Linda: Changing Children’s Lives Through Love, Stability and Therapeutic Care

Linda, 60, is a single foster parent from Hertfordshire who started her journey to fostering with ISP in 2022. 

After the tragic loss of her 10-year-old son, she made the decision to dedicate her time and compassion to transforming the lives of children who needed the safety and love she had to give. Today, she is a devoted single foster parent to two boys – siblings aged 6 and 8 – whose lives have been completely transformed under her care.

Transferring her skills to fostering

Linda had thought about fostering for many years before taking the first step. She originally looked into fostering with her local council, but when her son’s health took a relapse, she put her fostering journey on hold to focus on caring for her son. It wasn’t until several years after her son had sadly passed away, that Linda decided to restart her fostering journey.

“With fostering, everybody has their own journey. I played with the idea of fostering for years. I had full time work and the opportunities just weren’t there so I decided to go into respite and was thinking of going down that path. But then I realised I’ve got all these skills that I’ve gathered over 30 years of different careers so became a full-time foster parent. When I look back now, fostering was the best decision I ever made”.

Deciding to foster full-time later in life was a big transition, and Linda admits she felt uncertain.

“One thing I was concerned about was my age. But I’m active for my age and I’m healthy and active. And ISP told me fostering applications are based on you as a person, how well you are, what you’re able to do, and what you’re able to give – so that worry, that barrier, was dismissed pretty quickly”.

Being a single foster parent

Foster families come in all shapes and sizes, and many people foster as a single carer. With the level of support ISP provide, our foster parents are never left alone to face any challenges and always have someone on hand to reach out to for advice or guidance.

Linda shared “As a single parent, you think ‘can I do it?’ And I think it all depends on you as a foster carer. Your personality, your abilities and the child that you’re matched with. It shouldn’t put you off long as you’ve got a network of people around you, including the company you work with. Then once you know the ins and outs of everything, it’s worth it.”

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Choosing ISP

There are many fostering providers to choose from when you’re thinking about becoming a foster parent, and these can vary massively.

Linda explained why she chose to foster with ISP: “I chose ISP for various reasons. There are a lot of companies out there, so I looked at quite a lot and did my research, and I was drawn to ISP because of the therapeutic side, and how they really promote therapeutic care. I liked their nurturing approach. And I felt the warmth, and the sincerity from ISP – people genuinely want to do the best they can”.

She added: “ISP are really good. It’s a great company. They’re very supportive. The training is fantastic. Their sincerity and honesty. They have different local teams who are amazing. You’re in a safe space, you’ve got the support, and I know I can phone anybody at any time.”

Special moments and transformations

As a foster parent, you can witness many moments of progress, and it is incredibly rewarding knowing the difference you have made to a child’s life. Linda is extremely passionate about fostering and has completely transformed the lives of her two foster children.

“I love fostering because you’ve given these kids a chance” she said “and the biggest thing is when you see their little faces of achievement. My boys have just learned to ride a bike and it’s so heart-warming. They came from a situation where they didn’t have food on the table. They were scared of their own shadows. And the little one hadn’t really been to school so he hadn’t learned anything, didn’t know how to read. Now both boys are top readers in their year”.

Making a difference in the face of challenges

Fostering can come with challenges, but Linda sees these moments as part of laying the groundwork for a more hopeful future. She shared her insight: “On the other side of challenges you may face, you’re building the foundations. That’s what’s going to, ultimately, enable them to have happy, fulfilling lives as they grow older. You’re breaking their cycle.”

“When you see that little being in front of you, that little innocent soul standing in front of you wide eyed and wondering what is going on, then you just want to do what’s right by them”

Linda spoke about how fostering can have such a huge impact on their future: “You’re teaching them a better choice and you’re giving them the tools they need. Hopefully your foundation is solid – they need you to be a solid piece of concrete, not a load of broken stones on the ground. And, from there, you’ll see their growth, and they will build their own success.”

foster_parent_linda

Advice on fostering

Linda offers advice to others who are thinking of fostering:

“You have to have the genuine reason of compassion and that want to better the lives of little people, innocent souls that have just found themselves in difficult situations. You need to have a big heart – a lion’s heart of courage, bravery, compassion and understanding. And you need reams of patience.”

“No matter whether you’re in your 20s or your 60s, go into fostering because it’s the best job ever. It’s hard, but you’re changing people’s lives. You’re giving people a chance. Why wouldn’t you want to do that? ISP will give you all this training, and they will support you. You get to change someone’s possibilities in life, and that’s everything”.

 

Whether you’re an experienced foster parent interested in transferring fostering agency to ISP, or are new to fostering and want to know more, please get in touch with our experienced team by calling 0800 0857 989 or submitting an enquiry.

Fostering stories

Learn more about transferring today

Transferring to ISP is easier than you think. Speak to one of our fostering advisors today. 

Just some reasons to transfer to ISP…

  • UK’s most established fostering agency
  • Leaders in therapeutic foster care
  • We’ll match your allowance at the very least, but often we can beat it
  • Wrap-around support from a local team of social workers, therapists, education specialists, and more
  • An unrivalled therapeutic training programme

Complete the following form and we’ll give you a call back as soon as possible.

