Meet our Foster Carer Consultative Group

This month, we’re delighted to introduce members from our dedicated Foster Carers Consultative Group, comprising experienced carers from across East and West Somerset as well as the Family Assessment and Support Team (FA&ST), who are passionate about making a difference.

These carers bring a wealth of knowledge from a wide range of fostering experiences, including long-term, emergency, short stay, parent and child, and specialist placements.

The group works closely with us to represent the voices of foster carers, influence service development, and support fellow carers through mentoring, training and advocacy.

We encourage you, our foster carers, to reach out to any of the members featured here, whether you’re looking for advice, support or want to raise an issue for discussion.

Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected fostering community.

East Somerset

Beth Frayling

My name is Beth, and together with my husband Russell, we’ve been fostering for nearly 26 years. We spent 12 years working for a local authority, then moved to a private company for a further 12 years. I relocated to Somerset the year before Covid struck.

Over the years, I’ve cared for young people from all walks of life, from adoption breakdowns to children with life-limiting illnesses. I’ve supported children moving on to adoption, parent and child assessments, and children not attending school. I’ve looked after newborns, young people transitioning to independence, and several children who returned home after a short break. I had 2 children in my care for 8 years, eventually adopting them, and they are now 30!

Throughout my career, I’ve provided long-term, short-term, emergency and respite care. At present, I have a long-term, permanent placement with a 12-year-old girl, and a 3-year-old boy who, fingers crossed, will soon be matched for adoption.

I’ve also worked closely with many specialist support services, such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Child Health Information Services (CHIS), and Adopt South West. The support required depends on the children’s needs, but at present, my placements need very little additional input.

Contact: Beth.Frayling@somersetfosterers.co.uk

Susan McLeish

Hello, I’m Susan. I’ve been fostering children from 0 to 18 for Somerset since 2016 and was previously a Special Guardian for a family member.

As a Step Forward carer, I support children transitioning from residential care, helping them adjust to a family environment and providing them with stability and guidance. This role involves working collaboratively with other professionals in the team around the child to ensure a smooth transition.

I provide long-term stays, emergency placements, short breaks, and Step Forward placements. Being a Fostering Plus carer and mentor, I’ve had the privilege of assisting with Skills to Foster training, where I share my journey and insights with prospective carers.

My dedication to fostering is driven by a desire to make a positive impact on children’s lives. As a Consultative Group member, I’m committed to advocating for foster carers in Somerset. I welcome suggestions for agenda items for meetings and am open to comments from carers.

Contact: Susan.Mcleish@somersetfosterers.co.uk

Karen Deverell

My name is Karen, and along with my husband Dave, I’ve been fostering since 2019. I have 2 children, Sam and Chloe, who are in their 30s, and I’m a grandmother to 2 beautiful little girls.

Previously, I worked as CEO of YMCA Mendip and South Somerset, where I developed a range of supported housing projects, support services, and youth and community work. My job was demanding but extremely rewarding. My first role at the YMCA was as a support worker, working with children who were leaving residential or foster care.

This year, I was honoured to receive an MBE for Services to Children and Young People in Somerset, which was a truly wonderful experience. I loved my role as CEO and had some amazing opportunities, but after 25 years I needed a change. Fostering was something I had always been interested in, particularly after hearing the experiences of young people who had previously been in foster care.

To date, we’ve really enjoyed fostering and working to help children feel safe, loved, and able to make lots of fun-filled memories. I became involved with the Consultative Group because I like to help effect positive change, rather than sit on the side-lines and simply talk about what needs to be done.

Contact: Karen.Deverell@somersetfosterers.co.uk

Claire Cornish

Hi, my name is Claire, and I’ve been fostering for Somerset as a parent and child foster carer with FA&ST for 6.5 years. I am approved to support 1 or 2 parents and 1 baby while they undergo parenting assessments in my home. My role involves observation, recording and supervision to ensure the baby’s safety during assessment.

The families live with me for a minimum of 12 weeks for assessment, and sometimes longer until the final hearing if required. Placements have lasted between 3 and 14 months, depending on the parent’s circumstances and the progress of their assessment. I enjoy supporting parents with learning disabilities, young parents, and those with mental health issues or a history of domestic abuse.

Professionally, I have a background in early years, education, and local authority family support in children’s centres (early help), which provided me with the safeguarding and support skills needed to make this home-based fostering role my full-time career. I am a mother to my 29-year-old daughter, who lives and works in the Midlands. My parents, who live locally, have been incredibly supportive of my fostering journey, having previously been foster carers themselves.

