A week after my panel approval, I was offered the placement of a 12-year-old girl. She was described as bright but with global learning difficulties. Given my previous experience of teaching teenagers and supporting those with SEN (Special Educational Needs), I thought this would be a challenge I could meet as a ‘newby’.
She turned up on my doorstep, beaming and quite excitable, and gave me a warm hug. We bonded that evening, while laughing over the antics of my cat. G has been with me ever since and has contributed greatly to my family who all admire her resilience and exuberant character.
Due to her astonishing adaptability, with the support of my family, the placement has been going well and I now have her on a permanent basis. She has global learning disability and is emotionally young for her age, but I’ve managed to support her through constant help from Nexus Fostering, her school, and from her local authority social worker. This support has been reinforced through regular meetings, strong communication and good working relationships.