O.U 'fostering course' 2012

[minximoo]

Hi Peeps,
Iv studied with the Open University before and just noticed a new course written up by the Fostering network This looks really good. Is it ok to study whilst fostering? We're only at the start of the application process n can only hope* we get thru. The extra knowledge would be beneficial all round in my opinion - but are the fostering agencies ok with home study?

www8.open.ac.uk/health-and-social-care/main/develop-your-staff/partnerships/the-fostering-network-tfn

www8.open.ac.uk/health-and-social-care/main/develop-your-staff/partnerships/the-fostering-network-tfn
(trying to get the link to work)

I can't see why they'd have a problem with it - especially since its by the Fostering Network (haven't looked at the link yet) - would have thought they'd applaud it...

Prior to commencing our approval process, I studied for a diploma in child phsychology and in child day care and I certainly thought it helped give me a greater understanding and showed my commitment...

Off to have a look at the link now...

Good luck by the way....

Thanku BTD,
to be honest i dont know why we wudnt get thru, but i still have it in my head to expect a knock back. So when sum1 gets thru im thrilled for them lol.
Over the last year iv taken some short college courses to 'help' both our application and my knowledge (even tho iv got children).
Iv done: safeguarding 1+2, Moving forward with children, Dealing with difficult behaviour 0-19yrs, and drugs awareness 1+2.
Years back i did A level psychology & A level law plus others.. My hubby-to-be has level one and two in sign language.
I really fancy the O.U course - would love to do it (let me know if u fancy it hun).

I do fancy it.. been approved for 18mths or so, done CWDC but love studying ...

You sound like you've done plenty of research which shows commitment, knowledge and have a good understanding... the bit I'd recommend reading up on is attachements (and attachment disorder) and I voluntarily did St. J's Ambulance EY First Aid course (altho you should have a basic course put on for you once approved).

Every little helps or so Tesco says...

How far are you into it? Have you done the Skills to Foster Course? Its such an exciting time going through the approval process, I remember initially being terrified, but really warmed to our SW and thankfully she remains our SSW and that helps hugely.

I clicked on the link to register interest, but it just took me to the OU site - do you think you can't do it until registration opens in March?

Good luck minximoo (fab name btw).. let me know if you manage to register for it - be good to have a study budy who can tell me all the answers x x

Tbh i did the telephone application 4/5 wks ago with my local authority. To date iv heard nothing, tho im reliably told theyr 6wks behind. I dont expect a rejection at 1st instance as i spoke to them 12+months ago and directly asked if there was anything on file that would stop me from fostering and they said 'Nope' :) So iv spent a year doing courses and preparing the children plus redecorating downstairs - and then i rang lol. (as said, 4/5 wks ago)*
However, i recieved an info pack from an IFA in my own borough and i am seriously wondering if i should apply with them... Iv no true preference for LA or IFA on a personal level (tho i do appreciate the councils are cash strapped and i would have that within consideration) but IFA's get through the application process in almost half the time as they have a lesser workload...
I do need to decide as i can't do both lol.

Yes ur right with the OU course. You can't register until March :) Looking forward to that - woohoo !!

As we're only just starting on the fostering route we've not taken any courses with the agencies etc. The skills to foster course sounds fab - id love to do that. I assume you have to get through the SW checks and visits etc before you can do that course ??

What was ur most nail biting moment in the entire process lol x

Boo!! I'm sure you've read lots of threads on here about IFA's v LA's... Nana Nina tells it how it is with IFA's... I guess it depends on many factors as to who you go with (frequency of placements, age range, managing without a placement financially, support required etc etc). We had the decision to make back in Nov09 and after doing lots of research, felt it better to go 'direct' if you like with the LA, as all kids in care are the responsibility of the LA... we've beeen very lucky, about 9mths to approval, brilliant support and I'm sure we'll never be long without a placement (even then we get 8wks retainer per annum and if we've attended courses a £500 bonus)... if you are close to any border LA's, I'd have a look at their 'track record too'.

