🇳🇱 Supporting the Next Generation of Social Workers: Welcoming Students from the Netherlands
Hartelijk welkom! Rainbow Fostering Services was delighted to welcome students from Viaa University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands to our headquarters for a learning visit exploring fostering, social work practice, and child protection in the UK.
As part of our commitment to strengthening the fostering sector, we actively support opportunities that promote knowledge-sharing, professional development, and international learning in social work practice. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, explore different approaches to practice, and discuss the realities of working in fostering.
Professor Wim Louter and Students from VIAA & Saamiya Ahmad Head of Department at Rainbow Fostering
Understanding Fostering in Practice
During the visit, our team delivered presentations on foster carer recruitment and placements, providing students with an overview of how fostering agencies identify, assess, and support carers who are able to meet the needs of children in care.
“Supporting the development of future social workers is essential for the future of the sector. Opportunities like this allow students to connect theory with practice and understand the real impact fostering can have on children’s lives.” - Aijaz Ahmad, Director & Founder
We discussed the importance of best practice, safeguarding, and compliance, including how our work aligns with relevant legislation, safeguarding standards, and GDPR requirements. The discussion explored how fostering agencies maintain robust safeguarding frameworks, strong governance, and high standards of data protection, ensuring that children’s welfare and rights remain at the centre of all decision-making. At Rainbow Fostering, maintaining safe practice and strong governance is fundamental to protecting children and ensuring that foster carers and families receive the support they need.
The students were particularly interested in learning more about how the UK fostering system operates, and we had engaging discussions comparing social work practice and legal frameworks in the UK and the Netherlands.
The Impact of Fostering: Children and Carers
A particularly meaningful part of the visit was sharing some of the success stories of children supported by Rainbow Fostering.
These stories highlighted how fostering can be life-changing not only for the children who enter care, but also for the foster carers who welcome them into their homes. Foster carers often describe the experience as deeply rewarding, as they witness children grow in confidence, stability, and independence with the right support.
For the visiting students, hearing these real-life journeys helped bring their academic learning to life and reinforced the powerful impact that skilled, compassionate social work practice can have on children’s futures.
Insight from an ASYE Social Worker
The students also heard from one of our ASYE (Assessed and Supported Year in Employment) social workers, who shared their experience of transitioning from university into professional practice.
This offered valuable insight into how newly qualified social workers are supported during their first year in the profession at Rainbow Fostering, enabling them to develop confidence, strengthen their practice, and build the skills needed to support vulnerable children and families.
“I’m really enjoying the ASYE course transitioning from university. Everyone is really approachable, and you can go to anyone for help when you need it” - Joyce, ASYE Social Worker
A Tour of Rainbow Fostering
To conclude the visit, the students were given a tour of our offices, providing a behind-the-scenes look at how our teams work collaboratively to support foster carers and children across the service.
The visit also gave students the opportunity to meet members of the team, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of the multidisciplinary work that takes place within a fostering agency.
Investing in the Future of Social Work
At Rainbow Fostering Services, we are proud to support opportunities that encourage learning, collaboration, and international exchange within the social work community.
Engaging with students and future practitioners helps strengthen the profession and ensures that the next generation of social workers are equipped with the knowledge, values, and commitment needed to support children and families effectively.
We were delighted to host such thoughtful and engaged students and look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make as they continue their journey into social work.
See you soon! (Tot snel!) 🇳🇱
