Lesley, Dominique and Roxanna, parent and child fostering
“I love the satisfaction that comes with looking after mums and their babies, my job is to help them become more independent in looking after their children and to give them a shot at being a real family unit.”
Three inspiring women from the same family decided to become ‘parent and child’ Foster Carers. Lesley, the family matriarch, is encouraging others to consider the same rewarding career.
Lesley fosters for Five Rivers Child Care alongside her two daughters, Dominique and Roxanna. They specialise in parent and child placements – looking after mothers and their young children and helping them to remain together as a family unit.
Lesley, who has three grown-up children and still works part-time as a driving instructor, was encouraged into fostering by her eldest daughter, Dominique, after the unexpected loss of her husband, John, in 2013.
Lesley said: “Fostering was something John and I were considering before he passed away, so I wanted to continue his legacy and give it a try. We’d seen the difference Dominique makes in the lives of the children and young people she fosters, and having raised three children, I felt I had the experience to help me give something back, too.”
Not long after Lesley began fostering with Five Rivers Child Care, she undertook the specific training to take on parent and child placements, something there is a real shortage of across the UK.
Lesley continues: “I love the satisfaction of looking after mums and their babies. My job is to help them become more independent in looking after their children and give them a shot at being a real family unit. The mums who come to stay with me are from all different backgrounds; some have escaped abusive relationships, others have mental health issues, and I’ve had quite a few youngsters under 18 with their little ones. Some stay for the minimum three-month placement, but I’ve had others with me for up to ten months.
“The youngest baby I’ve looked after was just seven days old. The care I provide can be anything from taking on most of the responsibility for the child to having very young babies sleep in my bedroom with me. I watch over both mother and child and am ready to step in if my help is needed. It is lovely to see them grow into their roles as mothers during their time with me. I’m happy to say most of the placements I’ve had so far remain together and move on to more independent accommodation.”
Such is the family’s love for fostering that the youngest daughter, Roxanna, has also become a Foster Carer, following in Lesley’s footsteps and specialising in parent and child placements.
Lesley, Dominique, and Roxanna are shining examples of Foster Carers who have done an incredible amount to help looked after children and their mothers.
There is a huge shortage of Foster Carers nationwide and in the South West. Anyone can be a Foster Carer, but you must be over 21 years of age and have a spare room available for each foster child. To learn more about what it takes to become a Foster Carer, get in touch.
Jenny is our Fostering Service Manager in the North and it’s her job it is to ensure the region running smoothly.
She’s always there to support the team and works closely with senior leaders, Clinicians, and Independent Reviewing Officers to make sure our Foster Carers get the help they need.
Jenny’s passion for teamwork and open communication plays a big part in helping children and young people thrive.
Jenny talks about her career at Five Rivers
I joined Five Rivers in 2010 as a Supervising Social Worker and have since progressed through several roles, including Senior Practitioner and Team Manager, to my current position as Service Manager.
Five Rivers has been incredibly supportive of my career development and progression; during my career at Five Rivers, I completed the Management Academy training, which played a key role in developing my leadership skills and enhancing my performance in management roles.
It’s been so rewarding to be part of the journey and to see the growth and positive changes across the Midlands and North. The fostering staff alongside the Foster Carers work incredibly well together and it’s a super team to be part of.
What excites you most about Five Rivers’ mission?
I enjoy working with my colleagues as well as our Foster Carers and take great satisfaction in seeing the progress and development of the team—which in turn supports the children we care for to achieve good outcomes.
What do you enjoy most about working at Five Rivers?
The people I work with, many of us have been part of Five Rivers for a long time, which means we work incredibly well together. The team culture is professional and focused—we all understand the importance of the work we do—but we also value having a laugh and genuinely enjoy coming together for team meetings and team days.
“There is nothing more rewarding than receiving a thank you card on Mother’s Day from a young person we fostered. The transformation in these children from when they arrive to when they leave is wonderful to see.”
Our foster carers, Jo and Russ, from the South West of England, share their experiences in the hope it will inspire others to think about fostering.
Jo, a former childminder and her husband Russ, a mechanical engineer in the building trade, have provided a safe and loving home for many children and young people over the last 10 years as foster parents. The couple now specialise in fostering children and teens with special educational needs, disabilities and those who have suffered from trauma.
Reflecting on her choice to become a foster carer, Jo said: “My daughter had grown up and left the nest. I had a few friends who were foster carers at the time and by spending time with them, I realised that I had many of the skills in me that make a good foster carer from being a mother myself as well as working with children.”
