Baby Equipment

[mjb2010]

Hi all, we're soon to be approved (hopefully) for 0-5 expecting it to be newborn placement. What is the situation re second hand things as family and friends are offering cot, crib, pram etc but am not sure how you know if it meets regs etc Thanks in advance for your wisdom!!(smile)

Hello mjb2010,

We were approved for 0-8 and your age range is just about as complex as ours was!!.

We foster with a local authority and they informed us that second hand equipment was not allowed and that everything had to be bought new-they then presented me with £500 which was supposed to cover the cost of absolutely everything!!

After I had picked myself up off the floor I realised that they were deadly serious.I was presented with the Argos catalogue and told to buy it from there as they had an account.With the best will in the world it was impossible to purchase the necessary equipment for such a huge age span.We asked for more money and was granted an extra £250.That sounds like a lot but when you have to buy a cot,car seats (x2 to cover the age span)bed,wardrobe,pram,pushchair,highchair)etc etc...believe me it is not enough.The quality of the goods is also questionable as you have to buy the cheapest of everything.

My advice would be to get what you can with the grant (presumably there is one?)and accept that you will have to shell out yourself.We bought the cheapest pushchair but then bought an excellent quality one second hand and use that one all the time as the one we had to buy is uncomfortable for the child and rubbish to push.There are things that you do need to buy new like bottles,dummies steriliser etc but to be honest once your equipment has been used by one foster child it immediately becomes second hand anyway so I can't see what all the fuss is about.

Good luck :)

Si is it ok just to buy a couple of good quality items with the grant and but the rest ourselves?

I a watching this with interest as we are just embarking on the process. Will def be asking about this.

Sharon x

Hi Sharon,

Our local authority requested a comprehensive list of all the things neccessary for a start up within the age range specified.Anything that was not purchased with their company credit card at Argos had to be signed off my the team manager who requested receipts.

To you or I it seems perfectly logical to buy a few good quality items new(maybe cot,mattress,bed etc-things that are preferable new)with the grant and then buy other things second hand that were made to last and are good quality.But no unfortunately...................at least not with our LA.

The baby car seat that we had to purchase at Argos(had to be cheap-any more expensive we would have been over budget)was completely rubbish and out first placement was a newborn.After trying to strap this poor little mite into the thing dh and I took the decision to take the car off to Halfords and pay for a new one to be fitted professionally-cost £125 but was definitely worth it.

I think that you have to accept that you will be shelling out from your own pocket-certainly if fostering within a large age group so my advice would be to draw up a list from a catalogue (Mothercare or whatever)invest in mid price goods where you can and see where your first placement falls-you may get an older child who doesn't need all of the stuff that a baby does and you can then pick up equipment at your leisure.

Hope that helps :)

Minnerva

Thanks Minnerva. That sounds like a great idea.

So we are not allowed to use things we already have then? I have a perfectly fab cot bed, good car seat and pushchairs. All like new. I thought i'd keep a hold of them but maybe not worth it. Unless I buy the crappy stuff I have to in terms of the budget and use my own stuff anyway? Would that be very naughty

In our area we get things delivered to us from 'stores' as and when necessary and we can return them inbetween placements or if no longer needed. However the stuff they send is the cheapest available so many carers end up buying there own, I know we have.
With regard to second hand stuff, then if you have a new buggy for first placement and then use it for subsequent placements it is second hand- for the next child anyway, so don't know why if you are providing it yourself it can't be pre-used. I can see that dept can't buy second hand but using your old baby stuff should be ok, it is in our area.
I think the best thing is to ask your ssw.

you could also try freecycle - they often have pushchairs on there. I can appreciate that things like car seats and mattresses have to be new, but everything?
we are also hoping to be approved for 0-8 in the next couple of months, so this is really interesting!

Having our 1st visit tomorrow so will be on my list of questions.

I personally would buy the crappy stuff but use my own bits and bobs if I knew that they were in good condition-which you obviously do!!

As always things differ from area to area so I think you are right in questioning your sw-she will be able to tell you their policy and once you find out you can take it from there.

It is a waste of the ss budget to buy things that you probably won't use especially when things are so tight but what can you do?.They say this is the way things have to be so maybe just a little bending of the rules and nobody ever needs to know.............

We were given a high chair from SS storage which had manky harness, which I've replaced with a new reigns.
A stage 2 car seat ( from SS storage)
And a broken stage 2 car seat. ( which they've since told me to bin and told us find a new one.)
We're using out cot with a new matteres, our own (old0 single and mattress. One new stairgate and one 2nd hand from storage with no instructions.
To be fair, they did say if they weren't suitable, they'd buy new for us.

OUR cot
[bush]

. We knew what you meant SenSationsMad.

Thanks for all your advice! It would be such a shame not to use some of the nice good quality stuff my sister has given me which has been used so briefly! Will speak to SW!