Fostering is about being the child’s voice, and having the right support behind you
Jackie has been a foster carer for 18 years and has cared for more than 36 children and teenagers. Most of her placements have been short-term, though she has provided several long-term homes.
One of the longest placements was for a disabled child who stayed with Jackie for 13 years. Today, as an adult, she still receives Jackie’s ongoing support. Several other children, now adults, continue to stay in touch.
Another child stayed with Jackie for six years. When she arrived, she had not been attending school. Jackie advocated persistently for one-to-one home tuition and successfully challenged the local authority to secure the support the child needed.
“Fostering can be challenging and also rewarding in my time I’ve managed complex trauma, emotional issues, anger, attachment, child exploitation.”
Jackie’s journey into fostering began with a long-held ambition to become a social worker.
“I always wanted to be a social worker. I made a promise to my father that one day I would look for his grandson who was in care”.
Although she began studying and was accepted into university, financial pressures meant she could not continue. Instead, she chose fostering as a way to make a difference.
Before fostering, Jackie worked in education with children with special education needs (SEN), including those with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD).
In her first five years as a foster carer, Jakcie worked with a local authority while also continuing her role in education. Over time, she became concerned about what she saw.
“I felt the local authority were failing the children. When I spoke out, because I see myself as the child’s voice, I was bullied. Eventually I knew I had to leave.”
Around 2011, Jackie joined an independent fostering agency (IFA), a move she says transformed her experience.
“I receive regular calls from my supervising social worker, who always asks about me as well as the children. When she visits, she brings small gifts or sweets for the children. I feel valued and listened to.”
While passionate about fostering, Jackie believes more needs to be done to recognise carers as professionals.
“Fostering is a 24/7 role. When you break it down, it can work out at less than £3 an hour. We need better working conditions – pensions, sick pay, holiday pay. Other working people receive these basic rights.”
She also believes carers would benefit from structured respite.
“A two-week paid break would allow foster carers to spend time with their own families. We support children to maintain contact with their families. We need support too. Relying on informal networks isn’t always possible.”
Looking ahead, Jackie has one personal ambition she hopes to fulfil.
“One day I’d love to write a book about my fostering journey. I’ve started it, but like most foster carers, I never quite seem to have the time to finish.”
