There are a lot of misconceptions about fostering, and what foster carers need to look after a child. Some people think that single people can't be foster carers, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Nick is one of our incredible carers who fosters solo.
How did Nick make the step to fostering?
Nick has been fostering for Rotherham for 2 years, but he’s always been motivated by caring for others. He originally considered fostering at the beginning of his career, before pivoting to social care. Years later, Nick’s social care role was made redundant and he thought again of fostering with Rotherham Council. “I felt that it was now or never,” Nick says, “so I made the leap.”
Starting to think about fostering can be daunting for a lot of people, Nick included. Part of what made him nervous was whether he could foster without a partner: “I have always wanted children but was always hesitant of being a single carer.” Here at Fostering Rotherham we welcome foster carers from all backgrounds, and single carers are no exception.
A helping hand throughout the application process
Nick instantly calmed down when he spoke with the Fostering Rotherham team. “I chose Rotherham Council as I get to support local children and make a difference in the area where I live,” Nick told us. “The application process was like inviting a friend around to have a cup of tea and a biscuit.” (Our fostering advisers won’t say no to a cup of tea and some snacks!) The team is always on hand to help with applications, which can be a lot of paperwork without a partner to help.
“I chose Rotherham as I get to support local children and make a difference for the area where I live."
Nick found that being a single carer didn’t hold him back from connecting with looked after children, and currently has one young person matched with him. They’ve encountered highs and lows together, Nick told us, but he finds the experience incredibly rewarding. “He has developed into a much stronger and more resilient young person. I’m proud we made it through the ‘tests’- he has finally accepted the idea of being accepted.”
Giving back in Rotherham
When we caught up with Nick, we asked what he enjoys most about fostering for Rotherham council. "Well I chose Rotherham as I get to support local children and make a difference for the area where I live. I get to share my experiences with a young person, and I no longer need an excuse to do childish things!"
A huge part of our offering is our local support, which Nick has benefitted from. He was touched by how seriously the fostering adviser team and his supervising social worker took his fostering journey: "They treated me like a professional, and made my journey so well supported."
“I get to share experiences with a young person, and I no longer need an excuse to do childish things!"
Find out more about joining our fostering community
You might be inspired by Nick and would like to change a child’s life. The best first step is to book a call back with our support team who can tell you all about fostering in detail. All our call backs are informal and confidential.