Applying to be Foster Carers

[Leebie]

Hi - my husband and I have just attended 2 days of a Skills to Foster Course. We have the 3rd day at the end of February and the assessment to get throught but we are very excited at the prospect of being FC's. My husband will continue to work FT but I am thinking of giving up my FT job to devote my time to Fostering. My only slight concern is that there may be long periods inbetween placements, even though my Local Council has stated that this would be unusual. I would have to seek temporary work inbetween placements. Any advice/comments would be welcomed?

Oh how exciting! I have no advice I'm afraid, but thought I'd bump for you.

Hi Leebie and welcome to the fostering forum!! Congrats for getting onto the Skills to Foster course and enjoying it.

You are 'going with' the LA I take it? Personally (and I'm a relative newbie too - 17mths of fostering so far - on 2nd placement) I wouldn't worry too much about not having a placement for long... unless you are applying for very specific children/age range - for example, there is a 'waiting list' for babies - everybody wants them - so if you were 0-2 I'd think you may have longer waits.

We are constantly told, the more flexible you can be (age, siblings, transport) the more 'in need' and 'preferred' you will be.

Maybe if you did find yourself without a placement for a while you could offer to do respite for other carers/parents - or go on the emergency list for weekends..?

Our first placement lasted for 16mths and we took a week off, and 2 days later our 2nd placement arrived - if thats any help - but I have read on here of other carers waiting for much longer.

I think only time will tell - but try and be as flexible as possible to push your vacancies to the top of the list.

Good luck on the assessment and let us all know how you get on!!

I agree with Buster, if you can be reasonably flexible in terms of placements then I shouldn't think you'd have to wait long!

Also, placements can arrive very soon (ie the same day) as the call from the LA, so if you were working, even in a temp role, that could be difficult!
It's nice to hear you're excited - what age range are you thinking of?

Thank you all so much for all your advice and good wishes, really appreciate it :) We are very excited and cannot wait to start fostering (assuming we get through the assessment process of course - but hopefully there shouldn't be any reason why not). We are fostering with the LA and they have said there is a severe shortage of carers. We have asked for any kids up to the age of 14 at the moment, with a view to undergoing further training in the future to cope with older teenagers if necessary. We have 2 spare bedrooms and have expressed an interest in sibling groups. It is just unknown territory to us at the moment and although we are looking forward to starting fostering, due to the fact I'm giving up a well paid job, I have been slightly concerned about long gaps between placements, but your experiences are reassuring, so thanks once again, I will keep you posted on our progress! :)

Just by way of an update... we attended our 3rd day of the Skills to Foster Course on Monday and have now been informed that we have succeeded and have been given approval to proceed to the assessment process :) Our supervising Supervisor will be contacting us soon to start the process - cannot wait! The Manager dropped off a raft of forms and paperwork to complete yesterday and she was very encouraging, stating they 'had no hesitation' in proceeding with our application, so we are really excited and feel positive about the future. They reckon around 6 months to complete the whole process.... will keep you posted!

Sorry meant ..'Supervising Social Worker' in my last message... getting over-excited!

We are in the process of being considered for Fostering too!
However they are a bit put off by my allergic reactions and special diet....even tho I am a work at home Mum and take in work to suit what is going on....I too may totally give up work to just be a Foster carer. We are just waiting to see if we got to the next stage :-S

We have been thinking about it for years,I am excited and nervous all at the same time !

I've tried working p/t and fostering, and with my first placement it was quite difficult. We haven't had a placement since, but I am now willing to hand my notice in if we get a placemnent, which, cross fingers will be this week!

I'm getting exited too!

Aw that's lovely :-) fingers crossed for you xx

Is it selfish to want another Foster child as a companion for your child?
I personally think she would benefit from another child around the house as a sort of adopted sibling....is that wrong?

What if they don't get on though nannipig? The FC might be very challenging/demanding and need a lot of your time, your own child might feel jealous and abandoned, or get physically hurt. How would you cope with that?

Saying you want a companion for your child makes it sound a bit like you want a pet!

