Approved

[EmberRainbow]

Hello

Just wanted to say i have been approved :)

I'm fairly new to the site, but looking forward to using it.

Any useful tips you would like to share would be very much appriciated.

Just waiting for the call now....

Wow Ember that's fab news.
What age and is it short term?
I'm probably going to panel in a few weeks so no advice !
Apart from good luck and keep us posted !

Oh Well done EmberRainbow..

& welcome to the fostering chat..

We were approved in August for 0-6yrs 2 children and only had to wait 9 days for our first placement (we are with a LA)

They are still with us now.

Tips - don't panic.. we had lots of OMG moments when they first arrived, I didn't sleep properly for weeks - listening out for them - and prepare yourself for lots of uncertainty... that to be honest is the thing I find the most difficult to cope with - even my link worker said today that she couldn't be a foster carer as she likes to know what is happening, and when, and the 'unknown-ness' of it all is taking a while for us to get used to.

Make sure you get your tax status/NI stuff sorted out...

Other than that, go for it!!! and keep us posted - this forum is worth its weight in gold!!

Yes don't worry to much one think I would do is get the spare clothing draw ready

Whatever age group you approved for just have a few bits ready as they often arrive with nothing

Don't panic and keep a coLd
D vino in the fridge for the really tuff evenings

Good luck

Congratulations, We foster 2 boys under 4, plenty of OMG moments, but plenty of AHH moments too.

Congrats :)

We are new carers too - approved 1st Sept last year, for 0-2 age on a short term basis. We waited 10 weeks for our first placement - and 13 weeks later he is still very much here (he was just under 11 months when he arrived)

hoping the wait isn't too long :)

(P99 thanks for the reminder about tax I still haven't done it :S)

The other thing is to make sure you are 100% sure of your providers policy on things like giving medicine... every provider has its own rules !!

Hi and welsome to the mad mad world of fostering

Just echoing what others have said really. Keep some clothes, especially pj's, for the age group you are approved for. Also some toys - not too many just some to keep them occupied until you know what they have already got. Some children come from other foster carers and are well equipped. Others come with nothing not even a pair of socks!

I have been fostering for 14 years and there have been some hair raising moments but lots and lots of rewards too. I love fostering!

Good luck. I am sure you are very excited! Keep us posted x

Keep really busy and the phone call will come.

If you hang around waiting for social services to call it will never happen.

You won't have a spare minute for the first few weeks so keep your ironing up to date, get your hair cut and go to see a film!

Babysitters for children in care are not cheap.

Oooh yes as Fostering says go out before the call comes!

I haven't had a night out in 14 years as LA still have not got around to CRB checking family members to babysit. Just as well I am not a social animal

I laughed wryly about the difficulty in having family members approved to babysit. It took us ages and well and much nagging. Anyway, good luck with it. We've only been fostering for a couple of years but it's been very rewarding.
Definitely agree with the 'spare clothes' comment - and toothbrushes etc.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts :)

I'm with an IFA and approved for 2 0-18yrs (under 7yrs would be nice, but i don't really mind)

My mobile is now with me everywhere!

Oh and i have taken your advice and been keeping busy visiting friends/family, making sure all the food cupborads are toped up, getting some spare clothes/toys/toiletries in ect so please keep things crossed for me that the call comes soon...