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Adoption

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on adoption.

Original poster

Family finding visit.

19 replies

Ellengriswold · 15/07/2015 13:15

We have just heard that the family finding social workers of a sibling group are coming to visit us next week. What should we expect? Any tips? Feeling excitedly petrified IYSWIM. Are they looking at us and/or the house?

OP posts:
sarahlux · 15/07/2015 15:20

Good luck. We also have the family finder and child's social worker visiting us next week.

StaceyAndTracey · 15/07/2015 15:59

They are looking at you and the house. But mostly you

Write down any questions you have. They should be ' decision critical ' questions at this stage .

All the family finder cares about is " can you meet these children's needs " . Everything you say and do should be aimed at that .

Show that you have thought carefully about this by asking intelligent questions.

They don't care about your house, as long as it meets all the basic requirements- enough space, averagely clean and tidy , safe . They don't expect you to have a room decorated for a child, but they will want to see their rooms and the rest of the house .

They don't care about food, beyond basic hospitality . A hot drink and biscuit is fine, unless they have traveled a long distance , in which case a sandwich or similar would be appreciated .

abeandhalo · 15/07/2015 17:03

Talking confidently about your ability to parent those children will be key, and why you specifically are the right choice for them. Make sure you ask all of the questions you need to know, this meeting is also about you finding out whether these kids are right for you.

Original poster
Ellengriswold · 15/07/2015 18:13

Thank you for your responses. Really useful.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ellengriswold · 16/07/2015 11:22

Good luck too Sarahlux. The socket covers are going on....question list is being drawn up. I must remember to breathe ;-)

OP posts:
selly24 · 16/07/2015 11:29

Attention re: socket covers there is no safety standard to which these must comply. Not recommended.

Alljamissweet · 16/07/2015 14:13

Good luck Ellen!
Don't worry about socket covers at this stage, it depends on the child.
When our LO was placed he was 2 and obsessed with sockets and we had no choice but to cover them all up.
Cake, hot and cold drinks and read sarahlux's recent thread. Xxx

Tangerineandturquoise · 16/07/2015 17:03

Whilst the jury is out on the safety of socket covers they are still part of the home safety checklist-which your SW should already have done so try not to worry about that
Enjoy the biscuits-and remember to breathe!

arielmanto · 17/07/2015 09:36

we had a checklist given to us early on with the socket covers - so I duly amazon-ed a big bag of them and spent half an hour scrambling over furniture to plug all the holes.
SW arrived and went "oops, did I not tell you that now we've decided that socket covers are actually more dangerous? you'll need to remove all of them." grrr.

Original poster
Ellengriswold · 18/07/2015 05:31

I queried socket covers but they are definitely required. The Mumnset jury are firmly against and I tend to agree, but SW wants them so in they went. Those twist off ones which give me an excellent excuse to not vacuum.

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 27/07/2015 15:58

RoSPA

If you divulge the name and address of whoever gave you those duff instructions, I could try to educate them.

www.fatallyflawed.org.uk/

PigletJohn · 27/07/2015 16:18

RoSPA

If you divulge the name and address of whoever gave you those duff instructions, I could try to educate them.

www.fatallyflawed.org.uk/

etsybetsy · 27/07/2015 16:42

How did the visit go in your opinion? Have they given you feedback yet? Hope it went well!

StaceyAndTracey · 27/07/2015 17:08

John - I'm afraid that the only safe time for a client to educate a social worker is after their youngest child has reached the age of 18. Until then, the best thing when they say " jump " is to say " how high? "

PigletJohn · 27/07/2015 17:39

ah, but I am not a client.

Original poster
Ellengriswold · 27/07/2015 23:37

Stacey I think you MAY have a point! You sum up our feelings:-)
It went well thank you. There are several other couples going to linking so now the long waiting game. We are neither out nor def in so we have the summer hols to wait..... I'm resisting gnawing my nails and sticking to wine and ice cream.

OP posts:
StaceyAndTracey · 28/07/2015 09:56
Wine
Tangerineandturquoise · 28/07/2015 14:00

Piglet John you should forward your research to BAAF The Bristish Association of Adoption and Fostering as they are the ones who write the home study safety questionaire not the social workers who have to carry it out-and present it to managers and panels who have to accept it.

Kewcumber · 28/07/2015 15:19

I'm a bit more bullish than Stacey I'd go right ahead and start educating the social workers about the error of their ways the day after the Adoption Order is final.

Of course the day of the adoption order is probably the last time you'll see a social worker (especially if you need one!) but still...

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