How a phone call changed my life
Foster Carer Rosie began her fostering journey after being approved as a respite carer with Bury Council just over a year ago. Little did she expect that soon afterwards she would become a full-time foster carer to an 8-year-old child.
Rosie, who has two adult sons of her own and three grandchildren, said “I had a friend who was a full-time foster carer and a couple of years ago we wanted to go on holiday, and she had to apply for respite so that she was able to take the time to do this. That started me thinking that perhaps I could provide respite care – I originally thought I would like to help other foster carers to be able to take time out.”
After contacting Bury Council’s fostering team for an initial conversation, attending a training course and undergoing the necessary checks, Rosie was approved as a respite carer, and soon afterwards found herself looking after two siblings for a weekend. A month later, she received a call that changed her life.
“My social worker called me and said they were looking to place a young girl that weekend – and that is when she revealed they were looking for this to be full-time and asked if I would give it some thought.”
Although Rosie had not originally considered full-time fostering, she thought it over and decided to accept. “I found out she was the same age as my granddaughter, and I was already a very hands-on grandma, so the transition was not too bad for me. I was used to having my grandchildren stay at weekends for sleepovers, and I had all the spare bedding, toys, a paddling pool and all the things you need available.
“I’d also made adjustments to my house in order to become a respite carer, so I was all set up for it.”
Her new foster daughter arrived the same evening, just a few hours after the initial phone call, and has been there ever since. She is settled in school and gets along with Rosie’s grandchildren who are similar ages, and the two of them have a holiday planned together later this year.
Rosie, who works full-time and is a single foster carer, says, “She's a little darling, and a full-on chatterbox. We are very, very well suited, she gets my sense of humour, and we have loads of banter between us. I am quite strict – I was also quite strict with my own children – but she is flourishing because she knows and understands the boundaries. She’s absolutely grown since she has been here, and I am definitely glad I did it.
“My son did ask me what I was thinking, becoming a single foster carer when I work full time, but it has worked out, and although I originally signed up just as a respite carer, I can now get respite myself with a couple called Paul and Louise who live nearby so I can take breaks.”
Rosie would encourage anybody thinking about being a foster carer to just make the first call and find out more. She adds, “If you have ever had a passing thought in your head about fostering, it is there for a reason. Just pick up the phone and make the first call to Bury’s fostering team. It won’t cost anything to find out more, and you might just love it.”
Get Involved
If you are interested in finding out more about fostering in Bury, please visit our website Foster with Bury, where you can also contact us for an informal chat.
There are also online information events on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 7.00pm to 8.00pm – you can sign up here via Eventbrite.
Rosie is featured in Bury Council’s new fostering video.