Able to Care

Positive Culture Starts with You: Why Carers Need Praise Too

We’re always told to “catch them being good”—but what about the people doing the catching? In this solo episode of the Able to Care podcast, host Andy Baker shines a spotlight on the forgotten ingredient of exceptional care: the carers, teachers, support workers, and parents doing the daily work of holding everything together. If we want positive outcomes, we must nurture positive environments—and that starts with recognising and valuing the people behind the care.
🎧 This is a free, listener-focused resource for anyone who wants to build stronger, more compassionate cultures from the inside out.
🤝 Sponsored by Carers Card UK
We’re proud to be sponsored by Carers Card UK.Carers Card UK offers:
💳 A trusted ID card with emergency info access
💸 Discounts on everyday essentials (gyms, shops, glasses, more)
🧠 A wellbeing hub, Carers Circle tool, and supportive communityAll of this for less than the cost of a box of chocolates per year.➡️ 🎟️ Order your card today
🧰 Resources & Mentions
PERMA Model by Dr. Martin Seligman
Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan)
Targeting the Positive by Andy Baker
📌 Three Key Takeaways
Recognition isn’t optional—it’s fuel for performance, morale, and retention.
Motivation thrives when staff feel autonomous, competent, and connected.
Positive team culture is contagious—model it, and it spreads to every pupil, resident, and family.
⏱️ Episode Chapters & Timestamps
00:00 – Catching Them Being Good: Why it matters more than you think01:54 – Sponsored Message: Carers Card UK02:15 – The True Cost of Neglecting Carers03:02 – Intrinsic Motivation & Wellbeing Models04:26 – Seligman, PERMA & Self-Determination Theory Explained05:04 – Emotional Contagion and Organisational Culture06:27 – Recognising Effort, Not Just Perfection07:11 – Team Practices That Actually Work08:21 – Peer Recognition & Praise With Meaning09:13 – The Ripple Effect of Positive Culture09:37 – Final Reflection & Your Next Step
🎯 Why Listen to This Episode?
If you're a parent, teacher, or care provider, this episode is your reminder that you matter too. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and culture starts with what you model. Whether you lead a classroom, manage a shift, or support someone at home, Andy’s insight will leave you equipped—and inspired—to build teams and families that thrive on recognition, not just responsibility.
🔗 Connect with Us
📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining📲 LinkedIn: Able Training📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk
📣 Enjoyed Listening to this episode?
💬 Leave us a comment on Podbean🔁 Share it with a colleague or team member⭐ Subscribe so you never miss an episodeLet’s start a culture of care—one ‘thank you’ at a time.

Retained Reflexes & Behaviour: A Game-Changer for Parents and Teachers

In this enlightening episode of the Able to Care podcast, I’m joined by Lara Barnes—a functional neurology specialist and passionate parent—who shares her remarkable journey into brain development, sensory processing, and retained reflexes. We explore how these often-overlooked factors can profoundly influence a child’s behaviour, focus, speech, and learning.
Whether you're a parent, teacher, or caregiver supporting a neurodiverse child or simply curious about alternative approaches to child development, this episode is packed with insight. Lara’s perspective combines personal experience, evidence-based strategies, and deeply compassionate care.
This is a free resource from the Able to Care podcast, created to be both accessible and practical for those supporting children and young people.
💙 Sponsored by Carers Card UK
Proudly supporting carers with discounts, ID, wellbeing tools, and community—Carers Card UK recognises the unseen work of those who care.🎁 Claim your exclusive discount with our partner link:👉  Order your card today
🛠️ Resources Mentioned
Lara’s website: https://braindevelopment.co.uk
Reflex-focused workshops and support: https://braindevelopment.co.uk/events
Disconnected Kids by Dr Robert Melillo – the book that inspired Lara’s journey
Lara's training: Certified in Dr Melillo’s Brain Balance Program
💡 Three Key Takeaways
Retained reflexes can explain challenges in learning, speech, and behaviour – addressing these root causes can shift a child’s trajectory.
Neuroplasticity is real and hopeful – the brain develops until around age 20, so early intervention isn’t the only option.
Small, sensory-based exercises at home can make huge differences – you don’t need to be a specialist to support your child’s brain growth.
⏱️ Chapter Timestamps
00:03:00 – What are primitive reflexes and why they matter beyond babyhood
00:10:00 – Lara’s personal story: helping her son with retained reflexes
00:20:00 – The building blocks of the brain: grey matter, white matter and roadmaps
00:28:00 – How to identify signs your child might have retained reflexes
00:37:00 – Real-life success stories from Lara’s clinic
00:46:00 – Supporting your child: practical tips and parent encouragement
00:54:00 – Final reflections: What every caregiver should know
🎯 Why Listen to This Episode?
If your child struggles with speech, behaviour, or focus—and you’ve been told to "wait and see"—this episode will offer a fresh perspective and tangible hope. Lara’s approach is especially valuable for parents navigating neurodiversity, educators trying to better understand behaviour in the classroom, and carers seeking new ways to empower the young people they support.
You’ll walk away with new tools, renewed belief, and a powerful reminder: every behaviour has a root cause—and you can help change the outcome.
🔗 Stay Connected
📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining📲 LinkedIn: Able Training📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk
🙌 Enjoyed the Episode?
Please subscribe, leave a review on Podbean, or share this with someone who cares for or teaches children. Let’s build a world where we all better understand the behaviours we see.

