The Team

Karen Hardaker (Operations Director)

Karen has fostered children for over 20 years and comes with a wealth of experience, walking in the shoes of a foster carer daily. She is also a registered social worker and has over 8 years IFA experience. She is very foster carer and child focused, wanting the best outcomes for both. Karen was previously a registered Charge nurse at a busy hospital in South Africa before retraining to take up social work. She has held companies over the last 30 years and brings her business acumen to the team.

Rebecca Nicholls (Director)

I am a qualified Social Worker, and I have predominately worked as a supervising social worker within my career. I have greatly enjoyed working alongside foster carers and their families; watching children thrive in loving homes. One of the most rewarding aspects of working with carers and children is the relationships that I have been able to build with carers and children; as well as understanding the dynamics of the fostering family. I am delighted to be working creatively within a family-feel fostering agency. I am very proud to be a co-owner of 5 Fostering and I am looking forward to getting to know you all. I am the Responsible Individual - responsible for compliance with regulations.

Karen Murdoch (Registered Manager)

Has been a qualified social worker since 2001, working in statutory childcare services since that time, including child protection, family support, children’s hospital and adoption teams. She has been working in the fostering sector since 2011, as supervising social worker, senior practitioner and team manager, initially with the local authority then in IFA’s since 2018, including a disability specialist agency.

Derek Hall - Senior Social Worker

I am a qualified Social Worker and registered with the HCPC. I have worked as a Social Worker on two continents covering over 30 years’ experience. I have covered all disciplines of social work from Adult Services (Psychiatric in the community) to children and families. I have managed residential units for teenagers under 8 years old and undertaken family and parenting assessments in preparation for court proceedings. I have also worked with UCAS. My passion lies with children and families, with a special concern for child safety and protection. I have worked as a supervising SW for over 10 years assisting foster carers to develop their fostering careers and supporting their placements.

Kim Harris - Business Manager

I have been teaching, for 36 years, in a variety of primary schools in: West Sussex; Norfolk; East Sussex; and Germany. Although I have taught children between the ages of 6 and 13 my favourite age is 10-11 as the children still have that awe and wonder mixed with independence. I enjoy arts and crafts particularly painting and drawing.

My role, in 5 Fostering, is working with the Business Support Group as a Business Manager. A few of my new roles include processing carer payments and managing finances, managing and auditing Charms to help keep us Ofsted ready, working with Katie to develop the recruitment materials and attending initial visits to prospective carers, helping to organise family events and running the Newsletter. I am the Voice of the Child.

Sam Stevens - Administrator

At 5Fostering I process the child placement referrals. On average we receive around 70 referrals a day. I am looking for potential matches between the child and foster carer. Any possible matches are then passed to our Social Workers for their consideration. My role also includes the data input of referrals onto our system.

In my own time I like to walk my rescue dog Archie, and spend time with my family and friends.

Bobbie and Binky the Office Dogs

Bobbie and Binky are twin poodles. At 5Fostering we understand the benefits dogs provide for our mental health.