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Speak to our team today

Whether you’re looking for more information about fostering a child or you’re ready to apply, we’re here to help you take the next step to fostering and start your journey.

Enquiry Form

You are required to have a spare bedroom that’s always available to a foster child. The spare room cannot be shared, and must be big enough to fit a single bed, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers.

To be approved as a foster carer in the UK, you must be a British citizen or have the legal right to remain in the UK without restrictions that would prevent fostering.

The following questions are intended to help us understand your experience with children. Please note that prior experience is not required to become a foster carer, as full training will be provided.

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The company takes the requirements of GDPR seriously in ensuring the privacy and lawful processing of personal data provided to us by you. Please view our privacy notice which explains how the company will manage and use your personal data. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

The ISP Difference: Support you Need for Successful Fostering

When people first consider fostering, one of the biggest worries they often have is “How will I be supported?” As the first ever fostering agency in the UK, ISP offer a complete and extensive package of support for foster parents, children and the wider fostering family. For us, support isn’t an afterthought – it’s the foundation of everything we do.

For over 35 years, ISP has pioneered therapeutic fostering, ensuring foster carers are never left to manage the challenges of fostering alone. With an integrated team of social workers, therapists, teachers, and fostering advisors, our foster parents know that help is always close by – whether that’s a phone call, a support group, or a shoulder to lean on after a difficult day.

Why support matters in fostering

Fostering can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life, but it can also be one of the most challenging. Many children come into care carrying the impact of trauma, loss, and disrupted relationships. Foster parents need a strong network around them to not only meet children’s needs but also to stay resilient themselves.

That’s where ISP is different. Our model ensures transformative foster care for both foster parents and children through an effective range of professional and peer support, ensuring the very best, tailored guidance and therapeutic input for each individual.

“What I really like and value about ISP is the integrated approach. It’s a team of very talented professionals, all of whom care deeply. Therapy isn’t an add-on here; it’s woven into everything we do.” Chris, ISP Psychotherapist.

The support offered at ISP

When you become a foster parent with ISP, you’ll be fully supported throughout the entirety of your fostering journey. Some of the support we offer includes:

  • 24 hour guidance and support, every day of the year
  • Dedicated social worker and local team
  • Therapeutic support personalised to the individual, via in-house therapists
  • Education support through advisory teachers
  • Reflective practise groups with other foster families
  • Support from fostering advisors who have direct experience of fostering
  • Highly experienced referrals team
  • Passionate and nurturing community
  • Regular lunches, coffee mornings and fun family events
  • Tailored and inclusive City & Guilds training programme
  • And much, much more…

A community of care

Fostering can sometimes feel like an isolated role – but at ISP, you’re part of a nurturing and supportive community from the very first day you join us. From our reflective practice groups to coffee mornings and children’s events, there are always opportunities to connect with like-minded people and benefit from local support to share advice and experience.

Our foster parents, Rebecca and Jon, share their experience of support at ISP:

“The support we get from ISP is amazing. We have our supervising social worker, who’s always at the end of the phone, and regular carers’ groups with a therapist on hand. There are events for the children too, so it really feels like a community.”

This sense of belonging doesn’t just benefit foster parents – it creates a network of stability that children can also rely on.

Therapeutic support, for foster carers and children

One of the things that makes ISP unique is its therapeutic practise. Every child has access to therapy – tailored to their own individual needs – if they require it, but so do our foster parents. As, experienced foster parent, Jon explains:

“We get a lot of therapeutic support with ISP for all young people – and therapy for us as well. It’s ongoing, and we can use it whenever we need to.”

This focus on therapeutic care helps children heal and thrive, but it also empowers foster parents with the understanding and tools they need to manage the emotional complexities of fostering and make that life-long difference to children’s lives.

Our foster parent, Linda, from Enfield describes the support at ISP and what makes it different:

“I felt the warmth and sincerity from ISP straight away. People genuinely want to do the best they can. You can have a cry, you’re in a safe space, and you know there’s someone at the end of the phone at any time.”

Always there, through the ups and downs

Every fostering journey has its highs and lows. What matters most is knowing you’ll never be facing that important fostering role alone.

Foster parent, Carol, recalls:

“ISP has been absolutely amazing. We’ve had ups and downs over the years and they’ve always been there for us. One of the social workers even rang me while she was on leave – where else would you get that kind of support?”

This dedication makes a real difference not only to foster carers but to the children in their care. When foster parents feel confident and supported, children feel more secure too.

Why foster parents choose ISP

Many foster parents tell us they chose ISP because of our reputation for support – and they stay because it’s proven true. Susie and Tony, from our team in Sussex, shared that:

“The emphasis is on looking after our foster parents, but the organisation is also incredibly child-centred. There’s a whole team around you – social workers, therapists, advisory teachers. All that scaffolding means we can give children the best chance to thrive.”

And Fiona from Enfield adds:

“The people at ISP are really lovely – staff and other carers. I wouldn’t look at moving anywhere else.”

Thinking about fostering?

Becoming a foster parent is a big step, and it’s natural to wonder if you’ll be ready for the challenges. At ISP, we’ll walk beside you every step of the way, with a team who will truly support you and understands the power of therapeutic care.

If you’re considering fostering and have any questions, why not reach out to us to find out more? Click here to contact our team and learn more about fostering with ISP >

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