. “It’s a celebration of how far they’ve come,” she added, noting the friendships that form around the homework tasks of quiet observation and written reflection.

The core lesson is disarmingly simple: notice your own state before responding to a child. “Breathe, just take a moment first,” Carla tells carers confronting meltdowns in soft‑play centres or frantic school‑run departures. “If you’re hyped up, the child is going to mirror that.”

Foster carers say the advice helps. “It’s like first aid for the brain,” one participant volunteered after the session, comparing the pause to the stop‑and‑assess mantra taught on emergency‑response courses.

Progress is also piloting the Berry assessment, a structured questionnaire that tracks how a child behaves at school versus at home. “It really breaks down and looks at the areas of need,” Carla said. When the answers diverge sharply, she convenes a team‑around‑the‑child meeting to recalibrate support plans.

The method has already revealed masked anxiety in two children and led to tweaks in classroom seating and playground routines. “You can’t fix everything,” Carla cautioned, “but you can reduce the curve balls.”

Teaching the art of rupture and repair

The course spends a full session on what clinicians call rupture and repair—the cycle of conflict and reconciliation common in any family, but especially acute when past trauma shadows the dinner table. Foster carers, Carla said, possess something professional training cannot supply. “They’ve got the biggest hearts, and that’s something you can’t teach.”

She tries, instead, to give them language. One exercise asks carers to juggle an unexpected demand, mimicking the sensory overload a child might feel. “That’s how your child feels,” she tells them afterward.

Progress, which marks its 25th anniversary next month, now supports numerous fostering households. It hosts children’s clubs, support groups and impromptu phone triage, “Can I just have two minutes?” is a common request, to keep placements afloat between formal appointments.

The agency’s culture, Carla said, is summed up in the phrase she repeats to nervous newcomers: “We’re a family, and you’re part of it now.” Her message for the anniversary echoes that refrain. “Keep doing what you’re doing. Everyone is amazing, especially the children,” she said.

Britain must recruit an estimated 8,000 additional foster carers to meet current demand, the Fostering Network says. Many of the hardest‑to‑place children carry complex diagnoses. Progress’ blend of clinical insight and kitchen‑table pragmatism offers one model for how agencies can prepare carers for that reality — and, in the process, remind them to breathe.

At a corner in the Progress Head Office that provides a typical living room setup, Ms. Gill rehearses the ritual that has shaped her days for a quarter‑century with her supportive husband beside her. “Soon as they come in from school, everyone sits,” she says, tapping the surface. “One and a half hours of study time. Every single day.”

The routine explains much about why former foster children still telephone the Gills years later, sometimes from university dormitories. One young man, now studying engineering at the University of Birmingham, recently rang to say her insistence on homework had paid off. “You were right, Musti,” he told her, using the Punjabi word for aunt. 

The Gills are no ordinary foster carers. They joined Progress Fostering Service in June 2000 after being made aware of the rising shortage of culturally sensitive placements in the West Midlands. Six months later she and her husband enrolled on Progress’ very first training course. “When we started, we didn’t know what fostering is,” she recalled. “But we never looked back.”

Since then the couple — known to staff and children simply as “the Gills” have provided homes to more than a dozen young people, some for a night, others for the better part of childhood. They easily described three long‑term stays that alone add up to 30 years of care: a 10‑year placement for a girl who used a wheelchair, and 12 years for two siblings.

Their first assignment, in 2001, all but defined the road ahead: a six‑year‑old boy with profound autism who could neither speak nor sleep. “We had to nail the windows shut,” Mr. Gill said, still incredulous. The ordeal, Ms. Gill added, “built our foundation really solid so we could look after any child.”

Progress now has numerous staff members and works with several fostering families across and beyond the Midlands. But the Gills’ front room remains one of its unofficial situation rooms, a place where social workers drop in unannounced and plates of vegetarian samosas materialise for anyone who looks hungry. “Everybody’s so friendly,” Mr. Gill said. “That’s why we never gave up.”

The commitment has not been cheap. Early on, the couple remortgaged their house to fund vehicle adaptations and ceiling hoists. Nights out disappeared; holidays became logistically fraught. Yet Ms. Gill insists no child in her home should expect less than her own two sons, both graduates of University of Oxford. “If we can do it for our children,” she said, “they’re not different.”

The belief in education runs deep. When a teenager arrived two years ago, flunking classes and nursing a drinking habit, Ms. Gill bought her a corkboard and desk. Within months the girl collected top grades and a place at Leicester University. Another former charge, now 26, sends Christmas cards addressed to “Mum and Dad.”

Such outcomes underscore the theme of Foster Care Fortnight 2025, which began this week and seeks to recruit additional carers nationwide. Britain’s fostering network has contracted by 1 percent each year since 2021, according to the Fostering Network, even as the number of children entering care has risen.

For the Gills, the solution is neither policy detail nor pay scale but people. “Any child can thrive when they know someone believes in them,” she said, just as the couple has been doing since 2001.

