Retired, but Their Care Continues
Lesa and John spent over 50 years between them serving in policing, Lesa as a police dispatcher for 24 years, and John as a police officer and dog handler for 30 years. Retirement marked the end of their time in uniform, but not their commitment to protecting vulnerable people.
Their journey into fostering began instinctively. Years ago, they supported a foster carer looking after twin girls. When plans were made to separate the children due to their complex needs, John expressed, “We couldn’t let that happen”. They followed a foster-to-adopt route, and today the twins are thriving in specialist education, supported by the stability they always needed.
As Lesa and John approached retirement, the pull to help again remained. This time, they wanted the right support around them, which led them to Compass Fostering. One of the young people they now care for had been separated from her birth father after he was deported to Poland after serving a prison sentence. Drawing on their policing experience, Lesa and John worked with professionals to safely reunite them.
“We met him as a father who loves his daughter,” John says. “He did wrong. He served his sentence. Our responsibility was to do right by her“.
Understanding how vital identity and family connection can be for a young person, they worked alongside social services, international authorities, and Compass professionals to make safe, well-planned contact possible. After months of preparation, Lesa and John helped facilitate a visit to Poland so the young person could see her father for the first time in six years.
“You serve your community in uniform. Through fostering, you see the impact… every single day.”
“If you want to see something emotional,” John says, “watch a young person hug their parent after all that time”. Their approach, separating the offence from the individual and keeping the child’s wellbeing at the centre, is now recognised by local authorities as best practice for maintaining cultural identity.
Reflecting on the move from policing to fostering, Lesa says simply, “You serve your community in uniform. Through fostering, you see the impact… every single day.”
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