16th June 2026

Olivia* is 12 years of age. She is an energetic, thoughtful, and intelligent young person who thrives on adult engagement and enjoys the company of her caregivers. Olivia is polite in her manner and benefits from calm, nurturing relationships where she feels safe, protected, and supported. 

Olivia has a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and a severe learning disability. She has a history of trauma and instability, which impacts her sense of safety and world view. Olivia’s behaviour is best understood as a form of communication as she processes past experiences. With consistent care, she has begun to open up to physical affection, accepting hugs, hand-holding, and letting carers wash and blow-dry her hair. 

Olivia enjoys a varied diet and loves trying new foods, showing a particular fondness for sushi and mangoes. She is developing good independent living skills and manages her morning school routine independently, while also helping with household tasks like making her bed, tidying her room, and assisting with cooking. 

Olivia thrives on predictable daily routines and clear expectations. She maintains a consistent waking schedule and a structured evening routine, settling to bed by 10:00 PM on weekdays and 11:00 PM on weekends. Before sleeping, she spends a short time using her mobile phone, which has no internet access – a boundary she comfortably accepts. While she values structure and likes planning her days with trusted adults, Olivia is also highly adaptable and enthusiastic about spontaneous road trips and new experiences. 

Olivia is an active young person with a busy schedule of interests. She loves going to grocery shops and has a bucket list of holiday goals, including a shopping trip to Dublin and a visit to Emerald Park. For the summer, she enjoys outdoor activities and aims to visit every playpark in Northern Ireland, take a ferry trip to Scotland, and experience her first hotel stay. She also appreciates quieter one-to-one time with trusted caregivers, enjoying low-key evenings watching TV, listening to Cool FM, or relaxing on the sofa with blankets and snacks. 

Developmentally, Olivia takes extra time to process information and requires support to communicate her needs effectively. She is increasingly using her voice to express her preferences for her current life and future. Olivia requires patient, emotionally resilient caregivers who can provide a non-confrontational environment, maintain clear structure, and use trauma-informed and autism-specific approaches to help her grow in confidence and self-worth. 

Olivia’s foster carer(s) will receive financial support, ongoing social work support, as well as access to training and development opportunities to support them in meeting Olivia’s needs. 

Get in touch with us to find out more about caring for Olivia: 

Call us on 0800 0720 137, complete an online enquiry form or email us with your contact details.

*name changed and stock image used to protect her identity