Start your fostering journey today. Inquire about fostering at Progress. Visit progresscare.co.uk/fostering or call us on 01902 561066

Foster Care Fortnight 2025 invites us to celebrate The Power of Relationships, those everyday bonds that help children in care feel safe, seen and supported. For Progress foster carer Tom, relationship‑building starts with a games controller as often as it does with a cup of tea.

Tom grew up in care himself. After a stint working in a bank he began volunteering, discovering a passion for being a consistent adult presence in young people’s lives. “I didn’t realise that I could use my own background for positivity,” he recalls. That realisation drew him into residential children’s homes and eventually to fostering with Progress.

Whether he was visiting a boy who moved through five foster placements or helping a four‑year‑old who expressed frustration by head‑butting the floor, Tom learned that expertise matters less than authenticity and consistency. “It’s just trial and error… you’re not going to get it right every time, but you’ll have people to support you,” he says. 

Tom has been a gamer since childhood and keeps up with new releases so he can talk knowledgeably and critically about them with the young people he supports. “Gaming is as much a hobby for kids these days as playing football was for us,” he explains. Knowing what’s inside a title like Grand Theft Auto helps him set sensible boundaries: “You don’t want someone playing GTA ten hours a day, but equally you don’t want them doing it behind your back.”

Playing together also dissolves the first‑meeting awkwardness. The night Tom was introduced to one teen they loaded a stick‑man brawler onto the console. Tom won the opening round—“the only game I’m going to beat you at,” the lad groaned—but the shared laughter melted nerves and opened a conversation that would later include school stress, friendships and feelings. Today their Fortnite show‑downs are legendary: the young person’s lightning‑fast building skills versus Tom’s tactical map sense.

Planned transitions, purposeful relationships

Tom’s current placement is a 16‑year‑old who moved from a children’s home to live with him. A one‑page profile highlighted that the boy supports Aston Villa, so does Tom, and that simple common ground kick‑started the transition. Over six weeks they built familiarity through day visits and sleep‑overs. “For the fact that this could be the next four years of his life, three years of his life at my house, that’s not long at all—but it was the right amount of time,” Tom reflects.

Now the pair navigate GCSEs, match days and future pathways together. Tom’s priority is ensuring he leaves with confidence, skills and the knowledge that he always has a home to return to.

Tom believes colleagues from residential care, education and health already possess the relational toolkit fostering demands. “You’re going to share in the success of a young person going from childhood to adulthood, with all the extra stuff they’ve got going on,” he says. Progress’s culture helps, too: it “doesn’t make you feel like just a number—I know my name is known.” 

Whether it’s analysing a tricky boss level together or debating which Premier League team will finish top six, Tom turns shared interests into trust, routines into resilience and hobbies into lifelong skills. His story reminds us that the power of relationships often lies in the ordinary moments—a controller passed across the sofa, the triumphant shout after a hard‑fought win, and the quiet knowledge that someone will be there tomorrow, ready to press Start again.

As we mark Foster Care Fortnight 2025, Tom’s message is clear: if you have a spare room, a passion to connect and maybe a favourite game or two, you already hold the most powerful tool a foster child could ask for—a relationship that levels them up for life.

Start your fostering journey today. Inquire about fostering at Progress. Visit progresscare.co.uk/fostering or call us on 01902 561066

Our Easter bash was a riot of colour, crafts, and contagious laughter! Foster families, young people at Progress, and team members gathered in a sun‑kissed garden for: 

• Craft Corner: Glitter flew as kiddos decorated a giant “25” with personal touches—each sparkle a memory!

• Storytime & Traditions: We dove into Easter’s tales of hope, renewal, and community, then painted our own paper keepsakes to take home. 

• Giggles Galore: From egg‑and‑spoon races to impromptu dance‑offs, joy was definitely the day’s VIP guest. 

A huge high‑five to our team members, young persons and incredible foster carers—you made magic happen! Here’s to many more springs filled with friendship and fun. 

At Progress Fostering Service, there is a growing concern that reflects a national challenge: young children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are entering residential care, not necessarily because it’s the best setting for them, but because there simply aren’t enough specialist foster carers available. 

“Some of the young people we have would be well suited to fostering placements,” says Joshua Bell, Manager at Hilton, one of Progress’ residential services. “But the situation at the moment is there’s quite a shortage of available foster placements.” 

SEND encompasses a wide spectrum. It includes learning difficulties, communication needs, and behavioural challenges. But as Josh notes, it’s not always about a diagnosed disability. “It can also be about life experience—trauma or other challenges they’ve been through. There can be special provisions needed around those experiences too.” 

The challenge is multifaceted. On one hand, residential services like Progress’ Hilton House are doing tremendous work to support children with complex needs. Staff receive regular training, adapt to each new child, and ensure the care package is as individualised as possible. Yet, despite the excellent care, residential settings cannot replace the warmth and consistency of a family home. 

“We’ve got children as young as four,” Josh explains. “And although we’re doing everything we can, we know some of them would benefit more from being in a family setting.” 

This is where the urgent need for specialist foster carers becomes evident. Progress is calling on people with empathy, energy, and patience to step forward. Contrary to common assumptions, a background in care isn’t essential. In fact, Josh himself entered care work with limited experience. “I came in fresh. I’d done a bit of domiciliary care and some university support work, but I had no idea places like this even existed.” 

