Carer of the Year nomination – Tracy and Nigel Hobbs

Carer of the Year nomination – Tracy and Nigel Hobbs

Foster carers Tracy and Nigel Hobbs welcome newborn babies into their home including a premature baby weighing just 6lb at the age of seven weeks who was released from hospital into their care.

The Fenton couple spent a full week in hospital being a loving, round-the-clock presence for a different premature baby receiving medical care.

They have been foster carers for more than seven years and currently have a 12-month-old in their care.

Tracy says she has always wanted to become a foster carer as her own mum was a foster carer. Nigel combines his caring role with a full-time job in the police force.

Marie Plant, Fostering Recruitment Officer with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, has nominated Tracy and Nigel as Carers of the Year in the Your Heroes Awards.

She said: “They have cared for and welcomed a number of very small children into their homes, lives and hearts – babies from newborn. Both are very passionate about fostering.

“The couple have successfully moved a number of children back to family and onto adoption. They always work well with the fostering service and families.

“Tracy is the main carer as Nigel works full-time for the police force however he very much a hands-on foster carer and offers Tracy a lot of support.

“Both engage well and assist fostering at recruitment events and assist in delivering training as and when they can as they are very passionate about fostering and want to encourage others to become foster carers.

“Nigel and Tracy are very aware of achieving the best outcome for the children in their care. They are very child-focused and work hard in order to ensure the children in their care achieve their full potential.”

Tracy said: “When I was growing up I always wanted to be a foster carer as my mum was a foster carer. We started fostering when our children were older and didn’t need us as much.

“It’s just a joy to see them come on, to see them growing and developing.”