Social services Foster carers' real-life stories

Sarah's story...

I have a background in childcare and have children of my own. When I started thinking about fostering I rang Manchester City Council, even though I live outside Manchester. An information pack promptly arrived, and that was the beginning of my journey into fostering. It can be daunting when you get your first placement. I was at work when I got the call, and I had to say to my colleagues “I won’t be in tomorrow”.

Being a single carer keeps you busy – taking the children to school, making sure they attend contact visits with their birth family, and keeping records of their progress. I’ve been doing it for many years now though, and I can honestly say I love fostering. As time goes on and you keep completing training courses, you gain confidence and become quite creative. For example, my current child in placement is getting ready to be adopted with her two siblings, which is lovely – unusual, but lovely. All the foster carers involved with the family have been meeting at the weekends so that the children can bond and play together before they move in with their forever family.

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