just been told social worker not coming on thursday...

[pinkdolly]

We were supposed to be having a home visit on thur and fri of this week to assess our viability as suitable foster parents to me two small cousins. After not hearing a confirmation on this or time I left several messages for the social worker in charge of the girls.

She finally got back to me last evening to say that something had come up and they weren't able to come and see us after all.

Instead she wants to conduct a 3hr phone interview on thur instead and arrange for a home visit at a later date.

Is this usual? The social worker was supposed to submit all our paperwork for panel on 25th August, can that still happen.

Has anyone else had such a phone interview before?

thankyou

Personally, I would refuse to have an interview over the telephone.

Is it the Local Authority doing this, or is it an independent agency.

As an alternative, ask if you can go to their office for a face to face interview?

It's a bit tricky. Coz the girls are in Wales and we are in Cornwall. Out of interest why would you refuse an over the phone interview?

I am aware that we are being assesed and am trying to be as helpful and patient as I can with the situation.

sorry it is a LA but involves both the one in wales and the one in cornwall.

A phone interview can not be as effective as a face to face home visit.

I admit I did feel the same. How can my parenting abilities be assesed properly over the phone? But she did say that they would like to visit us anyway. I am wandering if they want to do the phone interview so they still have something to submit to panel, on the 25th.

The girls have been in care since November so I really dont want to delay anymore by refusing to co-operate with a phone interview.

Perhaps the SW has a long journey? Could you offer to travel to their offices?

not really this week. Dh is having a vasectomy tomorrow and I dont drive. Next week dh is doing a youth camp/mission (he is a youth worker for our church)

He will be feeling a little "tender" Poor dear.

yes, i was joking with him that he would b sat there with a bag of frozen peas on his bits when they came to do the check. Think asking him to drive up to wales would b a step to far for him.