Transferring to Fitzgerald Fostering

Shelley, a single Mum, has been a foster carer for over a decade. She began by fostering a 7 week-old baby for 9 months, and then opted for longer-term placements, predominantly with teenage boys. Having always fostered through her local authority throughout her foster care journey, she recently decided to transfer to Fitzgerald Fostering and is now providing a loving home for 13 year old, Sam.*

Here Shelley shares her experience of moving over to Fitzgerald Fostering and what she most enjoys about being a foster carer.

What made you decide to move to Fitzgerald Fostering?
I wasn’t actively looking to transfer but I spotted a post on Bracknell News’ Facebook about Fitzgerald Fostering launching the Fitzgerald Foundation to provide practical support to young people over 18 who have been in foster care. This really hit home for me because I had experienced so many frustrations over the years trying to get support for the young people I was looking after who were at this stage. I contacted Fitzgerald Fostering to find out more about them and really liked the sound of how much they support their foster carers.

Sue Beale, Registered Manager at Fitzgerald Fostering, came to see me. She was a really good mix of being professional and caring. Everything she told me about the agency and how they would approach some of the challenges I had faced when fostering made me very interested in a possible transfer.

Sue put me in touch with one of their foster carers and I got a really good feeling about the agency, how responsive they are, the stability of the team, and how they help their foster carers to get the best possible outcomes for the children in their care.  I met a number of people from the Fitzgerald Fostering team, including the CEO, and from everything I heard, I really felt they would have my back.

How easy was the transfer process?
It was simple. The Fitzgerald Fostering team did most of the work so it was very straight forward for me. Because I am an experienced foster carer,  the process involved providing information  about my experience as a foster carer rather than in-depth information about my  background as this was already known.

I was nervous for the approval panel – because I really wanted the transfer to be accepted and you never know it if will be –  but Baljit, Fitzgerald Fostering’s Therapist and Social Worker, was with me and answered quite a few of the questions. The panel members were very kind. They gave me lots of compliments and I felt really appreciated.

How was the matching process?
It was perfect. Fitzgerald Fostering took my preferences into account and considered who would be a good match in my family set up – my own son, Tom is now 24 and I am also looking after Leo who is 19 and on a staying put arrangement. Fitzgerald found the ideal match for our ‘little group’ at home.  Because I was going on holiday before Sam moved in with us, we had a long transition period. This meant that I got to know him really well. His previous foster carer –  who was also at Fitzgerald Fostering but had to take a break due to family circumstances -gave me lots of information about him which was very helpful for making everything go as smoothly as possible for Sam. Sam is the tenth child I have fostered and he is already adapting really well to his new environment.

Having transferred to Fitzgerald Fostering, how are you finding it?
I definitely made the right decision to transfer. I can chat to the team at any time and can also pop into their office for a coffee if I need to talk. Two things really stand out for me. Firstly, I feel that they have got to know my needs and adapt their systems to suit me – for example, they understand that with my ADHD, I can find the paperwork difficult, so they let me call them to talk through my log sheets before they’re completed. This flexible approach makes such as difference for me.  Secondly, and really importantly, I don’t feel like I’m doing this on my own.

Yvie, Fitzgerald Fostering’s Supervising Social Worker, Sue, and Fitzgerald Fostering’s Managing Director, James are helping me in more ways than I thought possible. It’s not just me now trying to navigate the system to arrange access to therapy for my foster child, for example. I have a team of people helping me – and that is going to make a world of difference! If I have an issue with how I’m handling a situation, the team at Fitzgerald are there to support me – and I really can call them anytime of the day or night. If I need support for Sam, they do all they can to help with this. I definitely feel listened to and that my viewpoint about Sam’s requirements really matters.

What would your advice be to someone who considering transferring to another provider?
Do what’s right for you – but if you aren’t feeling valued for the job you are doing as a foster carer, then that should be a trigger to make you look for an alternative provider.

What do you most enjoy about being a foster carer?
It is rewarding – and it’s the little steps of progress, what I call ‘the first pump moments’, that keep you doing this. Things like seeing one of the boys wiping the crumbs off the kitchen worktop or putting the toilet seat down may not seem a big deal to some people, but for me, knowing the challenges that the boys have had, really make me proud.

The reality is, this is a job and it gives me a lovely life. Today, for example, I’ve been to Pilates and I’ve walked the dog. My job starts after 3pm when Sam comes home from school – so I have time for myself in the day and time to focus on Sam when he needs me.

I wouldn’t want to do anything else! I really think that fostering has made me a better person and has changed my way of life. Instead of spending time in the pub at the weekend, for example, I will go for a lovely long bike ride with Sam. I think I’ve got one of the best lives of all the people I know. I love all of the young people who I have fostered. They have been such an important part of my life –  they have done as much for me as I have done for them!

What would be your advice to someone who is considering fostering?
If you have a spare room and can give the time and love to a young person who needs somewhere safe to live and just wants a normal life, then do it!

I’d also say that if you have your own child or children, consider fostering as well. My son has really benefitted from having  foster siblings. He even thinks he might like to be a foster carer himself in future. Given that he understands the highs and lows involved in fostering, this is a real testament to what a great thing it is to do!

*The real names of the boys have not been used.

Thanks so much, Shelley for sharing this information with us.

If you are considering transferring and would like a confidential chat, please contact Sue or James at Fitzgerald Fostering on 01753550031