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Adoption

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

Social Worker Visit-what are they looking for?

3 replies

elizabethmayli · 21/07/2007 21:44

I am having a social services assessment next week and I really need to know what they will be looking for. I have a 10yr old relative who has been in foster care since Dec '06. We have been trying to get him to stay with us during school holidays since Feb half term. We have said that we will have him all the time but social worker thinks it will be too destructive to change schools (we live out of county). Finally social worker has agreed to do assessment next week. We have only managed this because he has requested to be moved from foster home because he doesn't like foster carer. (Hasn?t been taken to any of his extra curricular stuff since placement-carer plays online poker all day) The independent chair in review meeting said social services must do assessment. The social worker really doesn't like us. The child?s parents are poor, uneducated and foreign so the assumption is we must be too. (we are rich, educated and British)They also thought that the parents were sadistic sexual abusers but they don't any more. (Sexual abuse case dropped but kids can't go home till parenting assessment completed.) The social worker doesn't want him to be placed here so if there is anything at all wrong he will have to stay with poker player until Sept when a final decision about whether he can go home or not will be made. It will already be nearly 2 weeks into holiday when she visits so are we realistically going to get him to stay. I?m worried she will drag the paperwork out or 4 weeks then he will be back at school. What sort of questions can I expect? Will she ask about financial stuff and our sex lives? Do I need to hide the cat and the alcohol?

OP posts:
KristinaM · 22/07/2007 16:25

sorry i don't knwo what they will ask...have never been in your situation

if the Sw doesnt like you she may be hostile and aggressive so you will need to keep your cool

They will probably ask things like:

who will care for the child - are you or your DP at home full time?

what kind of activities etc will he do when he stays with you?

do you have any other experience of children?

if you have children living at home, how will they cope with the new arrival?

if your children are younger, have you considered any risks to them? How well do they knwo this relative?

what are your house rules? how flexibel are these? how will they apply to your relative and to your other children ( if any)

as you say you come from a very different background from the child, how will you seek to overcoem these cultural differences?

how will you cater for his religious, language and cultural needs?

what are your views on discliplne? How will you cope with his behavioural issues?

she shoudl only ask about financial issues if it seems that you woudl be struggling to suuport him during your stay. She shoudlnt ask about your sex lives but its not unknown, if they want to be nasty. If she does, i woudl ask politely how that information is relevant to caring for the child.

If its suspected that the child has been sexually abused they may ask what you knwo about sexual abuse etc

cat shoudl not be an issue unless child has allergies or a history of aggression. lots of kids with attachment issues are abusive to pets

you won't need to hide the alcohol but they may ask you to watch what and how you drink, if the child has been exposed to violence or abuse related to alcohol . You may need to check that the child doesnt have access to alcohol in your home

hope that helps. sorry its not very coherent, kisd running mad here

elizabethmayli · 22/07/2007 20:53

Thanks for advice. I'm hoping that she will be alright and I'm overreacting. She got told off in last review meeting and I'm hoping she doesn't take it out on us. Its a lot more work for her to place him with rather than leave him with poker man.

OP posts:
Kewcumber · 22/07/2007 22:18

I had a "standard" adoption home sudy. my advice to people generally is to treat it like a job interview. Be honest and straightforward but not TOO honest and straighforward!

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