Reclaiming Boundaries in a Switched-On World

Have you ever replied to a late-night message just to keep the peace or taken a call on your day off because you felt you had to? In today’s solo episode of the Able to Care Podcast, Andy Baker explores the toll of being “always on” — and why saying no might just be the most powerful act of self-care.
From WhatsApp work groups to 24/7 notifications, our phones are blurring the line between support and burnout. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or carer, this episode gives you practical strategies to set boundaries, reclaim your downtime, and build a culture that respects rest.
💡 Sponsor Shoutout: Carers Card UK
This episode is proudly sponsored by Carers Card UK – the UK’s number one carers card providing support, recognition and exclusive discounts.
Whether you're a paid or unpaid carer, enjoy:
Discounts on gyms, days out, clothing, glasses & more
A wellbeing hub and Carers Circle community app
An emergency ID card you can carry with pride
👉 Order yours today: carerscarduk.co.uk/promocode/abletocare
🔗 Resources Mentioned
Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke
www.ablehub.uk – free wellbeing tools & resources for caregivers
Andy Baker’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge
✅ Key Takeaways
Digital boundaries aren’t optional — they’re essential. Constant availability chips away at wellbeing, empathy, and connection.
Model what you expect. Children, teams, and peers follow what they see, not what they’re told.
Unplug with purpose. Creating tech-free zones and curfews helps rebuild clarity, peace and presence.
⏳ Timestamps (Episode Chapters)
[00:00] – Welcome: The danger of being “always on”
[01:00] – Sponsor Message: Carers Card UK
[01:56] – Digital Boundaries: Why this matters now more than ever
[03:30] – How tech affects your stress, dopamine and burnout
[05:00] – Examples from schools, care homes, and parenting
[06:17] – The emotional toll: Empathy, guilt and over-identification
[07:00] – 6 Practical tips to reclaim your peace
[08:42] – Boundaries at home and work: Lead by example
[09:10] – One small step to start today
[09:34] – Final thoughts: Rest isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity
🎯 Why Listen to This Episode?
If you’re a teacher checking emails at bedtime, a carer replying to shift rotas on your day off, or a parent glued to notifications while trying to be present — this episode is for you. Andy shares relatable stories and actionable strategies to help you protect your time, mental health and relationships. Let’s normalise rest in a world that never stops.
🔗 Connect with Us
📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining📲 LinkedIn: Able Training📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk
🙌 This is a free resource.
Please share with colleagues, friends, or family who may be struggling to set digital boundaries.
👉 Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share, and leave a review on Podbean or your favourite podcast platform!

