Fostering children with disabilities - Karen's story

Six years ago, I began fostering as a single carer. My four children had grown up and I realised I would soon have even more spare time after retiring from work. I thought I could use this time to make a difference to the lives of children in care, so I decided to contact Essex County Council to see what fostering opportunities there were.

I found out about respite care, which I could manage while still working full-time as a headteacher at a primary school. Respite fostering worked well for me as I could spare the time during weekends and school holidays.

Families request respite care for various reasons – sometimes the child is unable to attend an event with their family, or the family just need to take a break for themselves. Foster carers also need respite care sometimes, with other foster carers stepping in to support.

Looking after children with special needs can be demanding – they often need an adult’s full attention, consistently, and that can be challenging. That’s why respite and shared care is important for these families – it gives them a little break and helps them to be able to carry on looking after them. A small amount of support can make a big difference to families.

That’s why I love what I do – not only am I caring for the children, but I am also helping families.

Now that I have retired from full-time teaching, I work regularly with four different children, all with special needs. Having worked as a headteacher for a number of years, I have experience working with children with disabilities, but it isn’t always necessary.

Fostering is very rewarding. It’s good to feel that you’re making a difference to children’s and families’ lives, but it’s also really enjoyable. When a child comes through the front door and gives me a big hug because they’re happy to see me, it’s those moments that are really special.

It’s also amazing to see how the children change from when they first came into care – their academic progress, better concentration, and their growth each time I see them.

Fostering can lead to some special relationships, too. One child I looked after has built a strong relationship with my son – he always looks for him whenever he comes to stay, and my son will come home to see him when he knows he’s there. One or two of the children I care for have a good relationship with my mum, too. It’s also really nice for my mum to have some younger children in her life, because the children in our family have grown up.

Some of the children I look after are non-verbal, but even though they can’t tell me that they’re happy, I can see that they are. That’s when I feel really positive about the support I’m offering them.

Essex County Council have been really supportive of me throughout my fostering journey and want the best for the children.

All of the social workers have been lovely. They advocate the right thing for the children, but also completely understand my own boundaries and decisions. I have always felt confident to talk things through with them.

There is also a lot of support from other carers – we’ve built a network of people who understand, and our local support group is a great place to engage with other people who foster.

Essex County Council are brilliant when it comes to matching you with the right children for your circumstances. If you ever feel like the placement wouldn’t work, you feel empowered to decline it – as a sole carer, I have had to make this decision before, and Essex County Council have supported me the whole way through to the right placement.

If you’re thinking about fostering, I’d really recommend reaching out to Essex County Council for more information. It is so rewarding, and it gives you the chance to make a real difference to families’ lives.

Get in touch 

If you’re passionate about making a difference to the lives of vulnerable children and young people, you could be a fantastic foster carer. Our enquiry team will work with you individually, offering advice tailored to your situation.  

If you’re thinking about fostering, ask for an enquiry pack today to learn more.