Before becoming a foster carer, Lorraine dedicated years caring for others both as a childminder and Samaritan volunteer. Supporting people through difficult times came naturally to her, and she loved what she did. But then she discovered a new way to make a life-changing difference and embarked on the journey to become parent and child foster carers alongside her husband, Paul.
Now, 13 years on, the couple from Neath Port Talbot have successfully supported 20 parents with their young children. Through parent and child fostering, Lorraine and Paul provide a safe home environment for parents to bond with their child and develop essential parenting skills.
How Lorraine and Paul discovered parent and child fostering
Lorraine and Paul’s journey into parent and child fostering wasn’t something they planned from the start. At first, they offered short term foster care and welcomed a struggling parent and child into their home. What began as a temporary arrangement, quickly became a part of their lives they felt passionate about.
Lorraine and Paul realised they had found an area of fostering where they could make a huge difference with the life experience they had.
“After raising eight children of our own, I didn’t realise how many skills I already had, the knowledge I had. It’s amazing to be able to pass it on to young people,” said Lorraine.
Paul said they have supported parents in many different circumstances, but the most frequent requiring care are young mums with babies.
“If mum was to come to us four to six weeks prior to birth, then we can do a lot of the work to build a relationship and trust,” Paul said.
“Then when the baby is born, we can hit the ground running. We’ve got mum’s trust and she understands the process clearly. We’re going to work with them to create an environment where they can do good enough parenting.”
Paul said they receive constant support from a social worker, as well as any other services a parent might need while in their care. It’s a real team effort.
Supporting Demi through pregnancy to independent living
Demi arrived at Lorraine and Paul’s home when she was 28 weeks pregnant. At just 17 years old, Demi felt nervous about being fostered, especially while expecting a baby.
After she met Lorraine and Paul, Demi’s fears subsided. “Very quickly we all clicked and got to know each other,” Demi said. “It’s turned out amazing!”
She described how Lorraine and Paul helped her feel safe and supported through childbirth and in the early days of taking care of her daughter.
“I felt as if I was part of the family,” she said. “Lorraine was actually there when my daughter was born – she was the first one to hold my daughter.”
Lorraine and Paul have supported Demi in taking care of herself and her daughter. “It’s getting that balance right between allowing the parent to parent but ensuring the baby is always in a safe place,” said Paul. “There’s a lot of nurturing involved, and support,” added Lorraine.
Since her fostering experience, Demi has been working hard to build her future. She has returned to college to study mechanical engineering, and is preparing for independent living with her daughter once she turns 18.
If you have felt inspired by Lorraine and Paul’s story, contact us here for a chat about becoming a parent and child foster carer.
If you live elsewhere in Wales, visit the Foster Wales website, where you can find all the necessary information about fostering and contact details for your local authority fostering service.
