Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Being a foster parent is absolutely amazing
A “WORK” field in which you can have an amazing impact on a young person’s life is fostering.
Carol Gordon, 48, lives in Angus with her husband who has a gardening business, two children, and adored pets.
Carol has always been drawn to social work but, after school, worked in retail and fell into childminding when she became a mum.
This led to Carol becoming a community child minder, working with families in need, to help parents with mental health problems, disability and those where there were child protection concerns.
Eventually, Carol’s love of working with children drew her to becoming a foster carer — and Fostering People in Dundee made it happen.
Fostering a child can be one of the most rewarding things you ever do.
Across Scotland there is a shortage of more than 800 foster families for children and young people who are unable to live with their own families.
The largest fostering agency in Scotland, it offers all the training and 24/7 support and advice.
Fostering has been a big change for Carol’s family but, during their assessment, they were fully on board.
Carol said: “I am proud of my son. He is very academic and, during the assessment process, he did a lot of reading up about fostering. I am really proud of him because he has taken it all in his stride.
“Fostering People invites feedback about fostering from birth. My supervising social worker comes out to talk to the children about their feedback.
“It’s another example of the support from the agency and how they really do listen to you as a family, not just you as a foster carer.
“I was approached by Fostering People to take a four-year-old girl, due to my childminding experience. It was felt to be a good match.
“She was a very bubbly little girl, very intelligent and feisty — but also scared. She was trying to please all of the time.
“She responded well to being shown affection. A hug is a lot more effective than a punishment. Her tantrums have now all but gone and she is a very different little girl.”
Carol added: “To anyone thinking of fostering, pick a company that will support you and the whole family, a professional organisation that cares.
“Fostering People knew my skills and matched carefully to ensure we got the right child to achieve the best outcome”.