In our case, after the initial phone call we made we received an 'info pack' with an 0800 number to call if we were still interested and following this a SW came out to do an hours chat with us - went through the lows and highs of fostering, took all our details and then at the end of the month it went to her manager to decide if they wanted us to proceed. Thankfully we got a YES. Then was a short wait (couple of months) for places available on the Skills to Foster course - a quite intensive course (ours run over 4 full saturdays i think) which you have to 'pass'. You're then assigned an Assessing SW who comes out roughly once a week to take you through being born to now - asks for references - goes to visit some - medicals with your GP etc... If at any time they don't like something, they tell you and the process is stopped. June '10 she told us she was recommending us to panel - we had to do a 'portfolio' for panel - a picture/story book about ourselves and then on Aug 31st we went to panel - got approved and 9 days later 2 LO's arrived with 2hrs notice - teddy, toothbrushes in hand and nothing else (to my dying day I will never forget that image) - a short term placement - 16 months later (Jan 6th this year) they left - returned to the 'other parent' - I've not heard anything about them since (altho we are meeting their mum tomorrow for a chat & coffee ). The day they left seriously broke my heart.

We had a weeks holiday, and then 2 days after getting back, a 5yo arrived, again without much and is here for ???

Most nail biting bit?? easy - panel - altho on reflection there was no need to be worried - our SSW had done a very thorough job and we were only asked about 3 or 4 questions - I think it was just the fact that 'this was it.. or not..' that frightened me, I hadn't slept properly for days lol... and the only other nail biting time (so far) has been when the first 2 arrived, and the SW's left... I thought 'Oh my God, what do I do know???' - and walked around shell shocked for the first few days until we all found our feet.

What age range are you thinking?

xx

wow BTD wot a tale, thats brill*

The youngest is nine, so will defo be ten (sept '12) so the age rang i guess would be up to 8 yrs old. (Allowing the 2 yrs gap). At the moment we are occasional smokers but already know we'll have stopped by the time it went to panel (assuming all goes well b4). So, that makes us in the 5-8 range and this is fabulous for us as we don't really want babies (we have grandchildren and dont want them innocently pushed aside) to make way for a foster baby/toddler at this stage..
It must be heart wrenching when the f/c goes moves on (for the carer) and no doubt there's many nights of watching the sun rise whilst wondering if the f/child is safe and settling in their placement be it home or otherwise.

Ooh i can but hope at this stage.
Guess we'll just have to see wot happens and hope for the best lol.

;o)

Hi Minx - we're also just applying to be FC's. We have completed 2 days of a Skills to Foster Course - last day is at the end of February. The 2 days we have done were very enjoyable but pretty intense. I attended a drop in event about 3 weeks ago to find out a bit more about fostering and really warmed to the SW's there on the day. They asked me & hubbie to attend the StF Training the following week - so things moved pretty quickly. I feel we should support our local kids via the LA if possible (for reasons Nanny Nina has already pointed out) and the added bonus is rumour has it the fees are due to increase quite considerably from April onwards (fingers crossed as this is waiting to be 'rubber stamped'). Buster's experience is really encouraging, but brings home the reality of parting with FC's :( Our own daughter is 23 years of age (only child) and lives at home. I probably need to do some training to prepare myself to live with younger kids again! We havent had any home visits yet and the remainder of the assessment process is ahead of us yet, but like you, we can only hope we are successful as it is something we have decided we really want to do! We have been told it shoudl take around 4 months, so I'm hoping this is the case, as I have started to express an interest in taking voluntary redundancy from my FT job, but not sure I'll be successful yet. Good luck with your application and we'll have to keep updating our progress on this site! Thanks all for the very interesting and helpful advice. xx

minxiemoo You sound 100% committed and you and BthD could I'm sure teach the sws a thing or two! You must contact the LA and not sit and wait for them to contact you. One of the problems is that they are very short staffed but also in desparate need of foster carers. I don't know what the telephone application is. I am a retired sw and tm mgr of a Fostering & Adoption team and we didn'y do telephone applications. You say you first spoke to the LA about fostering over 12 months ago and have done all these courses........my god they should be snatching your hand off. Phone them asap and ask when you might expect a visit - don't let them fob you off.

The things is the "skills to foster" course is usually only run 2/3 times a year at most and if they.ve just finished one you could have a long wait. You must remember that good foster carers are like gold dust to LAs.

IFAs are businesses and make huge profits out of LAs and yes they pay their carers more, but they have to "sell" the families they recruit to LAs and LAs only use them as a last resort because of the cost, which of course makes further holes in the LA budgets. Meanwhile the directors are making a small fortune, so it depends whether you want to line the pockets of these entrepeneurs or not! Some IFAs will tell yu thay are "not for profit" this just means that they don't pay shareholders, but can make huge profits for themselves (the directors)

Yes they will assess you much more quickly and as you say this is because they have no worload problems. Yes you will probably get better support. You will however have to be prepared to take children from anywhere in the country, and this can mean more trauma for a child who is placed miles and miles away from home. Suggest you ask the IFA how many children they have placed for LAs in the age range in which you areinterested in say the last 2 years.

