Meet the Team: Liam Sayer
At Lorimer, we love introducing the people who make our fostering community what it is. This week, we’re getting to know Liam Sayer, one of our Supervising Social Workers – someone whose passion, warmth and calm commitment come through the moment you speak to him.
About Liam and His Role
Liam joined Lorimer in August and quickly settled into his role supporting foster carers. He explains his job simply: he helps carers in “any remit possible” and makes sure they meet fostering standards. But for him, it’s what happens within families – the moments of growth, connection and change – that matter the most.
He talks about how varied the job can be and how rewarding that is. No two days are the same, and he wouldn’t want them to be. Supporting carers through difficult moments and watching young people settle, grow and thrive is what motivates him. Sharing one example, he lights up talking about a young person who once faced constant instability but now continues to live with her foster carer while studying at university:
“Looking back at all the hard times they persevered with… that’s huge. Being part of that journey is massive.”
What Attracted Liam to Lorimer
When asked what made Lorimer stand out, Liam doesn’t hesitate: the family feel. From his very first visit, he sensed that the team genuinely care – not just about the families they support, but about one another too.
He loves that sense of openness. Whether it’s another social worker, someone in the targeted support team, or a manager, he says:
“You’re not short of support… it helps you grow as a professional.”
He also appreciates how connected the team stays. Even when a carer calls out of hours, whoever picks up already knows what’s going on. For him, that consistency means carers feel seen, understood and never alone – something he describes as a real strength of Lorimer.
Liam’s Journey Into Social Work and Fostering
Liam originally studied Criminology and Sociology, driven by curiosity about how families and communities function. That curiosity grew into a desire to understand how adversity shapes young people’s lives – and more importantly, how things can be changed for the better.
His placements and early roles took him into child protection and exploitation work within inner‑city teams. These experiences were eye‑opening. He saw first‑hand how urgently children needed stable, nurturing foster homes – and how often social workers were left desperately searching for placements late at night, hoping for a space that simply didn’t exist.
Those experiences shaped him in a profound way. Moving into fostering felt like the right next step.
“I wanted to get more foster carers in. I wanted to retain them. I wanted to provide environments for children that help them prosper.”
Supporting carers so they can offer stability – and seeing the impact of that stability over time – has become one of the most meaningful parts of his career.
What Makes a Great Foster Carer
When Liam talks about the qualities that make a strong foster carer, the list isn’t complicated – and it certainly isn’t about professional qualifications.
He believes compassion is essential, especially for children who may never have experienced calm, consistent care before. He also stresses commitment and perseverance, especially when things feel tough:
“There’s a level of emotional commitment that’s needed… modelling what a healthy relationship looks like is huge.”
But one message comes up again and again: carers often underestimate how valuable their life experience is.
“Your life is your qualification.”
And when it comes to helping a young person feel part of a family, he encourages carers to simply continue living their lives – bring children along to everyday routines, family activities, and connections that already exist.
“Include them in the natural things you do… they want to feel normal and included.”
What Makes Lorimer Different
Liam returns again and again to the word inclusive. For him, Lorimer’s strength lies in the fact that everyone is connected – from team meetings to email updates to on‑call support. It means no one is ever left repeating their story or trying to find their way through a crisis alone.
He speaks warmly about how approachable managers are, something he describes as not always the norm in other settings. Being able to ask questions, reflect together and learn openly makes a huge difference, especially in such a complex and emotional field.
Advice for Someone Thinking About Fostering
Liam’s advice is refreshingly honest and reassuring. He encourages people to see the young person before anything else:
“See the child as a child… it’s not all doom and gloom.”
He knows there can be challenges, but wants people to understand that fostering isn’t about managing constant crises – far from it. Many children settle quickly and simply want what all young people want: normality, belonging and care.
And importantly, he reminds people that foster carers are never alone:
“There are so many people around… you’re not alone with the challenges.”
Life Outside of Work
Outside of work, Liam’s life is full – in a lovely, slightly chaotic way. He and his fiancée are planning their spring wedding, and much of their free time revolves around Bonnie, their high‑energy Hungarian Vizsla. Liam laughs, describing her as “part kangaroo, part Tasmanian devil.”
He loves weekends in Anglesey, watching (and stressing over) Manchester United, and – in a slightly unexpected twist – learning to play the harmonica. Inspired by Irish folk music and encouraged by a birthday gift from his fiancée, he’s been practising ever since.
One Word to Describe His Job
After a pause, Liam settles on one fitting word: passionate.
He treats social work as a vocation, driven by his desire to support carers, empower families, and help children find the stability they deserve.
A Huge Thank You to Liam
We’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to Liam for taking the time to chat with us. It was a pleasure hearing more about the experiences that shaped his journey into fostering, what inspires him in his day‑to‑day work, and even a little about life outside the office.
We’re grateful to have him as part of the Lorimer family, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact he continues to make with our foster carers and the young people we support.
For more meet the team posts like this one, check out our blogs page!
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