Foster carer case study : Jane Richardson

Talking to Jane Richardson, anyone could be inspired to become a foster carer.

Jane, 50, has been a foster carer with Stockton Council's Child Placement Team for the last 24 years and carries a wealth of experience, knowledge and, crucially, enthusiasm for the job.

She thoroughly enjoys her role and definitely could never see herself doing anything else like working in a supermarket or bank. When she began all those years ago, she knew she had found her niche in life.

She would encourage anyone with even the slightest inkling that foster caring could be something they would consider to simply pick up the phone to find out more.

That said, Jane emphasises that the path to actually becoming a fully-fledged foster carer is a very thorough process, as prospective carers must follow a training programme and be fully checked. This includes revealing information about themselves as people, their background and even their family history.

Once foster carers are ready to take a child or young person, Stockton's Child Placement team tries, wherever possible, to match their preference for a child's age and gender. Some foster carers like to work with young or very young children and others, like Jane, prefer to work with teenagers.

Jane says: "There is absolutely no harm in picking up the phone to find out about what's involved in being a foster carer. There's no pressure to commit as either party (foster carer or the Child Placement team) can change their mind."

When Jane first started foster caring she had two young children of her own but still felt she had something to offer other children who were in difficult circumstances.

Jane recalls some of the children she has
cared for and said: "One little three year-old was quite disturbed when he came to me and was quite a challenge. Sometimes it can take months for a child to adapt to a change of home."

To bring a child or young person into your home means that although it is a job, it also entails welcoming them into the heart of your family - a fine balance which, if successful, is "just about the most rewarding thing you can do for a child" says Jane.

If and when the young person leaves your care it can be naturally sad in some ways but hopefully a joyful one too, knowing the child is going back to their parents or moving on to better things.

Jane says she constantly monitors and analyses herself to make sure she is getting the balance right - making sure a child feels secure but also that they follow her home rules and guidelines.

She has 'firm boundaries' of how they should behave both at home and outside and agrees with the rules advocated by Jo Frost in the TV series 'Supernanny'. Rules include respect for others, no abuse whether physical or verbal and no swearing.

Support is always on hand for Stockton's foster carers and Jane can't speak highly enough
of Stockton's Child Placement team.

She said: "They are truly fantastic and always there at the end of the phone with help and
support."

Over the years, Jane has taken the children she has cared for on holidays enjoying each other's company. She recently bought a caravan near Barnard Castle to spend weekends and school holidays there.

It's a busy life for Jane but one she says "keeps me young" and she will continue to foster as long as her health will allow.

With countless memories of her job she says she could write a book - who knows, she might just do that one day.

If you would like more information about fostering and adoption, take Jane's advice and call Stockton Council's Child Placement team.