No, I have just been craving another child around the house too! We always wanted 2 or more children, but obviously we haven't got that, so we thought we have room in our house and our hearts for another child, so thought we could offer a child less fortunate a safe happy home for as long as they need it.
I am ready for the challenges Fostering brings, I have thought it thru for years even before we had our DD...Plus you go thru loads of checks and training in preparation. I know it is going to be hard and we are going to have to work even harder to make it work.

What are other peoples reasons for Fostering?

I was in care myself and had to live in a hostel bevause their were no foster carers, which was awful I took child development GCSE and after that it was always my goal to foster.

6 years in and loving it

Hello, I'm a foster carer and my second placement is almost 2 and having a nap in his cot at the moment. My motivation was when I was a trainee teacher I noticed one in three pupil on my register were on the VSR (vunerable services register) - was completely shocked and looked into how I could help. Fostering was the answer!

I love it but it can be so bloody stressful when there is a high level of contact with their parents and you know that the parents were 'unpleasant' to the child you are caring for. Good Luck - the rewards are plenty!

Hi There
Just wanted to say congratulations for taking the plunge, and good luck with your assessments. Our whole process took 9 months, it was very thought provoking, deep and emotive but we got there and we were approved 6 weeks ago, unfortunately, we are STILL waiting for our first placement :( but surely as the days go on, it is looking more and more likely to happen.....hopefully x

Hi good luck with everything.

You are being flexible with the age group you will do and being able to take sibling groups is great. I don't think you will need to worry about part time work.
We have room for three foster dc at a time and take ages 0-18 girls and 0-10 boys. In 8 years we have fostered more than 60 dc. We always have at least two in placement at any one time. Usually when one leaves we get a call within 24 hours.

Thanks all for your comments and good wishes! Nannipigg..that's exactly how I feel excited, but also nervous! Panedbois - good luck with handing in your notice - it's a big decision, but hopefully it will be worth it. Momma T - hope you get your placement this week! ChooChooWowWow - wow! Your fostering experience sounds fab! I hope mine is as successful! (that's if I get there of course). I'm hoping it won't take much longer than 6 months, but it's hard to tell. xxxx

We went through 'panel' last year and have had quite a few placements but all seem to be just respite so far (and difficult ones at that)... long periods with nothing, is this normal?

Respite for other carers tends to be for the more challenging LO's to give their current carers a short break in order to enable them to deal with the issues on a full time basis. Or for carers who for one reason or another are going on holiday and can't take the LO's with them.

I don't think there is such a thing as 'normal' in the world of fostering...

I wonder if you are with an IFA or the LA, and then if it is with the LA, what your age range is, how many you can take, how willing/available you are to do all the running around (this month I did 633 miles for the LO and that includes a weeks half term!!) - things like this matter to the placement unit and the more 'available' and 'flexible' you are, the higher you are up the list on the 'vacancies board'.

If you are with an IFA then I am not suprised about your lack of placements in the slightest - they are serious last resort for the LA's and with the large recruitment drives for inhouse carers, the need is dwindling.

What is your situation lynnmac?

Hi All just wanted to let you know me and dh have been approved to foster and are thrilled! We have got siblings coming to us in a couple of weeks boy aged 6 and girl aged 8. No doubt I will be asking for advice in the near future from all you experienced FC's! x

Best of luck and hope you really enjoy fostering

thank you Bonnieslilsister! I did start this thread back in February as the nickname of 'Leebie' but decided I wanted to call myself 'looktothefuture' instead. The assessment process through to panel took us about 6 months in total and there does seem to be a great need for longer term placements where I live, so hopefully I will be kept busy (I'm with the LA). I have given up a full time office job to become a full-time FC and I am looking forward to it very much, but also feel a little apprehensive of course and I know there are going to be challenges ahead! We as a family are prepared though, there is just myself, my dh and my daughter who is 23 years old at home, so the two little ones coming to us will get lots of attention! (my dh and dd will still work of course). Will keep you posted. xx