Creating Trauma-Responsive Schools: Why Every Child Needs to Belong

In this powerful episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker is joined by Roger Mitchell, long-standing headteacher at Ripple Primary School in Barking and Dagenham — a pioneering Emotionally Available School where inclusion and belonging aren't just buzzwords, but lived values.
Together, they explore how schools can go beyond behaviour management, focusing instead on trauma-responsive education that meets children where they are. Whether you're a parent, teacher, carer or education leader, this conversation offers practical insight into why behaviour is communication — and how empathy, structure and trust are the foundations for learning.
💡 This Episode Is Sponsored By Carers Card UK
This episode is proudly supported by Carers Card UK — the UK’s number one carers card offering real benefits to both paid and unpaid carers.
Get discounts on gyms, days out, tech, clothing and more. Access a wellbeing hub, an emergency ID card, and a strong support network — all for less than the price of a box of chocolates per year.  🎟️ Order your card today➡ 
📚 Resources & Mentions
Nurture UK
The Able Hub: www.ablehub.uk tools and training for carers, parents and educators
Andy Baker’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge
✅ Key Takeaways
“If you lose a child from their school, you lose the child.”Schools must be places of belonging and safety — especially for children impacted by trauma.
Inclusion is not policy, it’s practice.Behaviour is communication. Trauma-informed schools look beyond the action to understand the need behind it.
Being Emotionally Available is a responsibility.Every adult working with children must build relational safety to help learners feel seen, heard, and supported.
⏳ Chapters & Timestamps
[00:00] – Introduction: Reframing school culture[02:45] – Meet Roger Mitchell and Ripple Primary’s ethos[06:22] – What “Emotionally Available Schools” really mean[09:05] – How behaviour signals trauma and distress[13:10] – Why consistency and connection matter more than control[17:34] – The importance of staff training in attachment and ACEs[21:50] – Being present, being patient, and rebuilding trust[25:12] – Moving from trauma-informed to trauma-responsive[29:08] – Final reflections: Creating schools where everyone belongs
🎯 Why Listen to This Episode?
This isn’t just an education episode — it’s a wake-up call for every adult supporting children. You’ll walk away understanding:
Why “naughty” behaviour might be fear in disguise
How trauma affects learning and behaviour
What emotionally available adults can do to build trust and connection
Whether you're in the classroom, at home, or working in social care — this episode will reshape how you see and support children.
🌐 Connect with Us
📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining📲 LinkedIn: Able Training📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk
🆓 This is a free resource
Created to support carers, parents, and teachers across the UK. Share it widely and help build a more compassionate world for those who care — and those they care for.
If this episode moved you, helped you, or taught you something new:✅ Subscribe🔁 Share it with a colleague or fellow carer💬 Leave a comment or review on Podbean
Let’s keep the conversation going. Because every child deserves to belong.

From Crying Babies to Angry Adults: Why We Judge Instead of Help

In this powerful solo episode of the Able to Care podcast, Andy Baker challenges the way society responds to behaviour across ages. Why do we offer compassion to crying babies but demand self-control from teens, adults, and elders in distress?
Drawing on attachment theory, trauma, neurodiversity, and polyvagal theory, Andy explores how the instincts we have for infants could (and should) shape how we support older children and adults. This is a free, thought-provoking resource for parents, teachers, and carers looking to better understand behaviour, promote emotional safety, and respond with empathy instead of judgement.
🎁 Sponsored by Carers Card UK
This episode is proudly sponsored by Carers Card UK, the UK’s leading discount and support platform for carers.Started by two best friends on a mission to value carers more, Carers Card UK offers:
Discounts on everyday purchases, days out, gyms and more
An ID card with emergency info
A wellbeing hub and community appAll for less than a box of chocolates per year. 🎟️ Order your card today
📚 Resources Mentioned
Andy Baker’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge
More resources at: www.andybaker.xyz
🔑 Key Takeaways
Behaviour is communication, not manipulation.Whether it’s a baby crying or an adult shouting, it’s a signal – not a moral failing.
Use regulation before reasoning.Emotional states need soothing before language or logic can be effective.
Ask better questions.Shift from “Why are they doing this?” to “What need might they be trying to express?”
⏱️ Chapter Breakdown
00:00 - The crying baby analogy that changes everything
00:48 - Sponsor: Carers Card UK
01:56 - Why this approach matters in behaviour training and care
02:19 - Babies = compassion. Adults = control?
03:05 - Reframing tantrums, shutdowns, and aggression
04:25 - Attachment theory, trauma, and the brain
05:58 - Real-world examples: school, care homes, and beyond
07:02 - Expectations vs. actual ability
08:07 - Knowing better isn’t the same as being able to do better
08:47 - Rethinking “attention seeking” and “manipulation”
09:27 - What if they were two years old? Try that lens
10:03 - Calm first, logic later
10:49 - Create space for emotion; model empathy
11:24 - A reflection challenge: how do your expectations shape your reactions?
12:04 - Closing thoughts: honouring the humanity behind behaviour
💡 Why Listen to This Episode?
Whether you're raising children, teaching pupils, or supporting vulnerable adults, this episode invites you to rethink your response to distress. If you’ve ever wondered why someone’s reaction feels "too much", this will shift your lens from judgement to compassionate curiosity.
You’ll leave with a simple but powerful framework to approach behaviour not as something to “fix”, but as something to understand – because what we call difficult behaviour is often a difficult experience in disguise.
Stay Connected
📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining📲 LinkedIn: Able Training📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk
✅ This is a free resource
Designed to support all those who care – paid or unpaid, in schools, homes or workplaces.
📣 Call to Action
Enjoyed this episode? Please consider:✔️ Subscribing to the podcast🔁 Sharing it with someone who supports others💬 Leaving a comment or review on Podbean
Let’s rewrite the rulebook together – one episode at a time.