So far, I’ve fostered 15 babies, including a set of twins, and supported 14 families – single parents, couples, mothers, fathers and partners – offering them a secure home while they face the stresses of assessment, as well as the opportunity to demonstrate they can parent their children safely.

As a committed foster carer, I’m actively involved in the Consultative Group, helping with recruitment and I look forward to supporting training provision in the future. My journey also includes mentoring new carers as they prepare for and begin their own fostering journey with FA&ST.

As a Consultative Group member, I’m keen to advocate for positive change and to represent all foster carers in Somerset. I welcome suggestions from FA&ST and other foster carers to contribute to meetings and agendas, and I’m happy for carers to contact me with their comments. Making a positive impact on children’s lives is at the heart of my fostering journey, alongside supporting parents to make positive changes and, hopefully, keep their children within their family.

Contact: Claire.Cornish@somersetfosterers.co.uk

Becky Foster

My name is Becky Foster, and I am a single carer with 4 birth children and a 14-year-old girl who is part of our family until she chooses to leave – which she says will be never! I work during the day, and I’m fortunate that I can foster around my job.

When I first started fostering, I thought I would prefer to look after primary school-aged children, and we did this for several years before my fostering journey introduced me to teenagers. I absolutely love looking after teenagers; we have so much fun, and it’s incredibly rewarding. I thought I would work better with teenage boys, but it turns out my forte is with teenage girls!

Alongside my long-term placement, I also take in young people in emergencies, as well as supporting young people in long-term placements by providing them with short stays. I’m also looking to become a link carer for young people in residential care, so that I can provide a family environment alongside their main residential placement. This still allows me to support other young people in their placements. I love introducing teenagers to a variety of sports and music concerts.

I am a Fostering Plus foster carer, and I mentor other foster carers, as well as help with training and information sessions – which I thoroughly enjoy. I’m always trying to convince my friends to become carers too!

I’m a trained family mediator, and I find this skill comes in very handy whenever there are issues to resolve.

I’m passionate about fostering and providing a loving, supportive home for all young people. I have a few sayings that I always use, and they seem to work for me: “I’ll be fair with you, you be fair with me”; “care, not cure”; and “assist, then react.”

Contact: Rebecca.Foster@somersetfosterers.co.uk

West Somerset

Grace Davies

Hi, I’m Grace and for over 2 decades, my partner Steve and I, have dedicated ourselves to fostering with Somerset Council, a journey now spanning 22 rewarding years. Throughout this time, we have opened our home and hearts to countless children and young people, providing them with stability, guidance, and care during some of their most challenging moments.

My involvement extends beyond fostering itself – I’m an active member of the Consultative Group, where I strive to represent the voices and concerns of fellow foster carers across the region. I also serve as a mentor for new carers, offering guidance, encouragement, and practical advice as they embark on their own fostering paths. Recognising the importance of community and peer support, I host a monthly support group from my home, bringing together carers to share experiences, discuss challenges, and celebrate their successes.

I firmly believe in open communication and collective advocacy. Any foster carer is welcome to reach out to me via email if there are issues or topics they would like raised within the group. Together, we can continue to strengthen our network, drive positive change, and ensure that every child and carer receives the support they deserve.

Contact: Grace.Davies@somersetfosterers.co.uk

Kelvin Troake

Hi there, my name is Kelvin, and I’ve been a foster carer for over 20 years, specialising in caring for male teenagers. I am currently a link foster carer for a young person who lives in a residential provision.

Over the years, I’ve supported new foster carers as a ‘buddy’ and have also contributed to foster carer training. At present, I chair the Fostering Panel for Gloucestershire County Council, as well as for an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA), which gives me valuable insight into best practice across different settings.

In recent years, my focus has been on safer care and allegations training. I also used to deliver internet safety training – although that was quite some time ago and things have certainly moved on since then!

I’m happy for any foster carer to contact me for advice, or if there’s an issue they’d like to raise with the Consultative Group.

Contact: Kelvin.Troake@somersetfosterers.co.uk

Susan Percival

Hello. For more than 2 decades, I’ve dedicated myself to fostering, a journey that’s been both challenging and deeply rewarding. These days, my focus is on providing respite and emergency placements, specifically for teenagers aged 14 and above. Throughout my fostering career, I’ve consistently welcomed teenagers into my home, and there was a time when I looked after 3 at once – turning my household into a bustling and lively hub of youthful energy and activity.

