Leeds foster carer awarded with MBE for 'incredible contribution' to the lives of children and young people

The 43-year-old says she is still stunned and “humbled” to have received the award for her services to fostering, which she described as simply her “path in life”.

She has spoken to the Yorkshire Evening Post about her journey over the past almost decade and urged others to consider following in her footsteps – and help meet what is an urgent need in the city for more foster carers.

Since she was approved as a foster carer in 2012, Khairun – together with her husband Sikhander Hussain, 54, a social worker and their son Sami, now 18 – has cared for all backgrounds and ages of children, from babies to care leavers in their 20s, for as little as two nights in emergency placements to four years and counting with her current foster daughter.

She describes fostering as a “way of life” and says: “There’s no job like it.”

One of Khairun’s major achievements is being instrumental in the setting-up – and success of – the city’s Mockingbird Family Model of fostering.

A concept which originated in the US, it creates a dedicated ‘hub home’ of specially-recruited and trained carers – such as Khairun – who offer help, a break, support and joint activities with a ‘constellation’ of six to 10 families of foster and kinship carers living nearby.

Like an extended family, the hub aims to empower families to support each other, overcome problems before they escalate and offer children a more positive experience of care.

Khairun was one of the first ‘hub homes’ in Leeds when the pilot was launched six years ago and the city now has around 10, she says.

Her hub currently includes nine families with around 18 children.

Khairun said the hubs are proving a “vital” help to foster families, with some admitting it’s enabled them to sustain relationships which they otherwise would have struggled to do.

“It’s having that community around you,” she said. “It’s a more nurturing environment for children and carers. There are no judgments. The children know that the other children are in the same position and situation.

“It’s about empowering each other. All these carers come from different walks of life and they bring something special and something different.”

Khairun described how, when her hub was first set up, they were able to come together to celebrate a child’s birthday – the first time he had ever had a party.

“We brought a cake out and he was shocked. He was 14. There were tears rolling down his cheek. It was just amazing and his carer was so happy she could give him a party.”