Vapes & Spice: The Hidden Addiction Crisis - with Alison Armstrong

In this powerful and eye-opening episode of the Able to Care Podcast, I’m joined by Alison Armstrong - a leading voice in drug education, prevention and community training - to unpack the shocking rise of two substances changing the landscape of youth and adult addiction: vapes and spice.
We explore how synthetic cannabinoids are being misrepresented and misused, why vaping is becoming more dangerous than smoking, and how caregivers, teachers and parents can better respond to these emerging risks.
This is not just a conversation about drugs - it’s a vital discussion about prevention, societal responsibility, and how we create environments where healthier choices are the easier ones.
💙 Sponsored by Carers Card UK
The Able to Care Podcast is proudly sponsored by Carers Card UK – the UK’s number one discount and recognition card for paid and unpaid carers.
For less than the price of a box of chocolates a year, you get:
Discounts on food, clothing, days out and more
A wellbeing hub and Carers Circle tool
An ID card that provides emergency support
Access to a caring and growing community
👉 Claim yours now using our exclusive promo link:  🎟️ Order your card today
📚 Resources & Links Mentioned:
Andy Baker’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge
AbleHub.uk – Free & low-cost resources for carers and educators
🔑 3 Key Messages from This Episode:
Spice is not cannabis - it's a highly potent synthetic compound often misrepresented, lacking the natural balance that protects the heart and mind.
Vaping isn’t safer - it’s increasing nicotine consumption, making addiction easier, especially among children and young people.
Prevention is powerful - models like Planet Youth prove that long-term investment in young people’s environments can change the future of substance misuse.
🕰️ Chapter Timestamps:
00:00 - Sponsor: Carers Card UK01:48 - What this episode covers: Vapes, spice and the risks02:30 - Meet Alison Armstrong04:00 - Understanding cannabis: THC vs CBD08:00 - What is spice and why is it dangerous?12:00 - Spice vs cannabis dependency17:00 - Vaping’s impact on drug use and addiction22:00 - Regulation and the ban on single-use vapes27:00 - Vaping as a delivery method for other substances33:00 - Planet Youth: Iceland's revolutionary prevention model38:00 - Addiction, dopamine and adolescent brain development42:00 - Prediction error and why teens seek high-reward experiences45:00 - Why we need a long-term national prevention strategy
🎧 Why Listen to This Episode?
Whether you’re a parent, carer, teacher or professional working with young people, this conversation is a must-hear. You’ll come away with:
A clear understanding of the real dangers of spice and vaping
Practical knowledge on how to spot signs and start better conversations
Hopeful insight into what works – and what we can all do to be part of the solution
📲 Follow & Connect
Let’s keep the conversation going – join us on social media:
📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining📲 LinkedIn: Able Training📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk
 
🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review – it really helps us reach more carers and changemakers like you.