“It can be difficult to say goodbye when the children do move on but knowing that you’ve planted a seed in them and that they might look back and appreciate all the happy times we shared, makes it worth it. There is nothing more rewarding than receiving a thank you card on Mother’s Day from a young person we fostered. The transformation in these children from when they arrive to when they leave is wonderful to see.”
For more information on foster care, contact Five Rivers Child Care on 03452 660 272 or www.five-rivers.org.
“We always knew we wanted to do something more fulfilling and be able to give something back. My work-life has always been extremely stressful…I was looking for something that would give me more stability and job security and I’ve never looked back.”
Our foster carers, Cam and Clare, from the North of England, started fostering during lockdown. They share their experiences in the hope it will inspire others to think about fostering.
Cam left behind a career of more than 20 years as a chef and his wife Clare, who runs a local barber shop with her sister, made the decision to begin fostering during the pandemic. The couple raised their three sons together and they also helped raise Cam’s younger sister Gaby, from the age of 12, so they felt confident in their ability to support a child or young person.
Speaking about their decision to foster, Cam said: “The pandemic was the push we needed to kick-start the process. We always knew we wanted to do something more fulfilling and be able to give something back. My work-life has always been extremely stressful and I haven’t felt secure in the catering industry for a while so I was looking for something that would give me more stability and job security and I’ve never looked back.”
“To anyone who is thinking about becoming a foster carer, the main thing I can say is as long as you’ve got a good heart and a sense of humour, you could provide an incredible life for someone who really needs it.”
For more information on foster care, contact Five Rivers Child Care on 03452 660 272 or www.five-rivers.org.
“We enjoy a busy house and we always knew we had more to give. Taking in foster children felt natural and has brought our whole family closer together. Our daughters have also been approved as part-time carers to support us in our efforts as foster carers.”
Our foster carers, Kim and Andy from the South West of England, share their experiences in the hope it will encourage others to consider fostering.
Kim is a former contact worker, whose role saw her supporting children and their parents during supervised meets, and her husband Andy is a site manager across several local primary schools. Together they have provided a safe and loving home for many children and young people over the last two years as foster parents.
Reflecting on their decision to foster, Kim said: “We enjoy a busy house and we always knew we had more to give. We were already a blended family in more ways than one. Taking in foster children felt natural and has brought our whole family closer together. Our daughters have also been approved as part-time carers to support us in our efforts as foster carers.”
“All of our birth children have a great relationship and they have always welcomed and embraced any foster children that come into our home which is so lovely to see. It’s such a privilege to be a part of these children’s lives and our only regret is that we didn’t do this sooner.”
For more information on foster care, contact Five Rivers Child Care on 03452 660 272 or www.five-rivers.org.
“Because of my upbringing, fostering or adopting is something I have always known we would do and we’ve ended up doing both. This was a turning point in our lives and we haven’t looked back.”
Alex, from the North of England, was adopted at birth and wants to encourage more people to think about fostering.
A former teacher and her husband Stephen, a former police officer, they have been fostering since 2019. Alex has always wanted to be able to help children who need a safe and loving home, in the same way she was supported growing up.
Speaking about the decision to foster, Alex said: “I was adopted within a matter of weeks of being born, my adoptive parents have always been my mum and dad and have loved me and cared for me as their own. Because of my upbringing, fostering or adopting is something I have always known we would do and we’ve ended up doing both. This was a turning point in our lives and we haven’t looked back.”
For more information on foster care, contact Five Rivers Child Care on 03452 660 272 or www.five-rivers.org.
“I have seen just how important the relationships between siblings are. This is true especially for those who have been taken into care – their siblings are their one constant and all too often they have to be separated as foster carers cannot accommodate them together. We had the space to take in sibling groups and I’m so glad we did. We’ve given them space where they can play with one another and just be children.”
Sonya, from the East of England, hopes she can encourage more people to think about fostering siblings together to protect their bonds.
Sonya, a former receptionist, and her husband David, a postman, started fostering with Five Rivers three years ago when Sonya left her job at a leisure centre to become a full-time foster carer. Sonya was initially inspired to foster because her own mother was in care from the age of five. When their eldest daughter left home and they had a spare room, the couple felt it was the right time to take in vulnerable children and young people.
A report by the BBC’s ‘File on 4’ which questioned more than 200 UK local authorities in 2020 revealed that more than half of children and young people in care live separately from their brothers and sisters. The reality for siblings in care would be especially bleak if not for families like Sonya and David, who chose to open their home to brothers and sisters in need.
Speaking about their decision to foster, Sonya said: “We are one big family, my own children and my current foster children all get along so well. Through my own children, I have seen just how important the relationships between siblings are. This is true especially for those who have been taken into care – their siblings are their one constant and all too often they have to be separated as foster carers cannot accommodate them together. We had the space to take in sibling groups and I’m so glad we did. We’ve given them space where they can play with one another and just be children.”
