When Sian first considered fostering in 2005, it was more than a passing thought, it was something that had always quietly sat in the back of her mind. It wasn’t until her then 12 year old son mention it the she decided to take the leap and make an enquiry. That moment led her to Caritas Care and she has been with us ever since.

“It was just something I’d always thought about.  When my son brought it up, it gave me that final nudge. Caritas Care were the first agency I contacted. They were local and approachable, so it just felt right.”

Sian’s first experience in fostering was challenging. She initially cared for a child with complex needs, which she found was a challenging introduction to the role. However, rather than being discouraged, Sian chose to see this as part of her learning. With her son’s unwavering support, “You can’t give up after the first one,” he reminded her!  Sian decided to give it another try and the second child who came to stay with her changed everything…

“He was so frightened when he arrived but over time, I watch him grow into a happy and healthy little boy. He was later adopted and I still hear from his family from time to time. That was such a lovely experience and it gave me hope.”

Throughout her fostering journey, Sian’s son has been her rock. From a young age, he embraced fostering with a maturity and compassion.

“He has always been on board, helpful, kind and understanding. He has never once made me feel like I was giving more attention to the foster children than him. That’s something I know not everyone experiences and I feel lucky.”

This family wide support has created a nurturing and stable environment for every child that has entered Sian’s home. Over the years, she has supported children through short term and long term fostering.  She has cared for five children long term and many have stayed with her for years and some into early adulthood, thanks to the Staying Put scheme.

“I had a boy and a girl come to me at the ages of seven and nine who stayed with me until adulthood. Watching them grow into independent and happy adults with jobs, confidence and kindness – well, there’s nothing more rewarding than that!”

Sian talks about a recent moment one of her foster children turned up with flowers and a card to celebrate her 20 years of fostering.  “He said, ‘congratulations, this is for everything you’ve done.’ It brought tears to my eyes.”

One of the things that Sian values most about her fostering journey is the consistent support she’s received from Caritas Care

“I’ve had very few changes in supervising social workers over the years, which has made a huge difference. You build relationships, they get to know you and you always know there’s someone at the other end of the phone who understands.”

From day to day advice to specialist training tailored to the needs of the children in her care, Sian says the team has been “always there and always helpful,”

Fostering hasn’t always been easy, but Sian has met every challenge with patience and understanding.

“When children display challenging behaviour, it’s about stepping back and understanding why. You work through it with love and patience.  Caritas Care has always been there to help guide me when I needed it.”

When asked what she would say to someone considering fostering, Sian says, Do it. It’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. You watch these children overcome so much and you know you played a part in helping them grow into the people they are meant to be.

I’d absolutely recommend Caritas Care. They’ve supported me from the very start and I wouldn’t have done it without them.”

*names have been changed to protect identity.