Beyond Judgement: How to See the Person, Not Just the Behaviour

Have you ever caught yourself thinking “What is wrong with them?” when you see challenging behaviour? Whether it’s a teenager shouting in public, a colleague snapping, or a parent glued to their phone while their child cries — we all judge. But what does this habit cost us, and what could happen if we replaced judgment with genuine curiosity? In this solo episode, Andy Baker explores how a trauma-informed, curiosity-driven approach can transform our practice as parents, teachers, and carers.
👉 Learn how stereotypes, confirmation bias, and fundamental attribution errors get in the way of understanding.👉 Discover why being a better detective rather than a judge helps build trust, empathy, and change.👉 Walk away with practical tools to rethink the narratives you carry about others — and even about yourself.
🎙 Sponsored by Carers Card UK
We’re proud to have this episode sponsored by Carers Card UK — the UK’s leading Carers Card.
Carers Card UK was founded by two best friends who recognised that carers deserve better. The card offers:✅ Discounts on gym memberships, days out, electricals, clothing and more✅ Emergency ID and access to vital information✅ A wellbeing hub and community through the app✅ All for less than the cost of a box of chocolates a year!
👉  Order your card today
📚 Resources Mentioned
Carers Card UK
Andy Baker’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge
🔑 Three Key Messages
1️⃣ Judgment is a human survival mechanism — but in caregiving, it can become harmful if left unchecked.2️⃣ Curiosity and trauma-informed thinking help us see the person rather than the behaviour.3️⃣ Changing the words and labels we use can build empathy, trust, and genuine connection.
⏰ Episode Chapters
00:00 – Introduction: Why this episode might feel uncomfortable01:44 – Why we judge: the social psychology of stereotypes04:00 – The costs of labelling and missing the full story06:00 – Fundamental Attribution Error and confirmation bias explained08:48 – Halo/Horn effects & dehumanisation in care and education11:00 – Real-life examples of misunderstood behaviour12:30 – Moving from “what’s wrong with them?” to “what happened to them?”13:45 – Practical reframes and curiosity-driven language14:52 – Reflection: Who have you written off — and what might change if you got curious?
💡 Why Listen to This Episode?
If you are a carer, teacher, parent, or anyone supporting others, this episode will help you challenge automatic judgments and rethink your approach to behaviour. You’ll gain practical, real-world strategies to build empathy, encourage growth, and connect with others on a deeper level.
🔗 Connect With Us
👉 Instagram: @AbleTraining👉 LinkedIn: Able Training👉 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast👉 Website: AbleHub.uk

Fixing School Systems: From Trauma to True Inclusion

How can schools go beyond buzzwords and box-ticking exercises to truly support mental health, inclusion, and safeguarding? In this insightful episode of the Able to Care podcast, host Andy Baker talks with Dr. Adam McCartney — educational psychologist and national training lead — about how to build school systems that don’t just function, but truly care.
From shifting away from outcome-obsessed models to embedding psychologically informed, trauma-responsive practices, Adam shares his expertise on transforming education into a genuinely nurturing environment. This is a must-listen for parents, teachers, carers, and education leaders seeking meaningful change in how we support children and young people.
🎙 Sponsor: Carers Card UK
The Able to Care podcast is proudly sponsored by Carers Card UK — the UK’s number one carers discount and recognition card. Started by two best friends to help carers feel valued, it offers:
✅ An emergency ID card✅ Access to a wellbeing hub✅ A carers circle support tool✅ Community through their dedicated app✅ Exclusive discounts on essentials, days out, gym memberships, and more
 🎟️ Order your card today
📚 Resources Mentioned
Dr. Adam McCartney’s website: rmcpsychologicalservices.com
Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: Dr. Adam McCartney on LinkedIn (search his name directly)
Andy Baker’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge
🔑 Three Key Messages
1️⃣ Schools need to shift from a focus on outcomes to a focus on wellbeing, belonging, and psychological safety.2️⃣ Collaborative, reflective practice — including supervision for teachers — is vital for sustainable systems change.3️⃣ Parents and schools must build trusting, validating partnerships to improve outcomes for children with additional needs.
⏰ Episode Chapters
00:00 — Introduction: Moving beyond box-ticking00:02 — Meet Dr Adam McCartney and his mission00:06 — Why education needs a nurturing rethink00:15 — Breaking down trauma-informed and relational practice00:27 — The challenge of staff roles, collaboration, and defensiveness00:39 — Building psychologically informed, restorative systems00:51 — Parental partnerships and advocating for change00:53 — Final reflections and how to connect with Dr Adam
🎧 Why Listen to This Episode?
✅ Gain actionable insights on transforming schools beyond buzzwords✅ Learn practical strategies for trauma-responsive, relational, and psychologically informed systems✅ Hear a national expert’s take on the future of safeguarding, mental health, and inclusion✅ Feel inspired to advocate for change in your school, community, or caregiving role
If you’re a teacher, parent, carer, or education leader, this episode will challenge you to think bigger — and act braver — about supporting our young people.
🔗 Connect with us
📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining📲 LinkedIn: Able Training📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk
 