While I may not have any formal hobbies to speak of, I do find fulfilment in various forms of voluntary work. Twice a week, I deliver meals on wheels, offering not just nourishment but also a friendly face and a sense of connection to those in need.

In addition to this, I’m honoured to serve as a welfare officer for the RSPCA, where I help ensure the wellbeing and safety of animals in our community. My days are often full, and while they’re sometimes hectic, I wouldn’t trade the sense of purpose and community involvement for anything.

Every new experience – whether supporting young people through difficult transitions or lending a hand to vulnerable animals – reminds me of the value of compassion, patience, and giving back.

Contact: Susan.Percival@somersetfosterers.co.uk

Julie Kimber

Having previously worked for the YMCA, the Youth Offending Team, and Connexions, I joined Somerset’s Fostering Service as a home-based carer in 2016. In time, I progressed to become a Fostering Plus carer. I’m based in Taunton, where I foster as a single woman. My adult children and grandchild live nearby, and their regular visits ensure that any child placed with me feels supported and welcomed into a wider, loving family network.

I’m always happy to offer guidance and support to other carers, regardless of the ages of the children they look after. My principal focus, however, lies in fostering teenage girls, helping them to develop the skills and confidence needed for independence. I often support young people through Staying Put arrangements, providing them with stability and continuity as they transition to adulthood.

Alongside my fostering and family commitments, I’m actively involved with my local church community, which offers further opportunities for connection and support. My approach to fostering centres on inclusion, encouragement, and preparing each young person for a positive future.

Contact: Julie.Kimber@somersetfosterers.co.uk

Jason Baker

Hi, I’m Jason and I’ve been a foster carer with my wife, Marie, for 7 years. We usually care for children aged 5 to 11, and over the years we’ve looked after 17 children, some on short-term or emergency placements.

My background prior to fostering was in the financial sector, although we also owned a pub for 15 years, which we sold before becoming foster carers. I’m an elected councillor for Somerset Unitary and Chard Town Councils, and I also do some part-time bookkeeping. I have 2 grown-up daughters and 2 grandchildren.

I’m a Fostering Plus carer and have undertaken several different training sessions, both online and in person, over the years. I’m also a fostering mentor and enjoy supporting foster carers who are just starting out on their fostering journey. As a Consultative Group member, I’m keen to be part of a group that can influence positive change and advocate for foster carers in Somerset.

I enjoy listening to carers from around the county and I’m always happy for carers to contact me with any comments they would like to raise. I have assisted with training, mentoring new carers, and recruitment events. I always find that meeting and talking with new and existing carers, and exchanging views, is positive and helps to ensure that we’re all supported and have our voices heard.

Contact: Jason.Baker@somersetfosterers.co.uk

Gill Maynard

My name is Gill, and I became a foster carer, together with my husband Kenny, in 2017. Before that, I worked in various areas of childcare. I was a nanny for a family in Germany, then worked in residential children’s homes until I had my own 4 children. When they were young, I was a registered childminder.

Once our youngest started school, I took a position as a Nursery Nurse on the paediatric ward at Yeovil Hospital, where I stayed for 17 years. I live in Yeovil and I’m currently a link carer for a child I previously fostered for 3 years as a short-term carer. I enjoy being able to remain in his life and seeing him flourish with his long-term foster family.

Additionally, I provide regular short break care for 2 other children, a role that fits perfectly with our family’s needs and commitments, especially as I help out with an ever-growing number of grandchildren.

Contact: Gillian.Maynard@somersetfosterers.co.uk

Paul Newman

Hello, I’m Paul. My wife and I have been fostering in West Somerset for several years, caring for children aged 13 and over.

As a Fostering Plus carer, I offer both long-term and short-term placements, including Staying Put arrangements. I’ve supported children through a wide range of schemes including remand, respite, short-term, long-term, permanence, FA&ST, Special Guardianship, and adoption. I’m also a member of the Foster Carer Consultative Group (FCCG), where I help represent carers and contribute to service development.

I’m open to mentoring and buddying other carers and have assisted with training sessions to share my experiences. I enjoy working with teenagers and am committed to providing them with stability, guidance, and a safe space to grow.

Outside of fostering, I used to fix forklifts – so I bring a practical mindset and a hands-on approach to problem-solving!

Contact: Paul.Newman@somersetfosterers.co.uk