Synergy Fostering
Independent Fostering Agency
Our newsletter —
first edition 🌟
A warm round-up of carer news, young people's achievements, learning moments, and dates for the diary from across the Synergy community.
Dear Foster Carers,
Welcome to the very first edition of the Synergy Fostering newsletter. We created this space to stay connected, celebrate the work happening across our fostering community, and share news and updates that matter to you.
Following our Ofsted inspection in November, it was brilliant to see the dedication of our carers and professionals acknowledged — particularly the safe and nurturing homes you provide and the relationships you build with children and the wider team.
Looking ahead, our focus remains on strengthening our therapeutic approach, deepening the support we offer, and continuing to build a community where every carer, child, and young person feels valued.
We hope you enjoy this first edition and thank you again for everything you do.
Across our fostering community this season, there is so much to be proud of. From major milestones to quiet everyday moments, our children and young people are growing, achieving, and thriving.
A young person has achieved permanency in their placement — a truly significant milestone that marks a new chapter of stability, belonging, and love.
A young person has successfully transitioned to a new specialist school and is already settling in well — reflecting real courage and the brilliant support around them.
Several young people have received awards and certificates from their schools this term — for attendance, effort, and achievement. Every single one is well deserved.
One young person is preparing to travel abroad as part of an exciting educational programme — a testament to how far they have come.
One young person faced a fear of heights at a climbing activity and — with encouragement — reached the very top. A small moment that meant a very great deal.
A young person is building brilliant independence — managing their own budget, attending college regularly, and cooking at home. We could not be more proud.
We are proud to celebrate Salma and Afnan, our longest-standing foster carers. During their time with Synergy, they have cared for 20 children with a wide range of needs, providing stability, nurture, and a loving family environment where children have felt safe, valued, and supported.
Their calm, therapeutic approach, strong family values, and ability to build genuine relationships with children and professionals alike make them truly exceptional carers. We thank them for their unwavering commitment, compassion, and the lasting difference they continue to make in children's lives.
We warmly welcome Uzma and Ahmer, who joined Synergy Fostering in September. They bring many years of caring experience and have already demonstrated a strong commitment to providing a nurturing home environment. Their warmth, openness, and collaborative approach have been greatly appreciated by those working alongside them, and they bring a thoughtful understanding of the emotional needs of children and young people.
We also warmly welcome Ima, who recently joined Synergy Fostering. Ima has approached the beginning of her fostering journey with openness, thoughtfulness, and a genuine desire to make a positive difference in children's lives. Throughout the assessment and transition process, she demonstrated warmth, insight, and a reflective understanding of children's emotional needs.
Our therapeutic approach continues to develop across the agency through ongoing training and reflection around Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Families (TCIF). One of the key ideas within TCIF is that behaviour is often a form of communication. Children may express fear, anxiety, shame, or overwhelm through behaviour — particularly when they do not yet have the emotional language or sense of safety to express these feelings directly.
During recent refresher sessions, carers and staff reflected on the importance of staying therapeutic during difficult moments and looking beneath the behaviour rather than reacting only to what we see on the surface.
💬 Staying Therapeutic in the Moment
When situations feel challenging, it can help to pause and ask:
What am I feeling right now?
What might this child be feeling, needing, or trying to communicate?
How might the environment be affecting them?
How can I respond in a way that helps the child feel safe while maintaining boundaries?
Lowering your voice, slowing the pace, offering reassurance, or simply giving a child more time can make a real difference — reducing escalation and supporting emotional regulation.
🌱 Connection before correction.
Children often need emotional co-regulation before they are able to reflect, problem-solve, or manage consequences effectively.
Thank you to all carers who continue to engage openly in training and reflective discussions. Your willingness to learn, reflect, and adapt is one of the real strengths of our therapeutic community.
- Support Group — 7 July 2026
- Allegations & Complaints Training — 23 July 2026 🌞 Summer holiday
- Children's Summer Event — 24 July 2026 🎉
- Support Group — 19 August 2026 🌞 Summer holiday
- Safer Caring Training — 27 August 2026 🌞 Summer holiday
- Safeguarding Training — 3 September 2026
- Support Group — 17 September 2026
- Recording Training — 23 September 2026
- Male Support Group — 13 October 2026
- Secure Base Training — 29 October 2026 🍂 Half term
- Parent and Child Support Group — 12 November 2026
Know someone who could make a brilliant foster carer?
If you refer someone to Synergy Fostering and they are approved and receive their first placement, we will thank you with a referral reward of £1,500.
Fostering changes lives — and so does knowing the right person to recommend. If you have someone in mind, please get in touch with your supervising social worker or contact us at enquiries@synergyfostering.co.uk.
