Adele has been a respite career with Barnardos for six years. She welcomes tamariki into her home on the weekends. She is a special needs teacher, who is enthusiastic and loves being a respite caregiver. After showing interest in the foster care space, she reached out to Barnardos to see what her options were.

“As a teacher, I see children [in my school] come in who aren’t cared for very well or who are in the system. I have always thought I could show them a loved home, and even though it is temporary. it means that I still get to show a child love.”

“I reached out to Barnardos as knew that I wanted to give back to society somehow. I was interested in foster care but didn’t know what my options were until they told me I could become a respite caregiver, which meant spending a short time with tamariki in care but still offering a safe and motivating home,” says Adele.

The tamariki who are placed in care come from all sorts of backgrounds, which is why it is important for caregivers to be flexible with their plans and activities so that the child feels comfortable.

“You might get a child who has anxiety or a child with behavioural issues. Because I know they are coming, I would cater and adapt what I have planned so they feel at ease in my home. And you are never alone when things go pear-shaped, because you work closely with the Barnardos social worker and, at times, the child’s full-time caregivers to resolve those situations,” says Adele.

Showing tamariki and rangatahi love through foster respite care