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Fostering

Which is the right direction ??

4 replies

minximoo · 28/01/2012 18:51

Hi, my partner and i have applied to foster with our local authority just recently (we're both 46). But im now wondering if private agencies will take better care of us (eg Support, etc etc).. (assuming we get thru of course lol).

We are like all other 'newbies' entering the fostering arena and have heard many conflicting stories from both LA f/carers and IFA's (i have several foster mum friends).
We've wanted to foster for over two years but held back as we had college courses to complete etc. We've been together three years and i have three children living at home 16, 15, and nine, all girls..

Now then ~
Rather than dance politely around questions, im going to be bold and direct lol..
(1) Is it common place to be treated better by a private fostering agency?
(2) As id give up work to do this i would need a regular income. The £ amount isn't of consequence as my work is only part time anyway, but none the less its a steady income i can rely on.
(3) I understand the LA will always utilise their own FC first, then surplus placements would go to IFA.. (The IFA being an 'over-spill' i assume). But with the fostering drive there is alot more FC available in the LA bank. So the need or demand to IFA will reduce further and further as time passes.. (again, i assume).
(4) We've no idea what questions or problems we are yet to face lol, but i am curious if the rules are the same for both LA and IFA.. (for example, age, bed availability, criminal record criteria, etc etc).
(5) And how scarey is that first visit (i go white even trying to imagine it lol).

Thanks for reading :o)

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scarlet5tyger · 29/01/2012 14:17

I'm pushed for time but just wanted to write that if you need a steady income, rather than the £, I'd definitely go with LA. As you point out, there are a surplus of FC at the moment - some FC I know have been waiting 6 months+ in my LA for a placement, and all the children with IFA have been pulled back in house wherever possible.

The support has always been okay from my LA as well. I suppose it depends if you're the type of person who constantly needs reassurance or whether you'd prefer to be left alone! I always like a bit of space, but my support worker has been there when needed. Problems have occurred more with the children's SW's - but they'd be the same regardless of whether you went with LA or IFA.

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minximoo · 29/01/2012 20:55

Thanku scarley5tyger.
i suppose i need to short list a few questions for the visiting social worker, hmm... like demand .v. availability within our borough. These boards are fabulous - so nice to be able to read both sides (LA/IFA) and the experiences that happen n situations that may crop up if we get thru..
Assuming the IFA's are under less constraints with cases/work-load, would it be worth (or even allowed) applying with one of the IFA as well. ??? Confused

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NanaNina · 30/01/2012 13:36

Hi Minximoo - have spent 30 years of my life in social work - 23 for a LA where I was a sw and last 15 years as tm mgr of fostering & adoption team, and then working as a freelance. Am now retired. Scarlett is right but I can expand a little...

  1. Yes you will get better support from an IFA for the reasons you state, low caseloads contrasting with LA sws being overwhelmed with the volume of work.
  2. You cannot rely on a stead income whether you foster for a LA or an IFA.The LA I worked for used to pay an 8 weeks retainer of half the fee between placements, but I seriously doubt that any LA will be doing this because of the slashing of budgets by this govt.
  3. Not sure what you mean by the "fostering drive" and do you mean more FCs in LAs or foster children needing placements. There has always been a fostering drive, as there is a national shortage of suitable people coming forward to foster, and this has been the case for many years.

4.Yes the Fostering Regulations cover LA and IFAs.

A lot of people don't realise that IFAs recruit foster carers and then "sell" them to the LA, at a significant cost to the LA. They don't have any children themselves. Most of them build into their costings finance for psychological help to the child if necessary, arrgts for children out of school etc etc (nothing wrong with that) but it is the LA who are paying for all this.

For many years some of us campaigned eith snr managers to pay LA carers the same rate as IFAs but the answer was "we can't afford it" but then the LA FC says "but you can afford it when you need them" and that is true. Very frustrating. LAs have no choice, if a child needs to be placed then they have to buy a plct.

It is good practice for there to be a 2 yr age gap between birth children, so you certainly wouldn't want a child older than your 16 and 15 - so realistically you would be looking at a child up to 7yrs (2 years younger than your youngest) or 9yrs - 13 years. I have to say that this is the age range where it is most difficult to place. Also looked aftered children don't often come as an only child - they are almost always part of a sibling group, and obviously it is best for them to be kept together (though many foster carers are aproved to take 2 sibs) as any more is too much for fcs, although many fcs do foster 3 children at any one time.

I am assuming that all is well in your family without problems with step-father and teenagers?? This is very common in step parent families, and you need to think through the implications of adding a 4th child to the family,. You also need to think whether you are wanting to foster on a short term basis (anything up to 2yrs and beyond sometimes!) or taking a child on a permanent basis.

You can only be registered with one agency, so you couldn't foster for a LA and an IFA.

I think the best thing for you to do is to talk with both. When talking to IFAa I would ask how many placements (of the age group in which you were interested) have they placed in say, the past 2 years. They will paint a glowing picture of the support you will get but not actually how IFAs work.

You can get lots more info on fostering from websites "British Agency for Fostering & Adoption" (BAAF) and "Fostering Networks" the national Assoc for foster carers.
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minximoo · 30/01/2012 20:28

Thanks Nananina,
Lots for us to think about lol.
When i mentioned the fostering drive i was referring to all the recent campaigns and tv coverage etc. Until 2011 (prior to the tv ads in abundance) id no idea there was even a shortage lol. And to be honest, my assumption was that the LA would be inundated with applicants and therfore no great shortage..
So it surprises me when i read of the 'need' of new foster carers and then in another post many seem to have waited months for their first placement. (i assume this must be a borough to borough diferentiation of need exceeding supply.)
Then obviously i wonder why LA's dont just have a 'bank' of all boroughs and utilise who is available instead of buying a f/carer thru an IFA.. its throwing money away and not utilising its own resources ?? (just wondering if iv got a grasp of this now lol...)

As for the family set-up, Yes 2 of the children see their father regularly and have done for 10+ years. We have the odd hick-up but in general we're good friends and he is very supportive of my partner Carl.
The 3rd child (at home) is 9yrs old physically (but mentally is more 12+) and she has NO contact with her father at all. If he had any contact i would insist that the SSD supervised it (if you follow me...) He hasn't set eyes nor telephoned for 18m as he knows i will involve the SSD. And it would blow his cover i assume.
The children (even those that have grown n left home) all think the world of my partner Carl. We involve them in everything pretty much and they're relaxed and feel safe with him around. The family bond is good, solid and strong, no hidden issues as we encourage openess and honesty.

I think iv probably got about a thousand other questions on 'stand-by' nananina lol, so i will close here before i start a fresh chapter LOL.

Thankyou for sharing your wisdom and experience x

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