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Fostering in the Greater Manchester, Stoke, Staffordshire and the West Midlands
Are you considering becoming a foster parent? We’d love to welcome you into the Parallel Parents family. We are currently looking for compassionate carers across Greater Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, and the West Midlands, through to Worcester. Join a community that supports you every step of the way. We would love to meet you! If you’d like to discuss fostering in more detail, head over to our Events Page to see when and where we are holding our next fostering information sessions. Come say hello and get all your questions answered.
Your social worker will be on hand 24/7 and live absolutely no more than an hour away from you. We make sure you have support as locally as possible! Get in touch now to start your journey.
Meet the team
Debbie - Registered Manager of Parallel Parents
What can I say? I love my job, so, so much. I have been a supervising social worker for Parallel Parents since 2002 and am a Registered Manager for PP Central! Whilst my role has changed over the years, I have always had carers and children that I have supported during this time, and still do to this day. There is no greater satisfaction from doing that first visit to a potential foster carer, supporting them through the training, and learning lots about their family, to watching them get approved at the fostering panel. During this time we get to know applicants really well, have a great insight and understanding into their family, and have a really good idea about what kind of child would be a really good match for them.
It has been a pleasure to watch so many of the young people become amazing parents themselves, and go on to be happy and content adults. The carers have huge families now, a vast number of the children who are now adults staying in touch, and even if I don't always get to see them, I love hearing about how they are doing and seeing pictures of them. I am still in touch with a number of young adults, and they know they can count on me now if they need me, even though they are now all grown up. The amount of times a child asks to add me onto Facebook and I have to say “I can't until you're 18”. Nothing better than getting a friend request from them and then being able to be proud from afar as I see how their adult lives are shaping. Fostering for me has definitely been the best career decision I ever made. I would say I'll be here until I'm old and grey... although I'm already grey, just hiding it well!
We have a great team of social workers, support workers and hub carers helping us to find and support amazing foster families for children and young people.
Bev - Registered Manager of Parallel Parents
Bev has been an integral part of Parallel Parents for more than a quarter-century. Since joining us over 25 years ago, she has built an impressive career path—starting in residential care, moving into supervising social work, and serving as an Area Manager. In 2024, Bev was appointed as our Registered Manager. Her lifelong commitment to children’s services and her vast institutional knowledge make her an invaluable leader for our staff and foster families alike.
Hayley - Manchester - Team Leader
Hey, my name is Hayley and I am the Greater Manchester team lead, as well as being one of the Supervising Social Workers within this area. Outside of work I enjoy walking and climbed Kilimanjaro in 2020. I'm currently working towards Everest Base Camp but being at home relaxing and cooking a nice meal with good company is my ultimate idea of fun!
I qualified from University in 2016 however went on to work in a Residential care setting within the agency, before starting my journey as a social worker with Parallel Parents in 2018.
I work with the most remarkable people who have made and continue to make huge changes to lives of children and young people They have allowed me into their family and continue to strive for the best outcomes for children and young people. It is always a pleasure to support foster carers, through the trials, tribulations, and everything in between, and that is all made easier by working for this agency. It is always clear that children/young people and our amazing foster carers are at the heart of everything we do.
I enjoy every aspect of my job, and love how I get to spend quality time with the young people and this allows us to build up great relationships. I enjoy going out on activities and fun days, and spending quality time with children and sibling groups. This allows me to be a confidant for children and young people in my presence.
My experience of working with Parallel Parents I can honestly say has been amazing, it always feels everyone is one big family and I am thankful to work with what I would describe a 'one of a kind' agency.
Cassie - Manchester -Supervising Social Worker
Hi I'm Cassie,
I joined Parallel Parents in 1999 as a newly qualified Social Worker. I was already a foster carer then and so I felt I understood what type of support carers really need.
I was immediately impressed by the child centred and caring approach of the key people and I continue to feel that way today.
This care extends beyond the children to the carers and the staff. Where possible, we seek to link positively with the child's family too, hence the name 'Parallel Parents', and this can make a huge difference to the child. Then, 12 years ago, I was supported to continue my training and qualify in Counselling and Psychotherapy which is now another aspect of my job.
