Preparing for lo s/w visit

[NotJustAnyOldCat]

Longtime lurker finally got reason to post!
We are looking at a potential match with a lo and next week our sw is bringing lo's sw for a visit.
Any advice for this visit?
I understand that it's for us to find out more about lo and him (lo's sw) to find out more about us. I'd love suggestions of what might be useful to ask at this stage and what he might be expecting from us/ what he might ask.

Lo is only10mnths and as we were approved for 0-5 and expecting a match at the upper end of that range, we have not in any way prepared our home for a tiny lo. Is he going to expect to see a toddler-proof house? We have an empty room ready to be furnished for whatever age child but that's as far as prep goes.

Sorry, I expect this has been asked before but I'm a bit rubbish at topic searching.
Also, I'm not as useless as this post might sound - I have lots of questions about the CPR and medical/history/development stuff lined up. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions based on experience. Thanks.

[Nantucketchickennugget]

Well there is the proverbial question of which biscuits to serve!
They wont expect to see a toddler proof house, and you have passed the home safety assessment!
You need to prepare some questions about the child. Development, background, family history, but take time to just listen whilst the SW talks about them.
Be warned you might prepare the most expansive spread and the SWs wont touch it! I think they are trained not to On the other hand they may want milk in their tea when you don't have any.

Are you both clear on how you will manage a baby? If you were expecting an older child, there will be questions about return to work-childcare who gets up in the night.
They may ask what local groups there are-just to see if you are clued up
Do you envisage any problems or differences between this child and an older toddler.

[NotJustAnyOldCat]

Of course - the biscuits!
Thanks Nantucket for some good suggestions. We'll definitely concentrate our thinking and prep chatting on this lo and her age, needs etc so we should come up with some questions naturally.

[Geekmama]

Hello NotJustAnyOldCat,

when my son social worker came to visit,
I made a PowerPoint presentation about what was in the our area for him,
We had what was in a 5 minute walk, 10 minutes, 20 minutes etc
we looked at school's for him, Clubs and other social activities etc
we even did a section on what we could do when we visit his grandparents.

All the social workers want, is to know you had a think about what you can offer that Particular child, look at clubs in the area.
You don't need your house to be baby safe but knowing what your going to do to make it baby safe is a good idea and there may ask you what your planing to do.

Also we had a section on food as my son is allergic to dairy.
So we looked at restaurants that offer dairy free food and a looked at lots of different websites about Dairy free diets and link to them. We also looked at a lot of vegan recipes for example.

So if the Child that you're looking at has any additional needs. Show that you have thought about them and know how to accommodate them.

you will be fine.
good luck! let us know how it goes xx

[UnderTheNameOfSanders]

I suspect Geek is very unusual (unique?) in preparing a power point presentation, I have never heard of that before!

However, agree definitely make sure you show some awareness in what there is for babies in your area. You may well want to go to them to make 'mum friends' as you won't have any from NCT groups or whatever. Also awareness of what you will need to do to the house is important but you don't need to do stuff up front.

Otherwise, make sure you ask whatever questions you need to make a decision as to whether to proceed. So detailed questions about routine can be left to when you meet the FC, but concerns about development, or any contact concerns or whatever need to be raised.

Are you the only people being visited?

[NotJustAnyOldCat]

Thank you.
Great ideas and good adbice.
Geek you must be incredibly organised! I have a close friend, lives nearby has a 1yr old so I'll pick her brains about groups etc - she's very sociable and goes to (arranges) loads of 'mum' things.

Sanders, Yes we're the only ones. LA doesn't do competitive watching. We're really excited and hopeful from what we already know about lo so everything is crossed for Thursday's visit.

[Geekmama]

My approach is quite unusual I think . My DS SW did comment she had never had a potential parent do a PowerPoint presentation before. How did the meeting go? Xx

[Kr1stina]

I so LOVE the PP presentation, that's such a geeky thing to do

( I have several geeky kids so it seems totally normal to me )