I watched the first two episodes of Protecting Our Foster Kids, a BBC series following Dorset County Council’s fostering service, with some trepidation. What would be the impact on the people involved in the programmes? What might be the impact on people watching it? Would it makes things better or worse for children in foster care? How would social work be portrayed? When will we know, and how could we know, what lasting difference it has made?
I’m going to make the assumption that the programmes are not about entertainment in any shape or form. I sincerely hope that’s correct. And, in my view, the content wasn’t at all sensationalised; they were well made programmes in that sense.
But, what about the people involved? A 14-year-old in care is moved from what previously seemed a good foster home for her. A birth mum tries to do the right thing for her child. We see the loss and pain on their faces. These things happens sometimes, of course, it’s real. But these particular stories are now out there, for all to see, forever more. Does the young woman understand that? How will she feel in 10 years time? In the midst of her own difficulties, are we really asking the birth mum to open herself up like this?
Perhaps both women agreed to be filmed thinking it might do some good, and encourage more people to become foster carers. But is this the best way we have of recruiting foster carers? Surely not at this cost to the active participants. Will it make things better for children in foster care? I honestly couldn’t say with any degree of certainty. I wouldn’t want to be the one reassuring the women in the programme that it will help the greater good.
And what about the portrayal of foster care, what did we learn? Foster carers found themselves overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for teenagers. That happens. A young person is given no reason to trust in relationships, even though they’re the most important thing for people separated from their birth families. Sadly, that also happens. Social workers seem unable to offer solutions. In a world where social workers are blamed whenever anything goes wrong, what’s the responsibility of TV programme makers to other children who need to be supported by a highly regarded workforce?
The programme showed that lots of technical language was used in the midst of important conversations; saying “placement”, instead of “home”. Can it not be both? What does that say to other children in care watching?
If Protecting our Foster Kids generates a healthy public debate, that could be a good thing. I tweeted during the broadcast and followed what others were saying. I thought the tweets were mostly thoughtful and sensitive, bar the odd idiot. But would any of this change the mind of someone with an ignorant prejudice against children in care? Crikey, I don’t know. Is that too much to ask? If it is, are we achieving anything worth the sacrifice of those involved? One person on Twitter seemed to think it definitely was worth it – how could they be so sure?
Of course, we don’t know all of the background or detail. The demands of the broadcast programme format, length and editing make that impossible. This is partial life, TV viewing with limited context. Making sense of it becomes very difficult and, perhaps in our anxiety to make sense of complex situations that display human frailty, it invites jumping to conclusions. I don’t think that’s OK. We should struggle to make sense of this stuff, it’s not easy to be conclusive – but I still have more questions than answers.
Harvey Gallagher is chief executive of the Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers. Follow him on Twitter @gallagherone
