Through Barnardo's we try to be flexible and treat kids as family

Chris and Steve are contract carers for Barnardo's, providing a home from home for children and a lifeline for their struggling parents.

Alison rushes into the room and hugs the couple, before giving Chris a picture of how she wants her hair styled.

Alison is learning sign language and can say some words, or parts of words.

Chris, aged 53, was a support worker at a respite home in Droitwich, before it closed about seven years ago with the move to family-based placements.

She became a contract carer, before her 54-year-old husband gave up work as a computer systems manager 18 months ago and joined her.

"They give you so much back," she says.

"You can be sitting down and Alison will come over and give you a big hug and that's lovely.

"To see her progression is fantastic. She's trying to tell you so much. She will come out with another word or sign and that's really rewarding."

It took time for Alison to settle into their home about a year ago - but she now stays for three nights each month.

"When she first started to come her mum had to prompt her with lots of photos of us," she says.

"Now she's just got to say Chris and Steve and she knows where she's going and her mum says she gets quite excited about it."

A tour of their home reveals the modifications Barnardo's has made to enable them to care for the most severely disabled of children.

In one bedroom there's a hoist over a remote-controlled bed and a ramp into the garden.

The bathroom has a sink that can be moved up and down and an adapted toilet.

A second bedroom is for more able-bodied children, with a shelf crammed with toys. With use of a specially-adapted car, the couple can treat youngsters to trips to the zoo, swimming pool, park or meals out.

They are committed to being carers for 300 24-hour stays a year.

Steve said: "Through Barnardo's we try to be as flexible as we can for the parents who need a break.

"We just treat the kids as family. My kids have grown and left and now we've got this other family."

They look after children for evenings, weekends or a whole week, depending on the family's needs.

Alison's mum Jane is her daughter's principal carer, because her husband is a farmer and works long hours.

"Having a child like Alison is incredibly isolating - it takes over your life," she says.

She says before Barnardo's found Chris and Steve, they had no idea the impact the couple would have on the family, who live near Kidderminster.

Alison's nine-year-old brother Matthew has a language disorder, so the break enables the parents to spend time with him.

"If Alison is here she demands all the attention, so the impact on siblings is huge," says Jane.

"It gives us an opportunity to do things with Matthew and it gives Alison a wonderful opportunity to become more independent and learn new skills in a different setting.

"They are marvellous and they have such a lovely, calm, happy home which is wonderful."

Jacqueline Woodward, of Barnardo's, says Worcestershire is crying out for contract carers like them to provide breaks for 12 more children.

If they are contracted to work a set number of days, the charity can secure Government funding to make any necessary modifications to their homes. Carers do not need previous experience of looking after disabled children, because training is provided.

They are paid a fee, which enables many to take it up as a career.

"Firstly you really need to want to do it, being paid a fee gives people the option of being able to do it," she says.

"You need to love to help and be around children.

"If a child has specific needs, additional training will be provided. If parents are going through a particularly stressful time and are under pressure, they know this is the light at the end of the tunnel," she adds.

"We have parents who say they just don't know what they would have done if they hadn't had the support."

To find out more about becoming a carer, call Worcestershire Short Breaks on 01905 778275.