Mind the LA doesn't deserve people like you if they are just not responding to you. OK it is probably through high volume of work and sw vacancies (not sure where you are but in the inner cities sw vacancies are running at 30/40% vacancies, and then there are high rates of people off sick with stress related illnesses.

SO get on that phone on Monday morning and be persistent - ask to speak to the team manager if there is no one else to help. You can of course apply to a neighbouring LA.

Good luck!

Hi NanaNina thanku for ur lovely comments.. yes we are very committed and can only hope we get through at this stage. At first base it feels daunting. Our LA (Bolton) is short staffed like most LA's i assume. My friend is 3/4 thru the application process and has told me of the 6wk delay.

Iv stressed myself silly over what the potential SW will ask lol. Im a decent and good natured person but if extended family members have been in trouble - it may reflect badly on us as a whole. Nobody tells you how strict the rules are. And lets face it, they dont walk round with plackards displaying a list of convictions lol...... so many times in my life i have wanted to do/achieve something inparticular, and other people's actions has spoiled it ~ i just dont want this to be yet another to the list :o/

Hi Leebie
congratulations of getting thru hun :o)
Yes i think doing some courses at college would be a great help to you. Im surprised the LA's & IFA's dont insist of recent documented child-related courses. A 4 day intensive course is expecting alot lol (StF). Even taking into account of potential foster carers who work - give them access to ONLINE courses (tuts, lol) Even online FC Quiz Challenges (introduce an Award n Bonus & u suddenly get alot of educated FC's) ;o) LOL.

UPDATE:
Well, in the end we flipped a coin to either post the IFA registration application, or Wait for the LA to ring (this was Friday afternoon). The coin landed and we delivered the IFA paperwork and also included copies of the references [work, friend etc] and Carls BSL certificates.
On saturday a letter arrived from the IFA thanking us and saying what happens next assuming we pass the checks. OooOooh... what checks are these (how intriguing).

COULD IT BE PERSONAL ??
As the deed was already done before the wise NN advised me to ring, my pathway appears to be IFA at the moment.. But i will now make a point of asking about the placements over the last 2 years etc. In fairness i had wanted (prefered) to go LA, but my heart had been sinking daily at the lack of interest with Bolton. To the point that i was asking myself if it was personal...
Many years ago the SSD tried to take to me court for the actions of someone else and i accepted the challenge, fought them without a solicitor and won lol.
Yes we have crossed paths a couple of times many moons ago, and i have to ask myself if its within the realms of possibility that it time to 'get even' lol.
On that note, im at peace with the way the coin landed. I dont feel i have to watch my back with them. I can be true to myself and speak freely. If they dont like me for being me - then i can live with that lol.

Oh minximoo of course it won't be anything personal, just over worked but the LA could at least ring you and let you know what is happening (or not) SO it is their loss really. I think you are looking at this way too much from the point of will we be suitable - this is a 2 way street you know, and as much as LAs or IFAs assessing you it also means that you should be assessing them!

I think the fact that you posted the stuff to the IFA on Friday a'noon and got a reply on Sat shows that they are very very keen to approve you and sell you to a LA - sorry but it still sticks in my throat about IFAs and the profits they make.

You will I'm sure be on a course before very long and approved. The checks they are talking about are the statutory checks that have to be made - a CRB check (police) definitely. Different LAs and IFAs will have different methods of doing the checks - some want health checks done right away and checks on probation, obviously SS records in your area, and maybe any LA where you have lived since you were 18. This is because if you change your address you will need to be checked out with any LA of that address to see if you were "known" to them for anything child related.

I think the best thing is to talk to the IFA and ask them about the checks - you see, they should have explained them but assume prospective fcs know what they are! LAs are guilty of this too. Ask as many questions as you like and don't be fobbed off when you ask about how many children they have placed for the LA (in your age range) in say 2 years - they might try to wriggle out of this, but be resolute and say you are concerned as to how many times you might be used by the LA. No need to say "how many children have you bought from the LA!" but that is what it means. Ask for evidence of this - no need to be confrontational - just "It would be interesting to see the figures and the areas where the children came from"

I forgot to say that many cash strapped LAs bring children back "in house" at the earliest opportunity because of the costs. You could say that you have heard this and again "how often does that happen" - don't accept "oh not often" ask for figures etc. Ask if they can link you up with an experienced carer in your area to have a chat, which could be very revealing.

Incidentally Looked Aftered Children rarely come in ones, would you be able to take a sibling group of 2 if necessary.

