Sid Khan

NAME Sid Khan
JOB Supervising social worker, foster care
AREA OF WORK Adoption and fostering
EMPLOYER Foster Care Associates
QUALIFICATIONS DipSW and diploma in higher education, University of Wolverhampton (2005)

I started in social work as a resource worker for my current employer back in 1999. Before that I worked in retail management and although it might seem like a complete change in direction, a lot of the skills I learned working with people in a retail environment could be transferred to social work. I chose this area of social work as I was interested in working with children, especially since I have a family of my own.

I work with foster carers to help promote the needs of the children placed with them. This consists of supervisions, offering training to carers and supporting them through meetings and contact with other professionals, including local authority workers and therapists. A supervision involves meeting with foster carers, listening to their concerns and feedback about the placement, and advising them on the agency’s policies and procedures. We also review children’s cases by bringing together everyone who works with the child to discuss how to improve care provision to meet the child’s needs.

My most unforgettable moment...

...was when we took a group of children to a playground and I noticed that one of them kept climbing to the top of the slide but wouldn’t slide down. I asked him if everything was alright and he said he was scared. I told him that it was okay to be scared and after that he went down the slide like the other children. This made me realise that you can say something and no matter how insignificant it may seem to you, it can really make an impact on that child’s life.

Best and worst

It’s great working in such a positive team, with people who are passionate about the work. A rewarding part of the job is helping people to manage difficult situations and make real changes. The worst part is saying goodbye to the children you’ve looked after.