Why Matching Matters in Fostering: Culture, Stability and Belonging
In the latest episode of Let’s Talk About Fostering, referrals officer for ACS Nikita talks us through how the matching process works, its role in providing children with stable homes, and why faith, culture, belonging, and identity should never be overlooked.
Let’s Talk About Fostering Podcast
In the latest episode of Let’s Talk About Fostering, Faye sits down with Nikita, a referrals officer for ACS. Nikita has both professional and personal experience with the foster care system, having spent time in care between the ages of 9 and 17.
She’s passionate about helping children find the right foster families, taking us through how the matching process works, its role in providing children with stable homes, and why faith, culture, belonging, and identity should never be overlooked.
Take a moment to sit down, relax, and listen to Faye and Nikita offer insight into the world of matching and what it’s like to be a child in foster care.
What does this episode explore?
In this episode, they chat about:
- What is a referral?
- What happens when a child enters care?
- How does the matching process work?
- Why is matching important for stability?
- What is a placement breakdown, and why do they happen?
- Why building long-term relationships in foster care matters.
- Why faith and cultural matching are important for belonging and identity formation.
- The role of a referrals officer and why they’re important.
- What things are looked at during the matching process to ensure the match is right for foster parents and the child?
- Nikita’s experience of growing up in care.
- Why matching is so important to Nikita.
- Why asking the child what they want matters.
- What it feels like to find the right match.
- The value of lived experience.
- The stigma faced by children in care.
- Nikita’s message to children and young people in care.
- Nikita’s favourite moment of working at ACS.
“When it works… and they’re still going back for tea—that’s everything.”
Could you be the right match for a child?
At ACS, we receive hundreds of referrals every day. If you think you could be the right match for a child and want to learn more about becoming a foster parent, call us today on 0800 9177 937 or submit your details via our online form.
Our friendly and knowledgeable team are ready to answer your questions and get you started on your fostering journey.
