“We’re like a very close-knit family, we are all there for each other.”

She continues: “The best moment has to be when my boys gifted me a frame of the constellations on the night they came to me, it was headed: ‘the day our lives started’ – and that will stay with me forever.”

“Fostering has its challenges, no twos days are ever the same, and when you think you’ve overcome one challenge and seen it all, something comes along and surprises you. But it’s got to be the most rewarding job I’ve ever done. I worked previously as a nursery nurse for 21 years, but with fostering, the rewards outweigh all the challenges.”

When asked what qualities she thinks make a great foster carer, Denise replied: “You need lots of patience, stickability, understanding, and to be observant. But the main qualities are to be caring and loving – that’s all these children want from you.”

“The advice I’d give to anyone thinking of fostering is to pick up the phone, speak to the agency, speak to a foster carer because they are the ones who are living with it daily. Fostering isn’t for everyone, it is a challenging job, but it’s the most rewarding job, so if you are thinking about it, get as much advice as you possibly can.”

“What makes FCA Scotland special is the amount of support you get. We have regular support groups where foster carers all come together to offer advice and to help each other. You get regular visits from a social worker and FCA Scotland have their own therapists who are on hand for you. They supply you with lots of training. We’re like a very close-knit family – we are all there for each other.”

If you’ve been thinking about fostering, then speak to one of our friendly advisors today and discover what it’s like to foster with FCA Scotland.