Foster carer case study : Sheila Branson and Wendy Fowler

Foster carers from Stockton Borough Council have come forward to share their stories and highlight the rewards of fostering in a bid to encourage other people to picture themselves as foster carers.

You can foster... Teenagers

Sheila Branson, 64 has been fostering for Stockton Borough Council for 16 years and in this time has fostered seven long term placements with the majority of these being older children.

Sheila didn't know much about fostering initially but a programme on TV about fostering during Foster Care Fortnight really touched a nerve with her and she couldn't wait to ring the number the next day to find out more.

Shelia says: "I used to care for my Dad and after his death I still felt I had a lot of love and care to give to someone and when I saw the programme on fostering it seemed like the perfect opportunity to really make a difference to young people's lives. I haven't looked back since."

Sheila is still in contact with many of her placements and is delighted with how they have developed into young adults.

One of her success stories was a teenage boy who was with Sheila for four years. Sheila says: "He was very focused on his education and had the choice to return to his birth mother who he cared for but for the sake of his education he wanted to stay with me and is now studying for a degree at University"

Sheila is also very proud of a youngster who came to stay with her when she was 12 years old. She says: "When she first came here she was very quiet but I encourage the children to talk and she took no time to settle in. She has now graduated from University and has her own place and is a fantastic mum to her baby boy."

Sheila also has two grown up children who thoroughly enjoyed the experience of fostering and her three grandchildren are very proud of the work that their 'Nanna' does for the young people.

She praises the training organised by Stockton Council's Child Placement Team which continues after the foster carer has been approved. Sheila has been on courses about drug awareness and living with children who have been through sexual abuse.

Sheila says: "These courses can be harrowing but it is very important for foster carers to have this information and knowledge as they might need to use it in their placements."

Sheila would like to carry on fostering for as long as she can.

Sheila says: "The most rewarding part of fostering is seeing how the kids come on and letting them feel at home and I would encourage anyone who likes children and will class the children as their own to give it a go."

You can foster... siblings

Wendy Fowler, 51 has been fostering for Stockton Borough Council for seven years. During this time she has fostered seven children, including two sets of siblings.

Wendy first thought about fostering ten years ago and as fate has it she was called on to help look after a friend's girls so was approved as a family and friends foster carer. These two girls stayed with Wendy from the age of 12 and 13 years old until they were 18.

Wendy says: "I enjoyed this experience of fostering so much that I wanted to sign up to foster other children who needed care and a home."

Wendy was keen to look after children from five years old upwards and already had experience of looking after sisters so was happy to foster siblings.

Wendy loves seeing the difference in the children she fosters as they settle into their new home.

Wendy says: "One boy arrived with a history of getting into trouble as he came from a background with little discipline. I was determined to work with him through his problems and I have been delighted to see the change in him over the three years he has been with me. He has come on leaps and bounds and I am proud to present him into society."

Wendy has five children of her own with one still living at home and they have all enjoyed the experience of fostering.

Wendy says: "I always make sure that I treat everyone in the household the same and we always follow the same house rules. When the children come through the door I tell them that this is their home now and I allow them to have a say in how they want their rooms decorated."

Wendy enjoys the training and skills she has developed through fostering and has gained her Health and Social Care NVQ Level 3 in working with children and young people. She is currently looking to do further Child Care courses at college.

Wendy says: "I wish I had started fostering when I was younger as it has really helped my confidence and has brought me out of my shell. I am now happy to speak in front of people and tell everyone I meet about the rewards of fostering."

Wendy has important advice for anyone considering fostering: "Do it, don't put it off as it is the most rewarding and challenging thing you can do. In all my years fostering I have never lost sight of why I am doing it. It is important to have that love of children."

Wendy praises the support she has received from the Child Placement Team. She says: "The team around me has kept me fostering and it is important to remember that you do work as part of a team and you have to be able to get on with everyone for the sake of the child."

Wendy has helped develop and encourage the children she has looked after but one achievement really stands out for her.

She says: "A young girl came to stay with me when she was 12 years old but she was fighting a lot with her sister so the decision was made for her to move. A few years later when she was 15 she came back to live with me and told me how she wanted to do well at school and get good grades as she hadn't really been interested up until now. I helped her through her last year at school and reminded her why she was putting all the hard work in. I was so proud of her as she managed to get her GCSE’s and NVQ Level 2 in Child Care and a Hair and Beauty qualification."

Wendy comes from a family of 14 so is used to having a full house and would like to carry on fostering for as long as she is able to.