Clara Jayne Rose has been on the child protection register from birth, but has somehow managed to remain with her mother, Tracy. Clara has never had a settled life. She has moved countless times and escaped the care system numerous times. No one knows how, or why, she's done this. If Clara wasn't with her mother, she was often with her father, Drew, or her mother's friends. Both of her parents are drug addicts and Clara has three older half siblings who were removed from her mother's care many years ago.

"Blimey," I said to my support worker, Rebecca. I'd been asked to consider looking after a young girl who'd recently been brought into care and was currently in a residential home. However, Clara wasn't coping very well, as the residential unit was designed for teenagers, not a girl of 11 years old. I continued to read:

Clara has challenging behaviour, which can escalate into hitting, kicking and biting. Her language consists of mainly swearing. She has had a limited attendance to all of her primary schools and she has never been registered to attend a secondary school.

I have been a teacher for 10 years at Havelock High, and I was just settling into my new job, an English teacher at Waterloo Road, in Greenock, Scotland. I'd been a foster carer for 7 years and I'd looked after many challenging children. I read the rest of Clara's information before sitting quietly for a moment. "Well?" Rebecca asked. "What do you think?"

"I think she'd be a challenge," I replied. I was thinking of my options, and what was best for this little girl and my family. My children had grown up a little now, but I still needed to look after them. Oliver was on a gap year before heading to university the following year, but Madison was just starting year 10 at Waterloo Road. She'd had enough upheaval with moving to a new school, how would she deal with this? I also had to think about Sadie, a young girl of 4 years old who I was fostering long term. We'd not fostered another child since she arrived, 9 months previously.

"We'd be here to support you every step of the way," Rebecca offered, "just like we are for Sadie, and every other child you've cared for."

"I know, I know, but it's a big commitment." I thought for a moment, before adding, "where would Clara need to go to school?"

Rebecca paused, "it's entirely your decision, but her social worker, Paul, would like her registered at a local school, preferably Waterloo Road."

"Oh, right." This child would not only be in my home, but also at my place of work. It would be a huge decision.

"Carley, I don't want to rush you, but we do need an answer."

"Okay. I'll do it. She can come and stay here."

"Thank you!" Rebecca said, relieved. "We intend to move her here tomorrow. Would that be possible?"

"I'll speak to Mrs Mulgrew, but it shouldn't be a problem."

"Good," she said as she stood to leave. I wished her goodbye, the enormity of what I'd just done was settling in my mind. "I'll see you again tomorrow with Paul and Clara. Thanks so much for doing this Carley. I'm sure Clara will love being with you."