For the past 18 months, Jess and Dan have been respite foster carers. They have fostered six children, from toddlers to siblings, from a single night to 15 days. One child stays for a weekend every month.
They, along with seven-year-old daughter Rachel, have first-hand experience helping to transform the lives of children.
“It’s been rewarding but exhausting!” said Jess, 36, a special educational needs (SEN) teacher. “But we have no regrets. To know you’ve made a real difference is very rewarding.”
The couple chose to foster after a suggestion from friends who had just adopted. In addition, a difficult first birth for Jess resulted in them deciding against having further children.
Jess and Dan now foster through the council’s Fostering Service and they have been particularly struck by the positive effects on Rachel. “Our family has grown enormously, and it’s given her the chance to be the sibling she’s always desperately wanted to be. She’s gone from being an only child to having what she calls her foster siblings.”
Despite the short-term care, Jess and Dan always form strong emotional bonds with their foster children. Jess said: “You can’t help but get attached to them. You give everything you’ve got while you’ve got them. Some we know we’ll see again. Some we know we won’t. You do become invested in them and want the best outcomes for them.
“For anyone considering the role, you need a good heart and a willingness to open your doors. Go along to recruitment events with an open mind and listen to your gut instinct.”