In this episode of the Able to Care podcast, Andy Baker is joined by experienced foster carer Kaye Beatty, who has dedicated over 14 years to fostering, including seven transformative parent and child placements. Together, they unpack the unique challenges and rewards of supporting not only children, but parents learning to care for their babies — a fostering path that helps keep families together whenever possible.

From the emotional highs of seeing parents thrive, to the difficult decisions when placements break down, this conversation gives a raw, honest, and deeply human insight into one of the most impactful forms of foster care.

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1️⃣ Parent and child placements give families a vital chance to stay together, but require patience, empathy, and consistent boundaries.

2️⃣ Foster carers in these roles are not just providing a safe home, but also coaching, mentoring, and supporting parents to build confidence and skills.

3️⃣ With the right training, supervision, and agency support, more foster carers could help meet the urgent need for parent and child placements.

00:00 — Introduction to Carers Card UK and their mission 01:48 — Welcome to the podcast & introduction to Kaye Beatty 02:15 — What are parent and child placements? 06:00 — How Kaye began fostering 15:00 — The unique challenges of supporting parents 22:00 — Emotional highs and lows of placements 32:00 — Differences between traditional fostering and parent/child placements 44:00 — Reflections on personal growth and seeing parents thrive 51:00 — Why more parent and child foster carers are needed 56:00 — Final thoughts and takeaways

If you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of parent and child foster care, this conversation will open your eyes. Hear real-life stories of resilience, challenge, and transformation, and learn how foster carers can empower parents to give their children the best start in life. Whether you’re a social worker, carer, educator, or simply curious about fostering, this episode is a must-listen.

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