Stop Punishing, Start Understanding: A Kinder Way to Manage Behaviour

Welcome to another solo episode of the Able to Care Podcast, hosted by Andy Baker. In this episode, we challenge the traditional mindset of “consequences” — a word that’s too often just punishment dressed up. Instead, Andy invites parents, carers, and teachers to explore purpose-driven, compassionate approaches to managing behaviour. Backed by restorative practices and neuroscience, this episode breaks down why connection, understanding, and growth matter far more than simply controlling behaviour.
Whether you’re working with children in a school, supporting adults in care, or raising your own family, this episode will give you practical, thought-provoking strategies to replace punishment with positive change.
👥 Sponsored by Carers Card UK
This episode is proudly sponsored by Carers Card UK, the UK’s number one carers card. Founded by two best friends on a mission to give carers better recognition, Carers Card UK offers:
✅ A trusted ID card with emergency information✅ Huge discounts on everything from gym memberships to days out✅ Access to a wellbeing hub and Carers Circle✅ Community support via their app✅ All for less than the price of a box of chocolates per year!
👉  Order your card today
🛠️ Resources Mentioned
Andy’s book Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge
Carers Card UK — official site
More tools, resources and podcast links: abletocarepodcast.co.uk
⭐ Three Key Messages
1️⃣ Consequences are not learning tools — punishment might stop behaviour short-term, but it rarely helps people grow.2️⃣ Connection before correction — trust and understanding build long-lasting change.3️⃣ Ask “why” instead of “how to stop” — curiosity helps unlock more positive and adaptive behaviour patterns.
⏰ Timestamps (Chapters)
00:00 — The myth of consequences00:22 — Sponsor: Carers Card UK01:42 — Purpose over punishment03:10 — Restorative practices and neuroscience05:05 — Positive vs negative punishment explained08:00 — Connect before you correct10:00 — Final reflections on building trust13:45 — Like, comment, and share
🎧 Why Listen?
If you’re a parent, teacher, or carer who wants to move away from outdated, controlling approaches to behaviour, this episode will empower you with research-backed strategies to create positive change. Andy’s insights will challenge how you think about “discipline” and offer a framework to support healthier, happier, and more resilient relationships.
🌐 Connect With Us
👉 Instagram: @AbleTraining👉LinkedIn: Able Training👉 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast👉 Website: AbleHub.uk

Parent & Child Fostering: Keeping Families Together

In this episode of the Able to Care podcast, Andy Baker is joined by experienced foster carer Kaye Beatty, who has dedicated over 14 years to fostering, including seven transformative parent and child placements. Together, they unpack the unique challenges and rewards of supporting not only children, but parents learning to care for their babies — a fostering path that helps keep families together whenever possible.
From the emotional highs of seeing parents thrive, to the difficult decisions when placements break down, this conversation gives a raw, honest, and deeply human insight into one of the most impactful forms of foster care.
🙌 Sponsored by Carers Card UK
We’re proud to be sponsored by Carers Card UK, the UK’s number one carers card. Founded by two friends who wanted to give carers the recognition and support they deserve, Carers Card UK offers:
✅ An ID card with emergency information✅ Access to a wellbeing hub and Carers Circle tool✅ A community through their app✅ Discounts on everyday essentials — from days out to gym memberships
Take care of yourself while you care for others — order yours today using our promo link:👉  🎟️ Order your card today
🔗 Resources Mentioned
Carers Card UK:  🎟️ Order your card today
Andy Baker’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge
💡 Three Key Messages
1️⃣ Parent and child placements give families a vital chance to stay together, but require patience, empathy, and consistent boundaries.
2️⃣ Foster carers in these roles are not just providing a safe home, but also coaching, mentoring, and supporting parents to build confidence and skills.
3️⃣ With the right training, supervision, and agency support, more foster carers could help meet the urgent need for parent and child placements.
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 — Introduction to Carers Card UK and their mission01:48 — Welcome to the podcast & introduction to Kaye Beatty02:15 — What are parent and child placements?06:00 — How Kaye began fostering15:00 — The unique challenges of supporting parents22:00 — Emotional highs and lows of placements32:00 — Differences between traditional fostering and parent/child placements44:00 — Reflections on personal growth and seeing parents thrive51:00 — Why more parent and child foster carers are needed56:00 — Final thoughts and takeaways
🎧 Why Listen to This Episode?
If you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of parent and child foster care, this conversation will open your eyes. Hear real-life stories of resilience, challenge, and transformation, and learn how foster carers can empower parents to give their children the best start in life. Whether you’re a social worker, carer, educator, or simply curious about fostering, this episode is a must-listen.
🌐 Connect With Us
📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining📲 LinkedIn: Able Training📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk
👉 If you found this episode valuable, please like, comment, and share to help us reach more carers and families who might benefit.