Jeanne, a St Christopher’s foster carer, is going to share
her highlights of fostering since she started in 2010. She starts with her
first year and meeting her foster child.
January 2010
It’s my birthday. An early evening call and my first
placement is on her way: Social services turn up with a little dot of a girl
dressed in oversized jogging bottoms and undersized padded jacket.
She stands, back to the radiator, and asks if she may have a
sleepover. Those first months full of multi-agency intervention, stressed
parental contacts and disclosures rocked my world. They underlined why we need
caring, nurturing, foster carers, who can rapidly respond to the needs of those
children placed with us for no fault of their own.
My family’s understanding, love and support gave me the
strength to recognise the care she needed. The early identification of the
various syndromes and developmental disabilities, both educational and physical,
she suffered, gave me the courage and energy to summon the agencies required to
meet the needs of the child. This early intervention will enable her to work
towards normality and a happy childhood.
Her delight at being in a safe environment where she is
valued and her views respected was obvious from the start. We had difficulties.
We had a 40-minute drive to and from the school she was placed. The first year
we had more than 60 appointments to attend but the joy she brought us balanced
out the negatives.
In my next post I will share some highlights from fostering
in 2011.
To find out more about fostering with St Christopher’s call us on 0800
234 6282 or email fostering@stchris.org.uk
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