Over the years, Progress has seen people from education, mental health services, and even those with just personal life experience succeed in supporting children with SEND. What matters most is the willingness to learn and the ability to adapt. 

To support a smoother transition from residential care to fostering, Progress is offering a rare opportunity: foster carers can build relationships with children before they move in. “You could do some shifts with them, get to know them, build that bond. That way, the child isn’t going into the unknown,” explains Progress’ Kirsty Somers. 

This approach isn’t just innovative—it’s compassionate. It recognises that children with SEND often struggle with change and need time to adjust. Transitioning gradually into a foster home reduces anxiety and sets the stage for a more stable placement. 

Still, it’s important to acknowledge that residential services play a crucial role. As Kirsty points out, “Fostering isn’t always the right place for a child. Sometimes a child needs support that can only be offered in a residential setting, and that’s okay.” 

But when fostering is the right path, the goal is clear: find carers who can provide not just shelter, but a sense of belonging. 

“No two days are the same,” says Josh, reflecting on his journey. “It can be tiring, but it’s always rewarding. You get out what you put in.” 

Progress is hoping more people will be inspired to put in their energy, compassion, and time. Because somewhere in a residential service, there’s a child with SEND who’s ready to come home—if only there was one waiting. 

Interested in becoming a specialist foster carer with Progress? Learn more at progresscare.co.uk/fostering  

Fostering isn’t merely about providing a roof over a child’s head. It’s about creating a nurturing, loving environment where a child can grow, heal, and thrive. For Sally Tinkler, fostering is a journey of love, patience, and resilience—one that has profoundly shaped her life and that of her family. 

Sally and her husband are foster carers with Progress, accessing round-the-clock support and community-driven approach. They currently care for a young lady who is nearly 16 years old and has complex health needs. “She’s totally dependent on us for every aspect of her life,” Sally said. Yet, the relationship is far from one-sided. “She brings a lot to us as well as what we give to her,” she explained. The experience has been deeply fulfilling, teaching them about compassion and adaptability in ways they never expected. 

When asked why she chose Progress, Sally’s answer was simple: support. “One of the main reasons is the amount of support—24 hours a day, every day of the year. There’s always someone to seek advice and support from,” she said. The sense of community within Progress has been invaluable, helping to alleviate the isolation that sometimes accompanies fostering. Regular support meetings with other carers provide a space for sharing experiences and learning from one another. 

Fostering is not without its challenges, and Sally is candid about the skills required. “Patience, the willingness to learn, and the ability to adapt your life,” she listed. She emphasised the importance of understanding that children in the care system come with complex histories. “You’ve got to be very open-minded to learning different therapeutic techniques for dealing with them. It’s not the same as having your own children,” she said. 

Sally’s journey began long before she welcomed the young lady into her home. For five years, she and her husband offered respite care, gaining experience and building confidence. But nothing could fully prepare them for the realities of long-term fostering. Their young lady has significant health challenges—she is non-verbal and relies on a feeding tube. “The training is very child-specific,” Sally noted. “Some of it you just learn as you go along.” A longer handover period from the previous care setting allowed Sally and her husband to adjust and learn. “One of the social workers said, ‘You’ll find your own way,’ and we did,” she recalled. 

The journey of fostering has also required adapting their home. When their young lady first arrived, she was small enough for Sally and her husband to carry her up and down the stairs. But as she grew, so did her needs. They transformed a reception room into a bedroom, installed ramps, and made other modifications. “My husband lost his man cave,” Sally laughed. Yet, she was determined to keep the space warm and welcoming. “We’ve managed to adapt our house to still be very much our home. I didn’t want it to end up like a medical ward,” she said. 

Financial support has been crucial in ensuring that they can meet the young lady’s needs. Progress worked with the local authority to establish a tailored financial package, supplemented by top-level disability living allowance. The allowance also covers a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. “She has her own van on the drive, which she lets us drive. She can’t reach the pedals,” Sally joked. 

But fostering isn’t just about logistics and adaptations—it’s about emotional growth and connection. Sally recalled a particularly challenging episode when their young lady fell ill. Unable to verbalise her pain, she cried continuously for days. “She was awake for four days and four nights. It was very challenging,” Sally remembered. The experience was a turning point. “We realised how much we cared because we were very worried,” she said, her voice softening. “That was the positive from it all.” 

Through the highs and lows, Sally’s journey as a foster carer with Progress has been one of learning, love, and transformation. Her story is a testament to the resilience and courage required to care for vulnerable children. It’s also a reminder that fostering is about more than giving—it’s about growing together, facing challenges, and finding joy in the smallest victories. 

For those considering fostering, Sally’s story offers a glimpse into the profound impact it can have—not just on the child but on the entire family. With Progress’s unwavering support and a community of carers to lean on, the journey, though challenging, is infinitely rewarding. 

If you’re inspired by Sally’s story and want to learn more about fostering with Progress, reach out by visiting progresscare.co.uk/fostering. Every child deserves a loving, supportive home. And as Sally’s journey shows, sometimes the love you give is only the beginning of what you receive.