Staff in the Head office and social workers and support workers across the teams as well as carers tend to stay and these days the experience of working with a consistent team of fantastic people over many years is really unusual. This gives a great deal of consistency to us all and leads to a real family feel.
So, in case it's not obvious, I would strongly recommend looking into PP if you are considering fostering. You will be valued and become part of a life changing team.
Chris - Manchester -Supervising Social Worker
Hi everyone my name is Chris, I have been working for Parallel Parents for 7 years as a support worker and was fortunate enough to be able to access my social work degree through the agency and in November 2022, I qualified as a Social Worker. My role now within Parallel Parents is a supervising social worker within the Greater Manchester team. Prior to my role as a support worker, I worked within the sister organisation Care Today for 5 years, so have been a part of the agency for a long time.
I work with some incredible people and throughout my time with Parallel Parents have seen the passion, commitment and love that foster carers offer young people and it is always a true pleasure to watch and support foster carers and young people achieve the positive outcomes that they continue to.
I would say the best part of my role is being with the young people, seeing the relationships and attachments built, trust earnt, progress made and just the smiles and laughter from the young people when they are content in their environment.
There is a reason we have been an outstanding agency for so long and it is a pleasure to be a part of the great work that we as a whole team do, Parallel Parents are a fantastic agency to work for so it comes as no surprise as to why people who work with us, stay with us!
Danielle - Manchester -Supervising Social Worker
Danielle joined Parallel Parents in 2025, she brings significant expertise to our organization, with over five years as a Qualified Social Worker and a deep focus on Safeguarding and Child in Need teams. Her extensive experience includes time as a Senior Practitioner, where she successfully provided mentoring and coaching to fellow practitioners.
Danielle's excellent understanding of current children's social care legislation and her commitment to supporting families make her an invaluable addition to our Manchester team.
Nicki -Manchester - Support Worker
Hi, I am Nicki
I am one of the assistant social workers of the Greater Manchester Team. I started working for Care Today in 2000 and then moved over to Parallel Parents. I have continued with my role as a support worker throughout this time working within the Manchester team, supporting the foster placements and co-working the caseload with a number of the social workers on my team. I have also continued to link with the residential homes within the agency on weekends.
You may be able to tell from the length of time I have worked for PP that I enjoy what I do and work with an amazing team of people who are all committed to their role. We all work together to strive for the best outcomes for children and young people. Lots of the people I work with have been with the agency for many years and we all feel we are part of one big family.
We are able to work closely with the young people in our care and throughout my time have built up some wonderful relationships with children in foster care, and even those who have become adults have stayed in touch. Directly working with and supporting the young people and foster carers is my favourite part of the job, especially doing activities and fun things together. Seeing the smiles on their faces makes it all worthwhile.
There is a reason we have been outstanding for the length of time we have; our young people and carers are at the centre of everything we do and it has been, and continues to be, a pleasure to be a part of.
Sam - Stoke - Team Manager
Hi
I'm Sam and I have worked for Parallel Parents and Care Today for 25 years.
I am a supervising social worker and work with some amazing foster carers and children.
I have so many wonderful memories 💖
I have been part of hundreds of children's journeys and I love to see them flourish ✨️
I enjoy taking the children out to have some fun while our foster carers have a well deserved break ❤️
I Hope that I am lucky enough to support hundreds more children for another 25 years.
Bev - Stoke - Supervising Social Worker
Hi, I'm Bev.
I have worked with Care Today since 2011. I was a registered manager of a children's home from 2013 until 2023. In 2023 I moved over to Parallel Parents whilst completing my social work degree, I graduated in September 2024 and now work as a full time supervising social worker. I have worked with children and young people of all ages over my career and it brings me so much joy to support the amazing children in our care. I'm a big kid at heart and love having lots of fun! I love spending time with my family and travelling at every opportunity.
Nikki - Cheshire - Supervising Social Worker
Hi, I'm Nikki! I have worked with children and young people now for over 20 years! I started off working with children in our larger homes and have now moved over to Parallel Parents. I love spending time with all our children and young people and supporting them. So much so that I have now decided to become a Social Worker myself. I love organising and going on days out with everyone and in my spare time I love reading and travelling to lots of new places.