Above all please please stop being so subservient YOU are like gold dust to LAs (wouldn't think so of course) and to IFAs.

Minximoo... I've pm'd you.... ...

NanaNina i have an update :o/ The IFA rang today to do an initial screening. they said they were very pleased with the courses id done BUT said they would have a meeting to see if my partner would be suitable as he hadn't done any courses, and hadn't worked for a long time (he has epylepsy NOW controlled) but he didn't have any child related qualifications or such to prove he was motivated and dedicated to children in any way :o( She said they would ring in a few days with a decision.
I was disapointed despite her emphasising how strict their criteria was...
I had assumed if I was the main carer - it was enough that i did the courses. i feel so sorry for my chappy as he has been wonderfully supportive and we've shared my literature throughout.
Probably pointless, but he's gone to collect a reference of sorts from his half sister as she can validate his involvement in regularly helping out with his special needs neice over the last 20 years! This will go through their door tonight before they shut the IFA file (and bin us) lol. I doubt it will make any difference personally, but he felt responsible and wanted to do 'something' pro-active.

Im confused - why advertise that almost anyone can foster, even childless singles over 21 - then say NO (?) if you cant prove any interest in child welfare. He raised his daughter for 3yrs on his own almost. Then played an active part in her upbringing through his ex-wife's subsequent marraiages...

Oh well, we will see what the week brings i guess... hope you all pls stick around coz im defo gonna need to chew someone's ear off lol x

BusterTheDonk im trying to open it but its not worked as yet. mind you - i am hopeless navigating around this website lol but i will keep trying xx

I am absolutely amazed at this and can only think things must have changed a great deal since I retired. We never expected anyone to have done any courses, and mostly they hadn't. We were usually a bit unsure about childless couples but some of these turned out to be very good. Do you and your P/H have children of your own. If not, it seems like he has more childcare experience than you, though this is an assumption of course. Tbh I think actua experience is as at least as good as courses on childcare.

You will both be expected to do the prep course and it will have to be a joint applicant. Your partner/husband is part of the household and from what you say will be very involved as he is not at work. It would have to be a jount appct even if he was at work.

Be interested how this turns out, so keep us posted!

Hi NanaNina Yes we have children (not together tho). Carl has 1 daughter in her early 20's. I have SEVEN children from 9-27yrs.
My youngest three at home (9, 14, 15).
Two of my girls are Assistant deputy head, and Chair Person representing their school peers. We have outstanding references from school for them (very proud) :o) so it cant be anything relating to my parenting or Carl having a detremental influence as their grades have improved for the last 2-3 yrs of us being a family.

I would have thought they may have at least given the poor chap credit for taking on the challenge of a ready made family. Or maybe speak with the girls about him. My girls adore him. they love their natural father but they appreciate carl alot more because he is good with them.
Even my older daughter (22 yrs, 1 child) calls him 'dad' as he is such a fabulous father. She still sees her natural father and always has done. But she is the first to say how lucky i am to have such a lovely partner.

Well, all we can do is wait and see what happens. Im not going to throw the towel in after something so trivial. hopefully the LA will locate my application and will give us a chance to shine lol xx

Well the IFA haven't turned you down yet! Am I right in thinking you and Carl have only been together for 2/3 years, though as all is well with you and the kids and Carl I can't see why that should be a problem.

It is a very slim chance that the LA will locate your application - it will be at the bottom of someone's in-tray! Be proactive and phone them today! You can tell the LA that you have made a preliminary application to an iFA but are waiting to hear from them, and if that doesn't galvinate them into action then they don't deserve you!! You can also make applications to neighbouring LAs not that I'm trying to discourage you from going to an IFA you understand!!

Thankyou NanaNina,
Yes Carl and I have been together for over three years, lived together for two.
He collected a reference (of sorts) from his half sister who described all the time he'd spent helping with a special needs child amongst many other things.
He took that letter inti the IFA office today and made a point of explaining that he has been caring for family members for years, in fact most of his life really. (he was even his grans trustee!).

As for the LA
I decided to ring them for an update. They were lovely on the phone and said they would look into it and phone back with information or an explanation lol.
As you say i might be in a dusty intray lol. nothing seemed awkward or untoward on the phone, so that has lifted my spirits somewhat x

Yey!!

Fingers crossed for you minximoo.. be sure to keep us all posted whichever way it goes & whoever you (hopefully) proceed with

Yes me too will be interested in what happens!

Hi just wondered if anyone has any experience of particular IFAs??