Fitzgerald Fostering’s Post

Transcript

I've always wanted to foster for many years. I saw an advert for Fitzgerald fostering. I made an application. We had looked into this about 20 years ago, but circumstances have changed at that point, so we couldn't proceed. So as soon as we had the meeting with Fitzgerald, we knew we chosen the right agency. I think for us it was just the genuineness and it was really easy with the application process. They gave us lots of support as well. We went through many. Situations and they were always there at the end of the phone or in person. You know, our social worker would come out anytime of the day and it was just what we needed. We do PDS, personal groups where we go with other carers. I'm in a particular group so it's not the same people each time. So we get to know each other, we talk things through when we've had a difficult time. It helps to hear that other people are going through the same and you might find a different way of coping with something that you hadn't. The alleged before and I learned an awful lot. Some of the challenges we had initially was learning how to parent together because we've never really done that. Fitzgerald were there to advise, sometimes act as a mediator because as much as we had very similar values, there were different ways we might approach the challenges and changes that we were going through as a couple when when Oliver joined us. Like others, I might have not jumped from placement to placement, but I've still got a huge feel for what it's like. Fitzgerald has been there to help us. And they've just always been supportive with what I've wanted to do and what Iron and Karen have wanted to do. I've got lots of care and I've got lots of love from the people around me. I would recommend fostering to same sex couples or even single people or or older people. We've done it through Fitzgerald and I've never looked back. It's having people there that you can rely on, that you understand and you can be yourself with. I wish I'd done this earlier. To be a foster carer for me has changed. My life is completely taken, my heart.