Meet Sue and Stephen

Sue spent 14 years working with children and young people who had complex medical needs in a school setting, and her journey into foster care was inspired by her experiences with these young people. Her interest deepened when she realised that several of these young people were in foster care or residential settings. A pivotal moment occurred when a community nurse who provided training to Sue’s workplace shared her decision to leave nursing and become a foster carer. This nurse’s foster child, who attended Sue’s school, left a lasting impression on her, showcasing the impact foster care can have. Intrigued by the idea of fostering and aware of the challenges these children faced, Sue began exploring the possibilities but found it nearly impossible to find out specifics about foster care renumeration before applying to an agency or local authority. At this stage of interest, Sue did not feel ready to submit an enquiry to an agency or local authority.

As fate would have it, a friend of Sue’s decided to embark on a journey into respite fostering with an independent fostering agency called Scope. With her friend’s encouragement and confirmation that the financial support was comparable to her job, Sue took the plunge. She ultimately decided to leave her job to foster full-time, joined by her partner Stephen, who would continue to work. Due to the amount of space available at Sue and Stephen’s home, their then agency, asked if they would consider fostering two young people, to which they agreed and Stephen took the commitment to leave his job and foster full time alongside Sue.

In August 2016, Sue and Stephen welcome their first placement ‘K’ and then in the following January they started to look for a second young person to be matched with. The road wasn’t always smooth, especially when it came time to consider a second placement. Unfortunately, complications arose when the child they were in the process of welcoming into their home was withdrawn due to family matters. This unexpected turn of events coincided with long hours spent caring for ‘K’, their first foster child, who now required 24-hour support on a 2-2-1 basis due to their medical complexities. The difficulties encountered during this time took place during a transition within Scope to Credo Care. After what can be described as a challenging time at Credo Care, ‘K’s’ transition to adulthood signalled an end to their fostering journey with Credo Care.

At the end of 2021, ‘K’s’ passing presented immense grief, but it also offered Sue and Stephen the opportunity to reflect on the beautiful life they had provided them with. Shortly after ‘K’s’ death, Sue received support from Nikki, a social worker at Credo Care, who helped ease their concerns about returning to fostering in the future. After taking a year off and with encouragement and assurances from Nikki that they would be welcomed back to Credo Care, Sue and Stephen rejoined the fostering community . On their return, they discovered a significant change within Credo Care, which they believe had shifted back to a solidly child-focussed approach, prioritising the support of its foster families above all else.

Shortly after their return, Sue and Stephen were matched with ‘S’, a young person with complex medical needs. Throughout their time with S, Sue and Stephen experienced unwavering support from Nikki and Jenny, who were there for them in their most challenging moments. Their compassion was palpable when, on the day ‘S’ passed away, Nikki made a personal visit, and both Jenny, East Area Manager,  and Richard, Credo Care’s Managing Director, reached out by phone. Richard then personally visited Sue and Stephen the next day. This level of attentiveness and care from such a knowledgeable agency reaffirmed their trust in Credo Care’s ability to support families facing and experiencing difficult circumstances. Sue felt that it was particularly striking to witness the esteem in which Credo Care is held within the local authorities; when S’s social worker reached out to Credo Care directly to enquire about placing another child with them after being impressed by the care and professionalism displayed by Credo Care.   

As they prepare for the arrival of another child with complex needs, Sue and Stephen feel more equipped than ever due to the support structure at Credo Care. The agency’s commitment to understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by foster carers has helped them navigate their recent experiences, reaffirming their belief in the importance of fostering through an independent fostering agency which can act as a buffer between them and a local authority. Together with Nikki and East Team Manager Jenny, Sue and Stephen are ready to embark on this next chapter of fostering, hopeful and convinced that their experience will continue to contribute positively to the lives of children with additional needs and complex medical needs. With Sue’s own testimony highlighting the profound fulfilment fostering brings to her heart, she remains a passionate advocate for Credo Care, encouraging others to consider joining this rewarding journey.

Sue and Stephen recommend Credo Care as they believe the agency stands out for its incredible understanding of additional and complex needs.  They urge individuals considering caring for children with additional needs to explore what Credo Care can offer, as the insights gained can significantly enhance the support available.

To anyone considering fostering children and young people with additional needs, Sue and Stephen would like to encourage you to explore your interest further as they believe you’ll find it hard to find something that is more rewarding than fostering young people with additional needs.