An interview with Nina Kemp-Jones, Regional Development Manager, Foster Wales (Gwent)

Creating a diverse and inclusive fostering community is essential to meeting the needs of children in care. In Torfaen and across Wales, there is a growing need for foster carers from a wide range of backgrounds to ensure every child feels understood, supported and valued.

Nina Kemp-Jones, Regional Development Manager for Foster Wales Gwent, understands this need both professionally and personally.

As a qualified social worker with over 20 years of experience—and someone who was fostered as a baby before later being adopted—Nina brings a unique perspective to the importance of diversity in fostering.

“I’ve been a qualified social worker for more than 20 years,” she explains. “I’ve always worked in children’s services, and I think subconsciously this has been driven by my own life experiences. My relationship with my foster carer and adoptive parents has been a big influence and inspired me.”

Her story highlights how fostering can shape lives—and why having foster carers from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds matters.

Why Is Diversity Important in Fostering?

Fostering is, by nature, diverse. Children entering care often come from a wide range of cultural, religious and linguistic backgrounds.

When a child moves into foster care, they may already be experiencing trauma, loss and uncertainty. Being placed in a home that feels unfamiliar can add to that challenge.

That’s why diversity in fostering is so important.

“We need to be able to match children with foster carers who best meet their needs,” Nina explains. “That includes cultural, linguistic, religious and ethnicity needs.”

Children in care may also have experienced complex life events, including bereavement, family breakdown or, in some cases, displacement due to war or conflict.

Having foster carers who understand or can relate to a child’s background can:

• Support emotional wellbeing during a difficult time

• Help children maintain their cultural identity

• Provide a stronger sense of belonging

• Build trust more quickly

The Need for Diverse Foster Carers in Torfaen

There is a clear need to recruit more foster carers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds in Torfaen and across Gwent.

A more diverse fostering community helps ensure that children can be placed in homes where their identity is recognised, respected and supported.

It also strengthens the fostering system as a whole—bringing different perspectives, experiences and strengths into caring for children and young people.

How Foster Wales Supports Inclusive Fostering

Foster Wales is committed to building a fostering community that reflects the diversity of the children it supports.

Nina emphasises that fostering services must be:

• Inclusive and welcoming to people from all backgrounds
• Easy to access and navigate for new carers
• Culturally sensitive, with trained and understanding staff

“We need to develop more mutual understanding,” she says, “and increase support for carers providing cross-cultural fostering.” This includes offering guidance and training to ensure all foster carers—regardless of their background—feel confident supporting children from different cultures and experiences.

Building Trust in Diverse Communities

One of the biggest challenges is raising awareness about fostering within different communities.

Nina highlights the importance of building trust and addressing misconceptions.

“There is a need to share clear information about why foster care is needed,” she explains, “and to address any concerns people may have. This can help remove barriers for those considering fostering.”

By engaging with local communities, sharing real stories, and providing transparent information, fostering services can encourage more people from diverse backgrounds to take that first step.

Could You Become a Foster Carer in Torfaen?

Foster carers come from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and life experiences—and that diversity is a strength.

You don’t need to be perfect or have all the answers. What matters is your willingness to support a child and help them feel safe, understood and valued.

If you’ve ever thought about fostering in Torfaen, your background, culture and experiences could make a real difference in a child’s life.

Why Diversity in Fostering Matters

Nina’s story is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact fostering can have.

By building a more diverse fostering community, we can:

• Better meet the needs of children in care
• Support identity and cultural understanding
• Create stronger, more inclusive communities

Every child deserves a home where they feel they belong—and diversity plays a key role in making that possible.

👉 Find out more about becoming a foster carer in Torfaen with Foster Wales today.