Local woman collects ‘Foster Carer of Distinction’ award | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

Local woman collects ‘Foster Carer of Distinction’ award

Southern Health and Social Care Trust foster carer, Pauline Hanratty, was awarded ‘Foster Carer of Distinction’ at the Foster Carer of the Year Awards in Belfast.

(L-R) Kathleen Toner, Director of The Fostering Network in Northern Ireland; Pauline Hanratty; and Una Carragher, Manager for the Regional Adoption and Fostering Service

(L-R) Kathleen Toner, Director of The Fostering Network in Northern Ireland; Pauline Hanratty; and Una Carragher, Manager for the Regional Adoption and Fostering Service

The event celebrates the central role foster carers play in providing stable, caring homes for vulnerable children and young people.

Pauline began her fostering journey as a kinship carer in 2011, initially for just one week. At that time she cared for a 14 year old girl who is still living with her.

Pauline then decided to continue in a fostering role and became a registered foster carer for the Trust in 2014, allowing her to foster other children.

Pauline was nominated by her Supervising Social Worker, Emer Keenan, who said, “Pauline absolutely commits to each child, juggling their individual and varied needs while providing a relaxing family home.”

Paul Morgan, Director of Children and Young Peoples Services within the Southern Trust, congratulated Pauline on her achievement. “Fostering is part of the fabric of our society, and we are grateful to have top quality foster carers like Pauline with the Southern Trust.

“We can never underestimate the value of family life. Time and again we see how, with support and encouragement, a child’s confidence can be increased, helping them to achieve in education and employment and work towards reaching their full potential.”

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May June 2016 updatedKathleen Toner, Director of The Fostering Network in Northern Ireland, added, “Pauline fosters two teenage girls on a long-term basis. She understands that stability, love, and security are what can help a young person flourish – and she delivers this by treating each young person as an individual, and meeting each of their unique needs.

“One of the girls in her care recently told her that she wanted to stay with Pauline forever, because ‘she always fights her corner’ – that’s what makes Pauline an incredible ambassador for foster care.”

Foster carers may be married, co habiting or single. They may own or rent their home, work or receive benefits, and may or may not have children of their own. There is no upper age limit for foster carers as long as they are healthy and have the energy to care for a child or young person.

Anyone who wishes to find out more about becoming a foster carer should visit https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/could-you-foster or contact the HSC Regional Adoption and Fostering Service on 0800 0720 137, or alternatively, call the Southern Health and Social Care Trust on 028 38 337181.

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Posted by on Jun 6 2016. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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