Should we apply again?

[busmum]

Hi all I'm new here!

Just thought I would come and ask for some advice!

Well we live in a 2 bed bungalow and applied last year to our LA, they came and did the initial visit but said as we only had the room to foster 0-2 years that basically it wasn't worth their time and training us for just this agegroup as they'd put them with already approved carers as an extra to children they were already caring for. (we have a ds who is 6 aswell)

Well we are now moving in a couple of weeks to a big 3 bed semi house and we are thinking of applying again. We will have 1 spare bedroom but as our ds is only 6 we would still really only want younger children.
I'm just wondering if they will still say we are not suitable? ( as it would still probably only be under 4's we'd prefer)

Also we are thinking about which route to go down, task centered or we are thinking about respite caring? If anyone could give some advice about the difference, pro's and con's of them it would be great.

Our LA did say last time that we could approach neighbouring LA's to see if they needed carers for that age group too but we were thinking of applying to agencies too, can you apply to both and see which we think would be better in the first instance? Or can you only apply to one?

It's all a bit confusing lol! Any advice's/opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks x

[peppapigbutty]

Hi Busmum

I'm a little shocked, but not surprised iyswim, that your LA thought it a waste of time to approve you for only 0-2 tbh. I think the reason they stated this was because you did not have a spare bedroom at the time. In our LA babies can sleep in a cot in the FC's bedroom until they are 18 months old. Then they move to their own room. I think LA's differ on this.

It is becoming more and more common now for babies who were placed in foster care at say 6 months to be still with the foster carers at aged 3. As it seems to be taking longer and longer for their Court Cases to be finalised. In your case, at that time, the baby would have needed to move placement as you would not have had a room for him to sleep in, past cot age.

Since you are moving to a house, where you will have a spare bedroom, there should not be a problem. As your son is 6 you will likely be approved for 0-4, rising as your son gets older, as LA's like to place children at least two years younger than birth children (but this is not always the case).

The age range you are considering you would be better off applying to LA's as Agency FC's usually get the more difficult to place children.

Wishing you all the best. Come back and let us know how you get on please?

[fostering]

OP - definitely re-apply. All foster babies have to sleep in a cot in the FC's bedroom until they are at least 6 months and twin beds or bunk beds in your spare room will enable you to foster up to 3 children.

You may prefer to foster children younger than your own DS but there will be plenty from this age group.

No LA will turn down a prospective FC who could take a sibling group of 2 or 3.

Your application might even be fast tracked!!

[busmum]

Aww thanks for the replys!

Ah right now i understand a bit better! The social worker who did our first visit didn't explain this and made it sound like we were a waste of time lol! But I can understand why now.

The only other thing was do you have to be living in your house for a certain time? As we are renting (but on a long term contract).

I think I will get some more application forms sent! :)