“It’s a lot more than just looking after kids.”

Fiona • Supervisor, Residential Child Care

Before joining Care Visions, Fiona had done a bit of everything. Bakeries, chip shops, cleaning jobs and almost twenty years in a supermarket, working her way up to senior manager. When redundancy hit just before Covid, she knew she needed something different. Something meaningful. Something that mattered.

Three and a half years later, she’s a supervisor in residential child care, and she’s learned a lot about the job people think she does, versus the job she actually does.

We sat down with Fiona to bust a few myths.

If someone said your job is “just looking after kids,” how would you explain what it really involves?

“It’s a lot more than just looking after kids. These young people have had a poor start to life, and my job is to help them through it and set them up for the future. It’s not just school runs and making tea. It’s being there for them emotionally, being someone they can trust, helping them build life skills, helping them have fun and teaching them how to laugh again. We’re helping them move forward from trauma and giving them the best possible start we can. That’s what the job really is.”

When people hear “residential child care,” what do they usually get wrong about what you actually do?

“A lot of people think residential child care is dark, cold or institutional, and a place where ‘bad kids’ go, but that’s not what it is at all. These young people haven’t always had the care, stability or support they deserved at the beginning, and many have been through trauma. What we actually do is create a home. We cook together, help with homework, watch movies, have supper and do all the normal family things. It’s about building trust, being consistent and helping them move forward.”

What does a typical day look like, and what might surprise people about it?

“Every day is different. Every day brings its own challenges. A typical day can go from school runs, to college drop-offs, to clubs, to taking them out to the movies, all the normal things any family would do. But you’re also the person they come to when they need to talk, when they’re upset or when they just need someone to listen. A day can start completely normal and suddenly become a bit hectic. That’s what surprises people the most. It’s real family life, with all the ups, downs and everything in-between.”

What’s the most rewarding part of your job that people wouldn’t expect?

“The most rewarding part so far was taking a young person on holiday for the first time and seeing them actually acting like a child. Probably for the first time. Enjoying life, playing games and laughing. That has to be up there as one of the most rewarding moments.”

What’s something the public doesn’t see that makes a big difference for the young people you care for?

“The public don’t see the real young people that live with us. They might see teenagers hanging around the streets or getting up to mischief, but when you’re one-to-one with these kids, spending time with them and building up trust, you see the real child beneath all the bravado.”

Can you share a small moment that really stuck with you?

“One moment I’ll never forget was with a young person who didn’t speak much or engage with anyone. We both liked football, so I got us tickets for a match in Glasgow. On the drive they started talking and at the stadium they were smiling, taking selfies and laughing. It was a real breakthrough, and that sticks in my memory.”

How important are relationships and trust in your work with young people?

“As a residential child care worker, trust is very important. We never tell lies. We’re always honest with them. We never have secrets. We’re open and honest with each other. It takes time to build that relationship, but once you have it, that’s when you can really start helping the children move forward from the trauma of their past and help them rebuild relationships with their family so they can enjoy proper quality time together.”

There is a stereotype that young people in residential care are ‘bad kids.’ What would you say to this?

“People think I look after bad children, but that’s not true at all. They’re children who’ve come through really difficult early experiences, and that’s shaped how they cope with the world. My job is to help them, to be that consistent person in their life, to give them opportunities, teach them life skills and remind them how to have fun and laugh again.”

Some people think residential homes are cold or institutional. How would you describe the atmosphere where you work?

“Not even close! Our house is colourful, cosy and full of life. We’ve got lovely furnishings, bright walls, paintings, toys, gaming bits, even a cinema room. The young people choose the colours and soft furnishings for their own rooms, so it really feels like their space. It’s a warm, homely place with laughter, routine and real family moments.”

What kind of skills and training do you need for this role?

“You don’t need childcare qualifications to start. Care Visions will train you. What matters at the beginning is your life experience, patience and being able to stay calm when things get tough. Over time you complete your SSSC registration, the SVQ and the HNC, but the real learning comes from being with the young people every day.”

How do you and your team support each other through the challenges of the job?

“As a team, we rely on each other. You can’t do this job alone. If someone’s struggling, we step in. That might be taking over a situation, making a cup of tea or just saying, ‘Are you alright?’ We all need those moments. We’re a tight team and that’s what gets us through the harder days.”

What do people often underestimate about the professionalism required?

“A lot of people underestimate how professional this job is. We’re part of a legal body called the S.S.S.C, the Scottish Social Services Council. We pay a fee every year to be registered. They make sure we act professionally and do right by the children, our colleagues and our employer. You have to register within three months of starting. If you can’t be part of the S.S.S.C, you can’t work with vulnerable adults or young people.”

What would you say to someone who’s considering this career but isn’t sure it’s for them?

“I’d say it’s not for everyone, but you won’t know until you try. Coming from a supermarket background to here was the best decision I ever made. I had no childcare qualifications. I’d never worked in this world, but Care Visions trained me, supported me and believed in me. If you’ve got kindness, patience and life experience, you can do this. It might just change your life.”

When you look back on your work, what makes you most proud?

“When I reflect on what I do, I’m proud that I go in every day and do my best for the young people, and that they know I’m there to do my best. I love that we give them opportunities they might not have had. And I’m always aware of making sure they feel like any other kids at school. Whether it’s clothes or equipment, I never want them to stand out or feel different from any of the kids at school.”

If you could change how the public views residential child care, what would you want them to understand?

“I wish people knew the young people I work with are just normal kids, teenagers or young adults who want a chance in life. They want opportunities. Often, we have to be their voice in education and in meetings about their futures. They just want to prove they’re like everybody else and simply had a difficult start.”

How have the young people you’ve worked with inspired you personally?

“They inspire me every day to be better. They try so hard to fit in. Many of them don’t want people to know they’re in care, which I completely understand. They inspire me to try my best every day.”

If you could sum up residential child care work in one sentence, what would it be?

“Residential child care goes from crazy to fun to sad all in one day, but it’s so very rewarding.”

Find out about latest vacancies here or click our Whatsapp button to talk to us and learn more.