For more information on foster care, contact Five Rivers Child Care on 03452 660 272 or www.five-rivers.org.
“I wish more people understood what a special experience fostering children is. It is such an important job, helping guide the children that are all too often forgotten about, into being the happy, healthy adults they were always destined to be.”
A couple who foster, Tracy and Paul from the South West of England, say fostering is one of the best things their family has ever done and think others should consider following in their footsteps.
Tracy, a former school support worker for children with special educational needs, and her husband Paul, an adult carer at a local assisted living facility, share three adopted children together, Cordy, James and Miles. Fostering is something that the couple had always considered, having previously been through the adoption process.
Tracy is now using her skills as a specialist support worker to give children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities a safe home.
Speaking about her experiences as a foster parent, Tracy said: “I wish more people understood what a special experience fostering children is. It is such an important job, helping guide the children that are all too often forgotten about, into being the happy, healthy adults they were always destined to be.
“For young people to go out into the world and show love and empathy to others, they need to have experienced it for themselves. Being taken into care can be incredibly traumatic for some children, and when they walk through your door, it’s up to you to show them a different way of being. It’s an honour to be able to break the cycle and help children know love.”
Want to know more about becoming a Foster Carer?
Get in touch with our friendly team today and take the first step toward becoming a Foster Carer.
Johan is Head of Fostering Operations. He is home-based but spends much of his time visiting offices across England.
How long have you worked at Five Rivers?
I joined Five Rivers in July 2014.
Have you always worked in residential/fostering care?
No, not always in fostering but in social work for the length of my career and for the majority of that time I have been working in fostering. I have previously managed and set up a joint therapeutic service with a CAMHS service in a Local Authority to prevent family breakdown and young people entering the care system. Before that, I worked in an alcohol and drug rehabilitation outpatient clinic and as a social worker in the prison service.
What’s the best thing at Five Rivers?
Being a Social Enterprise – I am very proud to work for an organisation that re-invests to develop services with the aim to benefit and reach out to many more young people. I find it difficult to single out what could be seen as the “best thing” for me personally, but I really value being part of a super team of staff in various roles all working towards the same goal.
What do you do to relax?
I enjoy gardening although would not describe myself as green-fingered! My favourite activity must be going away for weekends in my motorhome.
Tell us something interesting that you have done or experienced?
I always attend as many of our events for young people as I can. I value the opportunity to meet up with young people and foster carers.
Did this experience teach you anything that helps you in your job with young people?
Attending these events is always a positive and somewhat humbling experience as it reconfirms that my career choice is absolutely spot on for me. It also reminds me of the reasons why I wake up and start every day with a feeling of newness and potential because every day is different, and a new opportunity to change lives for the better for everybody involved.
What are your career aspirations and how could Five Rivers help you reach them?
I am career-driven and have seen every step of my career as an opportunity to support, learn and influence. Five Rivers offers me training and opportunities to be exposed to new experiences – all of which have prepared me for the next step within the organisation.
“I love the satisfaction that comes with looking after mums and their babies, my job is to help them become more independent in looking after their children and to give them a shot at being a real family unit.”
Lesley fosters alongside her two daughters and specialises parent and child placements where she looks after mothers and their young children, helping them remain together as a family unit.
Lesley, who has three grown-up children of her own and still works part-time as a driving instructor, was encouraged into fostering by her eldest daughter, Dominique, who has been fostering for more than 10 years. Lesley said: “Fostering was something my husband John and I were considering before he passed away so I wanted to continue his legacy and give it a try.
“I love the satisfaction that comes with looking after mums and their babies, my job is to help them become more independent in looking after their children and to give them a shot at being a real family unit. The mums who come to stay with me are from all types of backgrounds, some have escaped abusive relationships, others have mental health issues and I’ve had quite a few youngsters under 18 with their little ones. Some stay for the minimum three month placement but I’ve had others with me for up to 10 months.”
“The youngest baby I’ve looked after was just seven days old and the care I provide can be anything from taking on most of the responsibility for the child, even having very young babies sleep in my bedroom with me, to just keeping a watching eye over both mother and child and being ready to step in if my help is needed. It is so lovely to see them grow into their roles as mothers during their time with me and I’m happy to say the majority of the placements I’ve had so far remain together and move on to more independent accommodation.”
Lesley continues to keep in touch with many of her foster placements and has regular calls and visits from them so she can continue to watch the children grow up. One, who lives nearby has even become a surrogate grandchild and his mum a lifelong friend.
For more information on foster care, contact Five Rivers Child Care on 0330 162 6381 or carer.enquiries@five-rivers.org