Interview with foster carers Mick and Paula

Paula and Mick are foster carers for Plymouth City Council and have been looking after other people’s children for nine years. Paula said, "I imagine we’ve looked after about 40 children. Some we’ve literally had overnight as an emergency, and others we’ve had around two years, right the way through to adoption."

Paula and Mick agree that the best thing about fostering is making a difference. Mick said, "You feel you’re really making a difference and giving them a good start. You get a lot of reward from seeing them change and grow."

Paula and Mick spoke about some of the children they have cared for. Mick said, "One child was absolutely brilliant. When she arrived she was completely mute and led a silent life. She was petrified of sounds, like shopping and the hoover. It was quite horrifying to see, then she just blossomed. Her speech came out and she became a real little character. She used to have us in fits of laughter! When you see a child blossom like that, it makes a huge difference."

Paula said, "The worst thing about fostering is letting go. You’ve got to be prepared for when the children do move on, as you put so much into them. You need to treat them like your own and still be prepared to part from them at the end of the day. From the start, you wait for the time when they move back to their parents or to a new adoptive family. To see them getting on and thriving makes it all worthwhile. The sadness does ease and although it’s always there, you feel happy for them as you’ve succeeded in what you set out to do."

Mick explained that it helps for them to keep in touch with the children after they have moved on, and said, "We’re still in touch with 99% of the adopters we’ve worked with". He added, "When moving children on, you’ve got to put things into perspective. It’s so rewarding to see the family dream happening for childless couples when a child moves onto them for adoption – that balances it all out really."

When asked about the impact of fostering on family life, Mick explained that they started fostering when their children were at school. He said, "We always said we would reconsider the fostering if it disrupted family life too much, but this never happened. It has brought more benefits than losses to our children as it has given them a better understanding of life. They have more consideration and empathy for others. The fostering will help them move into their adult lives."

When asked what she would say to people considering fostering, Paula said, "For us, fostering has been very, very rewarding. We’ve got a lot of satisfaction from it and it’s something you need to really think about." Mick added, "You’ve got to do it for the right reasons. It’s not really a job - as well as giving children our home, we give them a place in our hearts."