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Original poster

social worker and f1 form

32 replies

bmalex365 · 02/10/2010 13:37

hi im new to the forum, and was just wanting some advice on how long it takes to go to panel after my sw has filled in the f1 form, im really nervous waiting,and really want to foster sibling groups aged 0-5 if me and partner are approved, thanks for any replies in advance,

OP posts:
SquidgyBrain · 02/10/2010 14:16

hi welcome :)

We were told that the F1 has to be filed 2 weeks before your panel date - your SW should be able to tell you when they have booked you in for. Sounds like you are close to the end of your journey to become foster parents :)

There are a few of us that have just been approved, so pull up a chair :)

Original poster
bmalex365 · 02/10/2010 15:15

hi, thanks for the welcome!!
we are really looking forward to our future in fostering,if all goes well that is,Smile

Our sw wont see us for 3 weeks while she writes up our F1 and said she has to let her manager look at it, then if anything needs to be added to, will come visit us again.The only thing that is a bit of a concern is sw was supposed to visit my ex(father to my 14 year old)last week and didnt show, or even let him no she wasnt comming!not very resectful as his family didnt get their tea till 8.00pm.
Thanks for your reply and my chair is pulled up in antisipation.Grin

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SquidgyBrain · 02/10/2010 16:34

what happened with us from that point was - our report was written up - massive task! then we were sent a draft of it, and asked to write few paragraphs about how we felt the assessment process went, and anything we learned from it and any training we felt we needed before having a child placed with us.

We then had a meeting with the senior social worker (the manager) and she asked a few questions to things that she wanted clarification on (which is also what happened at panel)

Once you are happy and the SW team are happy with your assessment it is then handed to the panel at least 2 weeks before your hearing date. (TBH I can't remember if it is 2 or 3 wks Confused

But if your panel is anything like the one here it is booked up in advance, so we already had a date pencilled in by the time that we had our draft of the report

That is really shocking behaviour not letting your ex know that she wasn't going to be able to make the appointment :(

You are sooooo close Grin

Original poster
bmalex365 · 02/10/2010 17:24

Im so glad that you also think we are close to the end,as so does my OH. Its just me having a little bit of a panic about how much longer it will be, i know that we must be checked properly, it has been a great experience for us all.Cant wait to be a carer for children that deserve a chance in life, as good as us and our children have had
growing up. Will let you know what is going on as our assessment progresses,thanks for your inputSmileSmile

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SquidgyBrain · 02/10/2010 18:43

the collating of your paperwork and their reviewing it is where they will check to see if you meet all the compancies or if they need to get further evidence.

Our initial panel date was the 1st of July, but the SW were not going to get the paper work done on time, so it was moved to the 26th of August, which seemed like a lifetime away - but it did pass so quickly - so hang in there :)

We found the assessment process really great too - it has also made think about things in a different way, and I think it did me the world of good :)

I of course am being totally hypocritical as I am useless at waiting and really fed up waiting on a placement so I can get started - of course this is a good thing too as it means that some little one doesn't need accommodating but waiting sucks and I am rubbish at it lol

Original poster
bmalex365 · 15/10/2010 12:28

Hi sw made contact today, after 3 weeks away to fill in F1 form, she wants to visit to discuss our references, is this the norm? does it mean that the references are not enough information on us, or that theres something that has been said against us(from ex partners?)can you tell that im a worrier LOL Confused

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SquidgyBrain · 15/10/2010 15:04

Has she shared your references with you already? They ask the referees if they mind you seeing them, our SW shared them as we were going along - it could just be they want to let you know what has been said about you - when are they coming out to see you? If you are stressing about it you could phone and ask your SW what the visit is about.

hang in there :)

shaz298 · 15/10/2010 16:15

Good luck. Like squidgy says, hang in there and try not to stress.

xx

Original poster
bmalex365 · 15/10/2010 17:52

Hi thanks shaz298 im trying not to stress, its just been a bit of a long road we have been down, Squidgy the sw has just been to talk to my referees last weekend, it seems that she has done the references lastConfuseddont know if that makes any difference? Will post when our visit is done on sunday,keep you in the picture.Smile

OP posts:
SenSationsMad · 16/10/2010 19:42

How did it go?

SquidgyBrain · 16/10/2010 21:41

good luck tomorrow

Original poster
bmalex365 · 16/10/2010 23:21

thanks, fingers crossed.Smile

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Original poster
bmalex365 · 17/10/2010 18:45

SW came today with bad news,she cannot carry on with our journey,Sadshe wants to but her manager told her not to, apparently a reference has went against us? sw cannot say what has been said,but we are allowed to ring her manager tomorrow and ask her why, and she might disclose this information to
us. We both cant think of anything that we have done wrong, only that the ex wife has been difficult with us for 8 years now,has caused loads of trouble over the years, maybe she has lied to the sw,and that has went against us, how can we defend ourselves if the sw cannot tell us what has been said?do we have the right to know what has put a stop to us doing what we have wanted to do for years now.Any advise for us? please please[crying buckets]face.

