Planned move.

[sharenicely]

There is a chance my fc is going to be moved in the future.
Can anyone tell me how this happens and what sort of time period it generally takes.
They are looking at placing her with long term carers and from previous discussions have said she would initially visit, stay for tea, stay for weekends etc but I have no idea what sort of timescale they mean.

I think it would depend how long she's been with you, her age, and her own personality. I've had moves which vary from 2 months (!) to 1 week. Usually the child would meet new carer for about an hour on day 1, longer on next couple of visits, then visit carer's home, spend a morning with carer, spend afternoon with carer, spend day with carer - move. I've had one child who had overnight visits with new carer before he moved but all the rest haven't stayed overnight until they actually moved. Much easier that way.

It's a difficult time for all involved so I wish you well x

I was involved in a move of a teenager recently and it was planned to be a gradual transition over 6 weeks but it all got too stressful and she ended up moving after the first week as the anxiety of being between two homes and sense of loss at leaving was causing major issues. So it may not go to plan, just thought worth throwing that thought in there.

My last ones were 2 & 3 yo, and the move was basically done over 2 weeks - spending more and more time there during the day. (altho it was back to a parent - but one they couldn't remember)

It was very specific though in court that it was decided NOT to allow them any overnight stays - due to the worry they'd say 'I don't wan't to' and were negative next time it was to happen - which was completely contrary to what we were initially told...

I hope you'll be ok with the move.. its never an easy time - be kind to yourself & good luck x

Thanks for all your advice, and no definitive answers ! Am quickly learning that is the way with fostering.
Yes I am dreading it and cherishing every day she is here.
The court date isn't for a few months so know I have her at least till then.

sharenicely As I'm sure you know I am retired sw 30 years for a LA etc. The things that always amazes me is why you foster carers ask questions on here, rather than just asking the social worker!! What is it that stops you from raising all the issues/asking all the questions that you need to with the sw. They are doing it all the time, so forget that foster carers won't know about things that are obvious for them. You foster carers are the backbone of children's services and are incredibly important in the child protection arena. The carers who post on here are clearly 100% committed to the children in their care, but you must see yourself as an important part of the team, and should be kept abreast of everything in relation to the child/ren placed in your care.

I know that it's good to talk to other foster carers but I do wonder why some of you seem loathe to ask the obvious person the questions - the social worker! Sorry I'm not getting at you but frustrated at systems that mean foster carers are sometimes the last people to know about a care plan for a child. I was always telling sws that foster carers need to know what is happening. Some sws (I hope in the minority) just don't seem to realise the importance of good foster carers and think that somehow they are just childminders. SO rise up you foster carers and find out all you need to know from the social worker!

Nana Nina, I do appreciate what you're saying but sometimes getting hold of a child's SW is a task in itself! Its far easier to pop a quick question on here and get an honest answer rather than one that isn't totally "by the book" - some of the SWs I've dealt with are so cagey that I gave up asking questions of them in the end!

Just to put this in context though, the SW for one of my current placements is absolutely fantastic and has gone out of her way to make sure I know everything that's going on. She's new to the job, and I hope she doesn't lose her enthusiasm as others have seemed to do.

Hi NanaNina. I do ask my sw alot of questions, she was supposed to ring me on Friday and this was one of my questions but she didn't. She only works the latter half of the week so it was really just to try and get a few things clear in my head.
I usually speak to my sw once every six weeks so this forum is invaluable.

Scarlet and share - how stupid of me to have forgotten how difficult it is to get through to social workers. These cagey sws of which you speak Scarlet, probably don't know the answers themselves. I always told my team that it was all right not to know, but it wasn't all right to guess or pretend you knew, and the task was to find out. Glad you have a good sw Scarlet- like everyone else they range between highly competent to woefully inadequate and anything in between.

Share so often this happens that you don't get a call back. I dohave to say that I was guilty of this at times, as I just ran out of time because the volume of work was so high and I worked 50-60 hours a week. Doesn't help you I know.

It used to be the case that it was hard to get hold of the child' sw but link workers were much more help to fcs as they visited often and almost always returned calls, as their workload was not as great as the cp social workers. Is this not the case now? Probably not from what you are saying!

To be honest I also find that every CP SW has different 'views' and ways on doing things - and certainly for me it's hard to know what is the 'norm'.. for example - SW for my first placement expressly forbid any phone contact (and gave good reasons) - SW for my second placement (who works in the same team) has asked me to do it (and the reasons why not to do it in placement 1 still apply here in placement 2).

No wonder I cross the line so many times... it bloody never keeps still!!!!

Each situation is individual, every SW is different, every child is different - no wonder we get confused - well, I do all the time!!

I'm lucky with my SSW - she always gets back to me (even when on hol ) and so far so good with the 2nd placement's SW - although there is plenty time yet for me to piss her off

I must be honest though, except in urgent situations, I don't phone either of them - I jot it down in an email and let them respond when they can - I find that helps.

Ive found all the childs SW lovely and informative but my SW aaargh. Just doesn't get back to me or doesn't give me all the information. I'll put 3 points in an email and she'll respond to 1 or 2.
Some things I have had to ask again and again phone call, face to face and email.
I probably would describe her as useless !
Sorry having a bad day!