Linking meeting

[claireb7rg]

We've got a linking meeting tomorrow with our sw, the kids sw and kids family finder sw 😬

Little bit nervous but also excited.

Any advice gratefully appreciated ☺️

ooh exciting

Just be yourself, they are on the hook , you just have to draw them in!

But remember this is just as much about you getting your questions answered and that you are happy they are the right child.

For me it was about getting a sense of who he really was - personality, interests, what was he like at school, was he progressing, did he have friends ( he was 7 ) , just lifting him off the page. He had an ASD diagnosis so I also wanted to know what this meant for him on a day to day basis.

Good luck

Thanks @Ted27 🤞👍

Exactly what Ted has said really.
We had ours a few weeks ago and it was really positive and we were really nervous and exited too. Be prepared to answer questions they might have about how you feel perhaps about the childs needs, contact etc. More than anything, it was a great chance to find out more about them which was really lovely especially from the childs6social worker who ha spent time with them. Just be yourselves, they already have a good feeling about you to come to see you. Enjoy finding out more about your little one.
Fingers crossed 🤞 for you. Exciting times.

@Kitkatcrunchie

Exactly what Ted has said really. We had ours a few weeks ago and it was really positive and we were really nervous and exited too. Be prepared to answer questions they might have about how you feel perhaps about the childs needs, contact etc. More than anything, it was a great chance to find out more about them which was really lovely especially from the childs6social worker who ha spent time with them. Just be yourselves, they already have a good feeling about you to come to see you. Enjoy finding out more about your little one. Fingers crossed 🤞 for you. Exciting times.

Thank you 😊

Update....

It went well we (and our sw) think, we're definitely happy to proceed, just got to play the waiting game regarding their decision 🤞🤞

So excited now and yes we got to hear more about their personalities (siblings 2 and 6) which made us want them even more

Wonderful update.

Even more promising update today, got this from our sw today in response to our email to her confirming we want to proceed -

I’ve sent your email on and they both felt you had a lot to give the children and knew what you were taking on, they are speaking to managers on Tuesday to let them know. 👍

Ooooooh. Sounds very promising. You'd get a lot of information about the 6 year old especially as they are school age.

I don't know if this is the norm but I was only given my son's Medical Report just I think a couple of days before Matching Panel paperwork was sent to Panel. I had had to have everything crossed during Linking and Matching that I wouldn't discover at the last minute that my DS had a medical condition that would have necessitated me to pull out. The Report was fine and gave me LOADS of useful info I hadn't known esp comprehensive birth family history.

@Chocapple

Ooooooh. Sounds very promising. You'd get a lot of information about the 6 year old especially as they are school age.

I don't know if this is the norm but I was only given my son's Medical Report just I think a couple of days before Matching Panel paperwork was sent to Panel. I had had to have everything crossed during Linking and Matching that I wouldn't discover at the last minute that my DS had a medical condition that would have necessitated me to pull out. The Report was fine and gave me LOADS of useful info I hadn't known esp comprehensive birth family history.

Thanks 😁

We were told they need new medicals as they've been in FC for over a year, so assuming managers agree on Tuesday to the match they will get those arranged.

How exciting! (Mine were 2 & 7)

Definitely read those new medicals carefully.
Have you had a chance to talk with the FC yet? They are the person who knows best what the children are currently like.
How well prepped is the 6yo? Do they understand what is happening? (rhetorical, you don't need to answer here).

@UnderTheNameOfSanders

How exciting! (Mine were 2 & 7)

Definitely read those new medicals carefully.
Have you had a chance to talk with the FC yet? They are the person who knows best what the children are currently like.
How well prepped is the 6yo? Do they understand what is happening? (rhetorical, you don't need to answer here).

No not yet but hoping to soon assuming it's a yes.

6 yr old seems fairly clued up, knows they aren't going back to birth family and the sw are looking for a forever family for them. Keeps asking when they are going to forever family.

Update to this - We're going to matching panel at beginning of November 😁
Speaking to FC next week, with bump in meeting booked for week after.

Should be moving in late November / early December 😍

Am soooo excited

Congratulations that's so exciting. Meeting with foster carer is really useful and we found it so lovely as they know the children the best. Enjoy!!

Oh, wonderful update. All the best. I bet you are a washing machine of emotions.

@Somuddled

Oh, wonderful update. All the best. I bet you are a washing machine of emotions.

Thank you, yes completely. Keep finding ourselves researching toddler / child stuff (partner was even suggesting Disneyland Paris in 3 years time and let's start saving etc) 😂😂

I've barely been sleeping (getting in practice I guess), thinking of all the stuff we need to do / sort.

Had our meeting with FC today.

omg that was so emotional!! We just got to meet our boy 🥰 which was completely unexpected, even both our social worker and their social worker werent expecting it.

Just had our chat with the foster carers, we have learnt so much from them about our children, they have done such a fantastic job with them over the last year. I cried when we finished the call 😭

Aww. That's so lovely to hear.

Fingers crossed that things go quickly and smoothly re getting the Match approved.

Keep us updated !