Mike - West Midlands - Team Manager
Hi my name is Mike I have been with Parallel Parents over 7 years now.
I was previously a foster carer for the local authority for over 15 years before I decided
to embark on my Social work degree.
During my degree I spent some time in a residential setting at weekends whilst completing my degree.
I'm now the Regional team lead for the South and manage a very successful team of Social workers and support workers.
Sarah - West Midlands - Team Leader
Sarah is a highly experienced member of the Parallel Parents family, having dedicated over a decade to supporting our foster carers. Throughout her ten-year tenure as a Supervising Social Worker, she has built a reputation for providing unwavering guidance and expert advocacy for her families. Her deep understanding of the fostering journey and her commitment to excellence led to her appointment as Team Leader for the West Midlands area.
In her current role, Sarah oversees our regional support network, ensuring that our West Midlands team delivers the high standard of care Parallel Parents is known for. She remains passionate about mentoring staff and empowering foster carers to create the best possible outcomes for the children in their care.
Elyse - West Midlands - Team Leader
Hey, I'm Elyse and I've worked for parallel parents since 2020 as a supervising social worker and now a team leader.
I always knew from young that social work was my desired career choice but I never knew what area of social work I wanted to go into initially. However, since working for this agency I've never looked back as no day ever feels like work when I'm doing something that I enjoy so much and am so passionate about.
I love nothing more than getting to know my carers thougroughly throughout the Form F process, right then through to matching a child to them and their family and watching the progress that each child makes.
I'm so proud to work for such a supportive agency which enables me to be flexible with the support that I provide to the carers and children and to really build positive working relationships. I can't ever imagine working anywhere else now. There really is no feeling like the satisfaction and reward from working in this role.
Zoe - Staffordshire/West Midlands - Supervising Social Worker
Hi, I’m Zoe, I’ve been working for Parallel Parents now since 2020 when I started as a student social worker! I work for the Birmingham team and my favourite part of the job is getting to know all the children that we work with and working with them to grow and develop into amazing young adults with their carers. I often spend time doing different crafts with our children and love seeing how artistic they can be!
In my spare time I love walking my two whippets, spending time with my family and friends, travelling and having new experiences including fun days out!
Jo - Staffordshire/West Midlands - Supervising Social Worker
Hi, My name is Joanna. I am a supervising social worker at Parallel Parents, I have worked with the amazing West Midlands team since 2021. I have worked with children and young people of various ages and find my role extremely rewarding, particularly seeing children thrive and progress. I also enjoy supporting my foster carers and I have a positive relationship with them, they are inspirational.
In my spare time I like keeping fit by going to the gym or going on a nice walk. But I mostly enjoy spending time with family and friends and going on holidays.
Tamara - West Midlands - Supervising Social Worker
Anya - West Midlands - Support Worker
Hi, I am Anya, I began working for Parallel Parents sister Care Today in 2017 RSW alongside a Childhood and Family studies degree. They always gave me shifts that fit around my study.
In 2020 I graduated and moved over to Parallel Parents and supported a caseload with a FCDW for 3 years.
I am now the West Midlands team lead placement support worker ; completing a counselling course through PP.
I really do love my job! I enjoy working directly with a range of children,young people and carers.Providing both practical and emotional support.
Being a part of a child's fostering journey, seeing their development and progress while working through difficult times together. Is such a lovely feeling knowing I have the opportunity to help make a difference.
The best outcomes for our children and young people are at the centre of everything we do at Parallel Parents. They are an amazing company to work for. Very supportive and offer lots of opportunities to develop their carers and staff.
Mee The Team
Apply now!
Start a rewarding career in which you can make a real difference. We will fully train and prepare you to be a great foster parent and help give a less fortunate child a brighter future.
We give you all the support information you need to get started as a foster carer. If you have a question that hasn't been answered by our website, feel free to start a quick web chat with us, email us, or give us a call, and we'd be delighted to answer your query!
Apply
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