I visited my first family in October 1990. I had seen an article in the Cambridge Evening News about a recruitment drive where the only criteria for being accepted were parenting skills and attending a six week course. The course was excellent and prepared me extremely well for my first family and subsequent families. Having had a son with Down’s Syndrome almost half of the families I have visited have had a child with special educational needs; this brings families lots of challenges. If I had had a Home-Start visitor coming each week when mine were young it would have made my life easier.
I have visited families from very different social and ethnic backgrounds. I have met some delightful children and befriended some wonderful parents over the years and it has been a privilege to be accepted into their homes. At the end of my visit I’ve received some very touching Thank You cards which I still treasure. The reason I have continued so long is because the needs of families have never changed.
The Home-Start preparation course was excellent and prepared me extremely well for my first and subsequent families. The two words that have stayed with me over the years are ‘confidentiality’ and ‘non-judgmental’ – both very important when visiting families. As a visitor to a family home we should never under-estimate the difference we make to families lives and the long term effect this has on the family.