Linda's Story

Linda is one of the longest serving foster carers in Rotherham and loves to offer advice and support to new foster carers. When she first decided to apply, she was worried that as a single mum with two daughters, she wouldn’t be the type of person the Fostering Team were looking for but admits she was ‘proved wrong’ and hasn’t looked back since. During the application process, Linda’s social worker introduced her to an existing foster carer from the area and this put her mind at ease as she was able to ask them both questions honestly and openly and found the whole process enjoyable.

“On the whole fostering in Rotherham is a community helping and supporting each other”

Linda says that fostering in Rotherham is a community helping and supporting each other. She has been involved in recruitment events and training with new foster carers and loves seeing the people she has spoken to and trained move through their own fostering journey. 

Throughout her years as a foster carer, Linda has faced some tough times, taking on challenging placements with children with specialist and complex needs but she feels that with each challenge comes a reward “when each child leaves, they leave with a piece of your heart.”

Linda says even with the most challenging placements she feels confident in being constantly supported by the Fostering Team.