Just started stage 1 whose with me?

[Llouisa1980L]

any twinnies want to stay intouch?

I've just started stage 1 too!!

Me too! Would love to stay in touch

Me too! It would be great to share the journey. :)

Which point is everyone at? We are a week into stage one and only just got all our references back

Our references are back, one of our DBS checks is complete and we are just working through the other paperwork. The workbook is extensive! (Rightly so, but still).
We have been in stage 1 for a few weeks now.

Hello! We're in stage 1 too. It would be good to stay in touch with people going through the same thing. We had our initial home visit just before lockdown so it feels like we've been I stage 1 for ages!

@SarahS123A

Our references are back, one of our DBS checks is complete and we are just working through the other paperwork. The workbook is extensive! (Rightly so, but still). We have been in stage 1 for a few weeks now.

We haven't got the workbook yet, is there a lot of tasks in there or is it mainly reading/research based?

The workbook (for our agency) is a word document with questions all about you, your significant other (s), close family, growing up (similar questions to the interview), education, past relationships etc. I am about halfway through and it's at 15 pages.
We also had to do family tree with marriage dates, dates of passing, ages.
A financial statement showing income, outgoings and back statements, P60.
A chronology, with significant dates, occurrences of your life to date.
Pet assessment forms.
Eco map - this is your support network.

There is so much, it is overwhelming. We are just aiming to do a couple a week.

Just getting started with Stage 1 - we began the whole process once lockdown started so we have done everything online or over the phone so far, including the home visit!

We have our home visit next week! Finally after having to wait due to lock down. Feeling excited and nervous.

Hey all!

We're well into stage 1 now. We've just completed day 2 training, had our home 'visit' h&s, references have all be sent, dbs have been sent back to the LA and working on our workbook/family tree/echo map and chronology.

How about you?

Our references are all back but we haven't got our workbook yet not sure if I'm being unreasonable for thinking 3 weeks into stage one we should have got them right

I'm turning into the biggest pain in the social workers bottom, having to constantly chase.

Although just got good news we no longer have to do any child care voluntary work in stage 1 or 2 which is a big weight off our shoulders (as last call we were told we would need 40 hours each!)

Our medicals are back now and we've got a meeting this week with our SW about starting stage 2. Eek!

Doing the process again for a sibling - have yet to start - but I thought I’d join in.

Lots of waiting waiting waiting waiting. Rwooley although it doesn’t seem like you’ve had to wait toooo long, unfortunately the process is just very slow.

First time around - filled in our information at an open evening in July, resent information end of August as didn’t hear anything, initial home meeting in November, emailed the booklet December And filled it in and sent it back in January, social worker meetings until July panel, then matched and placed in October. For us it may have been slow as we weren’t chasing very much, but you can see how it doesn’t necessarily take 6 months like they say it can.

This time round I’m told process will be quicker and different but still feeling the wait!!!

@SarahS123A do you mind me asking how involved was the financial stuff? Did they ask for a years worth of bank statements?
I've not started the process yet as I was told to get more childcare experience with under 3s - I arranged with a local nursery to 'help twice a week' but Covid hit so that didn't happen! But I'm still lurking and reading the threads as I hope to try again soon.

Hello Stage 1 here.
Nice to meet you all. @smeemoo so interesting about timescales. Had my first lengthy chat with SW last week and she advised around 6 months. I nearly fainted! So in reality longer? A friend of a friend adopted and from ROI to placement was around 18 months. Not yet informed my manager (i will have to for references?) I thought 6 months may also make her faint.

I would say with all that’s going on it’s very likely to take longer than 6 months. I’d say 18 months is more likely.

Unfortunately for work though, they can’t really plan for adoption leave as nothing is ever set in stone. It’s just one of those things that nobody can do anything about really. In reality they can only start your leave when you get the matching certificate (sorry I can’t remember if this is what it’s called), and we only got that the day before we were due to go on leave.

I think giving your manager a timeframe is really difficult because it could be quicker and it could be much longer - nobody really knows!!!

@smeemoo

I would say with all that’s going on it’s very likely to take longer than 6 months. I’d say 18 months is more likely.

Unfortunately for work though, they can’t really plan for adoption leave as nothing is ever set in stone. It’s just one of those things that nobody can do anything about really. In reality they can only start your leave when you get the matching certificate (sorry I can’t remember if this is what it’s called), and we only got that the day before we were due to go on leave.

I think giving your manager a timeframe is really difficult because it could be quicker and it could be much longer - nobody really knows!!!

It depends on the social worker

We started our journey during Covid and we are going to panel in 2 weeks time at which point it will be close to 5 months since submitting our ROI.

that's pretty amazing really - as that's very quick, covid or no covid!

Is your panel an online one or in real life???

@smoodgy

that's pretty amazing really - as that's very quick, covid or no covid!

Is your panel an online one or in real life???

Online

It's been a breeze, although tbh we did complete our homework in one (very long) day so that sped things up

My manager was fantastic. Really pleased for me which was nice. Submitted ROI
yesterday. Not sure what happens next? Hope everyone is well? Yes it is like 1.20 somethimg - am - I have had a cat over 6 years and not had an undisturbed night since 2014 so hopefully wont be too much of a shock to the sytem if I hopefully become a parent!

I feel mumsnet is going to become my saviour! X

Hi, I started stage one in Feb, cos of the virus it’s taken longer than anticipated. The only thing outstanding is for me to hear back on whether my medical report is acceptable and then I can hopefully move on to stage two. Be great to stay in touch!

Hi, just wondering how everything is progressing? I first met with Social worker in Feb and I’m still not on to stage 2 so a bit frustrated here.

Yes!!! We are too, we’ve had initial assessment & virtual home visit & are about to start a 2 day training course next week! Let’s keep in touch x

How is everyone?

We are in stage 2 now & had two sessions!