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sumum · 17/10/2010 20:11

hi bmalex365, how awful for you.
this is not nice to put you through all the process and then the references let you down.

My assessment was so long ago so cannot advise you on what you can/cannot do, but i would think they should have to give you some reason, otherwise it is very unfair and anyone could say anything.

I know you must be devestated, but try to be proffesional and write a list of questions to ask the manager. ask also if there is an appeal process.

I really feel for you, i think if my dh's ex had to give us a ref we would not be fostering as she is a nasty fotunatly for us we were assessed pre this new ex partner rule.

Be kind to yourselves tonight and remember your sw did want you to get through, so hold onto that.

Hugs. x

SquidgyBrain · 17/10/2010 20:33

Hi bmalex365

So sorry this has happened.

Well firstly it is a good thing that your own SW wanted to continue, if had been something really terrible then she wouldn't have even considered it.

You do have the right to appeal, and you can actually apply to go to panel without the support of the SW.

I would phone the senior social worker and ask her why your application has now been stopped, and ask her for details of the appeal process.

Hang in there - sorry again

[huge hugs]

Original poster
bmalex365 · 17/10/2010 22:17

Hi,thanks for replying, we will phone the manager first thing,but i think that if the manager said no, then that is final?,i dont know but hope she will give us more info on why we have had our assessment stopped, surely we have a right to defend ourselves against what someone has wrongly said against us,unless the LA have guidelines that we do not live up to so to speakConfusedThanks for the hugs, its what we really need right now. Fingers crossed.

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SquidgyBrain · 17/10/2010 22:39

No the managers opinion is not final. There is always someone higher you can ask to look at your assessment and as I said you can actually go to panel without the social workers approval and if you have gotten so close to the end as it seems from what you have said then you would have almost a fully completed assessment to go with and plead your case to the panel.

As far as I am aware they do have to tell you why, but they don't have to tell you who said it. As you say you can't defend yourself or give an explanation of an event if you don't know what they are unhappy with

There has to be an appeal/complaint system if the senior social worker isn't helpful ask her for details of that - although most LA have websites and there is usually details on there.

I am gutted for you, I can't even imagine how you both must be feeling right now.

Original poster
bmalex365 · 17/10/2010 22:50

thank you, i will let everyone know what happens, as we progress SmileSad

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p99gmb · 18/10/2010 09:55

Good luck bmalex... I can imagine how you are feeling and it is so unfair to fall at this last hurdle.

We were told that ex partners would be consulted only where children had been involved - presumably this is the case.

Also our SW said that the questions asked would be strictly about your parenting skills, and not about any 'history' - as it is understood that there could be some animosity between ex partners.

My husbands ex was consulted - via the telephone (she has cancer) and she phoned us as soon as it happened to tell us what she was asked ... 1) have you any concerns as to his parenting skills? 2) was he an 'active hands on parent'?

So, any other comments should be disregarded by them and I would surely hope that even any comments about parenting would be taken not soooo seriously...

I really feel for you and look forward to hearing how you get on... don't give up!!

Smile x x

SquidgyBrain · 18/10/2010 10:08

thinking about you this morning bmalex

SenSationsMad · 18/10/2010 21:35

Any news?

Original poster
bmalex365 · 18/10/2010 22:52

WELL the manager isnt in the office until wednesday, so we are no further forward as yet,i have spoken to my ex today, he definatly gave a good reference, i do believe him,he isnt a nasty person and never has been any trouble to me or my partner, unlike his ex wife, she has been nothing but a pain in the a* for the last 8 years, has caused a lot of trouble, even to the point of accusing my partner of sleeping with her sister-in-law!!!! just because we are still friends with her brother and his wife. I dont know if having a word with ss manager is going to make any difference to the decision,but we would like to be able to defend ourselves against this bad reference. What if we go ahead and apply to another agency? our sw suggested that we do this, but to tell them about the reference from the beginning,and see if they accept this as just an ex partner bieng vindictive against us,it would mean starting over again from the beginning, another year out of our lives.Shock

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SquidgyBrain · 18/10/2010 23:05

sorry to hear that the senior social worker wasn't in

it your SW can see it is an ex being vindictive the manager should be able to too - if this is the only thing that is wrong I certainly would be asking what of your assesment is out standing and then completing what you can and asking to be put forwards to panel without their support and you can then argue your case with them

good luck on Wednesday

Original poster
bmalex365 · 19/10/2010 00:10

thank you squidgybrain, will let you know what happens, i was just saying to partner today that i would go ahead with panel,even if we get refused, we can allways appeal, and then we can put our case forward if nothing becomes of it, we at least tried instead of doing nothing.Smile

OP posts:
SquidgyBrain · 19/10/2010 08:24

bmalex - that would be the thing I would do too - if you don't go to panel you certainly won't be approved, where if you do go then at least you have a chance.

Hopefully it won't come to that and the senior social worker will be helpful and let you know why they won't proceed and allow you a chance to reply :)