Debbie loves fostering teenagers

Ellesmere Port foster carer Debbie has been fostering for Cheshire West and Chester Council for  nine years. She is married to Paul and they have a daughter and son, and three grandchildren.

Before Debbie became a foster carer she was a bank manager. They love going on holidays as a family and entertaining at home. They have a dog so do a lot of walking and enjoy kayaking and camping too.

Why did you become a foster carer?

“I became a foster care because I wanted to give other children the opportunities that I had as a child and that my children had too. For myself, I wanted to “work from home”.

“We have fostered over thirty children and we do long term, short term and emergencies for 0 to 18 year olds, any gender. I really enjoy fostering teenagers and we currently have siblings.”

Do you have any advice for anyone thinking of becoming a foster carer or starting the process?

“Ask as many questions, be open and honest, have plenty of reflection time. Do the scenarios in the Skills to Foster book to gain an insight. Talk to others and always remember why you wanted to do it in the first place.”

What have been the positives of fostering?

“Seeing children progress in life. The times when you never think you will see them again but you do, even years later! Building a relationship with birth parents and helping them to have their children home. It makes you feel you have accomplished something very special, no other vocation can do that. You make great fostering friends along the way too.”

What have been the challenges?

“Family time can be hard but it is so, so important if the plan is for the child to return home, especially the babies. Remembering the trauma that children have witnessed and the ability to take a step back and understand what it may have been like for them.

“Making a connection with an older child can be hard and takes a lot of empathy.”

If you would like to become a foster carer, please request an information pack and make an enquiry today at www.foster4.co.uk/enquire