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Fostering

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on fostering.

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Original poster

fostering and not working

16 replies

mandy110165 · 13/07/2011 19:07

I am being made redundant in August and have also had to give my foster child notice to leave. However, social services have now dropped a bomb shell on me that they will not consider me for further placements unless i get a job as I will not be "financially viable"
I have 2 spare rooms and they are saying no when they are crying out for placements.

Is this madness or what!!!!!!!

OP posts:

NerfHerder · 13/07/2011 20:26

Eh? In my LA they want carers not to work, as they may be needed during the school day. This sounds very strange!

mumsiepie · 13/07/2011 20:29

I don't understand Mandy. I am a single carer and it has never been an issue. Most LA's advertise for all kind of carers including single ones. I would definately not be able to go out to work and foster as well. We have a number of single carers in our LA who don't work as well as foster; in fact I dont know of any single carer who goes out to work as well. I would phone fostering network and also consider transfering to an agency. They prefer you not to work anyway.

It is madness!! xx

mumsiepie · 13/07/2011 20:31

By the way how do you/how do they expect you to manage in school holidays????

Original poster

mandy110165 · 13/07/2011 20:47

My feelings exactly. I left a well paid job so that I could work as a support worker in schools, to enable me to be off in the holidays, do the school run etc.
I will try the fostering network tomorrow but, if the lead social worker and head one are saying " you need to show in writing that you have enough money coming in WITHOUT the foster carer alowance" i think I am stumped. After all, it is them that refer children to me.
It is so maddening and I feel like crying.

Thanks everyone for your help x x

OP posts:

mumsiepie · 13/07/2011 21:11

Can you say where you are based Mandy? Or if you dont want to say, does your LA advertise for single carers? Many other LA's would be glad to snap you up. Some children do better with a single carer. I would be crying with frustration too if I were you and I would feel very let down. Have you any children of your own?

Original poster

mandy110165 · 13/07/2011 21:15

I am based in Blackburn, Lancashire. Have 2 daughters of my own, both teenagers. Do I need to move to your area to be valued then!!! LOL

OP posts:

mumsiepie · 13/07/2011 21:21

I used to live in Blackburn!! There was a thread on here not so long ago and it transpires East Lancs pays really low allowances. Move to my area, a long way (scotland) but very different!! Speak to Fos Network tomorrow. Don't be despondent cos there are other avenues. Who was it that said each crisis is an opportunity! xx

mumsiepie · 13/07/2011 21:22

By the way are you claiming tax credits (working and child) plus child benefit?

Original poster

mandy110165 · 13/07/2011 21:26

Would love to move there..It's me dream when I retire. Don't get CB for the foster child. Have got working and child credits but they will stop when the fostering does.
I was looking at losing my job as an opportunity to do fostering for more kids and under 5's but SW's have put paid to that.
I know of a few carers in our area who don't work and are fostering so I don't know how they did it. I will speak to them and find out.
I might go back to nursing or assessing!!!!

OP posts:

mumsiepie · 13/07/2011 21:36

I used to be a nurse too.

Surely you could provide in writing your child and working tax credit and your child benefit......that shows you have income coming in. Just say you dont spend very much!!

Original poster

mandy110165 · 13/07/2011 21:44

not sure it will be enough for them as i'll have to show outgoings as well..
Did you do general nursing. I'm a RNMH. worked at Brockhall.
Off to try and get some sleep. Not much chance though. Had a rubbish sleep pattern recently with all this going on.

Thanks for all your help. Hopefully chat later x

OP posts:

maypole1 · 13/07/2011 21:49

I would talk things over also get their reasoning in writing of why they feel they can use you, then I would get down to a different la they will bite your arm off or go to an agncey then get down to the dwp

mumsiepie · 13/07/2011 21:51

You have to show outgoings??????

How long have you been fostering for? Let me know how you get on and have a good sleep now. xx

General nursing, not really nursed since I moved to Scotland 15 years ago.

Juey1 · 14/07/2011 08:38

We have just been approved and neither myself or my partner are working at the mo ( I am doing teacher training and oh is doing a degree) When I qualify I will (hopefully) be working full time this means oh is classed as the main carer and sw spoke in length about how important it is to for him to be available foe holidays and meetings etc. I would speak to them and say that if you had a job and are a single carer then how will you make the various core meetings etc. Good luck xx

scarlet5tyger · 15/07/2011 21:08

I had this problem when I applied to an agency - they turned me down as I was a single carer without enough savings to cover me for a year if I had no placement.

LA on the other hand would have turned me down if I didn't give up work!

I can sort of understand the agency thing now - they must have had a crystal ball and seen the reduction in agency placements coming up - but it's ridiculous for a LA to turn you down.

NanaNina · 16/07/2011 19:34

I too think this is madness. The only thing I couldn't work out was why you had to give notice on your foster child?

I have 30 yrs experience as a sw and tm mgr in fostering & adoption (now retired) and agree with everyone who says this is madness. It is acknowledged these days that fostering is a job, even though you are only paid when you have a placement. What age range do you take?

I think you should write a letter of complaint to the relevant manager and at the same time ask for a copy of their complaints procedure. The usual way is to try to resolve conflict with the relevant sw and his/her manager. If you are still disatisfied, you move to stage 2 which is usually an independent person looking at your complaint an stage 3 involves the social services committee. Complaints precedures will vary between LAs which is why you need a copy. Asking for a copy of the complaints procedure in your letter will also show the manager that you mean business. It is a completely ludicrous reason they have given - as others have said, they more often prefer carers who are at home all day.

Do you know how you could support yourself financially between placements?

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