More foster homes needed in West Berkshire

Children's charity Barnardos say more homes are needed, while one parent has spoken of the rewards of fostering

A FOSTER carer from Newbury has spoken of the enormous benefit that her role can bring to children, as West Berkshire Council and children's charity, Barnados, highlight the need for more placements for young people to be housed.

The Newbury woman, who is being identified only as Pauline for the protection of the children she cares for, has told Newburytoday.co.uk of her experience in fostering more than 55 children and teenagers since becoming a foster carer in the year 2000.

She has also looked after newborns, and was the first in West Berkshire to take on a mother and baby and father, and said the best part of the job was seeing children settle and blossom.

"You need patience and understanding and definitely some child knowledge,” said Pauline.

"For me, fostering is seeing the child flourish, seeing them put their experiences behind them and seeing that there are bigger and better things out there."

Pauline has two daughters of her own - a 19-year-old and a 16-year-old, who were eight and five when she first started fostering.

She said that bringing foster children into their home did have an affect on her own children, and added: "It's difficult for them to share when you bring children into the house or into your home.

"I think it's difficult for younger children to understand that they have to share – their mum or their toys.

"They get used to it quickly though and adapt very quickly."

She added that the one thing she would tell prospective foster carers was that it was a very rewarding job which you had to treat like a career.

"It may be a job but it's one-to-one - a personal job that's in your home," she added.

There are currently about 56 or 57 foster homes in West Berkshire at the moment and about 100 children in foster care.

West Berkshire Council assistant team manager of the family placement team, Keith Langley, said that more carers were currently needed, and added: "There are a lot of vulnerable children out there who are looking for the support of a foster home.

"We try to recruit a certain amount every year – it would be great if we got about another 12 to 15 in the next 12 months."

Meanwhile, Barnardos has announced that it is desperately seeking to recruit foster carers and adopters in Berkshire, because of a major shortage of people willing to offer children a safe and nurturing home.

Anyone interested in fostering or adoption should click on the link below or call 0800 0277 280.