Sue and Steve’s Fostering Journey with Caritas Care: A journey of dedication, faith and transferring agencies.

Sue and Steve have been dedicated foster carers since 2011. Their journey into fostering began after a pivotal moment in their lives: Steve’s stroke in 2008. This life-changing event led them to re-evaluate their future and careers. Sue reflects, “Our decision to foster came after Steve’s stroke. Fostering became something we could do together.”

Sue continued, “Steve didn’t think he would qualify with now having a disability, but I said there’s no harm in trying. The only difference with anyone else was we had the medical first whereas that is usually later on in the assessment process.”

After fostering with their Local Authority for nearly a decade, Sue and Steve transitioned to Caritas Care in early 2021, bringing along the two children they were fostering at the time. Their first placement with Caritas Care was a sibling group, aged 10 and 8, who settled in well with their family and grandchildren. Today, they provide a nurturing home for a young person on a long-term basis.

Sue shares, “We fostered newborns and toddlers with our Local Authority for over 10 years. As our family grew and our grandchildren got older, we decided to foster school-age children. We needed stability and support, so we explored other agencies and found Caritas Care. The transfer was smooth, and we felt an immediate sense of belonging with them.”

Sue and Steve’s Christian faith plays a crucial role in their fostering journey. “As Christians, helping others is inherent to us. The children join us at Church, feeling safe and part of our Church family. Our faith helps instil values and a sense of belonging,” Sue explains.

“All our foster children are unique and come with their own personalities, skills, and struggles. Understanding their past and nurturing their growth is a continuous process. We’ve learned de-escalation techniques to better manage behavior and foster positive growth,” says Sue.

Family support is vital for Sue and Steve. “Our children and grandchildren have welcomed our foster children with open arms, providing practical and emotional support,” Sue notes. “The support we have received from Caritas Care has been excellent! Our Social Worker is always here for us and gives us the support we need whenever we need it. She ‘gets us’! We appreciate the personal support and training that we receive, not only for us but also for the children we care for. We know that we can pick up the phone and talk through any issues we have at any time, and there’s always someone there for us. This is something that we were sadly lacking with our previous agency.”

Sue believes that compassion, resilience, and patience are key qualities of a good foster carer. “Every night, we tell our foster child we love them. Labels can harm, so we focus on who they are as individuals. Our daughter, diagnosed with Autism and Dyslexia, overcame barriers with love and support, proving that understanding and nurturing can lead to success,” she shares.

Sue and Steve’s story is a testament to the power of fostering and the positive impact it can have on children’s lives. Their dedication, faith, and unwavering support have created a nurturing environment for their foster children, helping them thrive and grow.

Click here to enquire about fostering with Caritas Care or complete the form opposite and a member of our team will contact you.