Foster carers adopting questions

[TulipsfromAmsterdam]

Has anyone experience of adopting children they fostered and if so was it possible to continue as a foster carer afterwards? Have heard it is necessary to take a break and in other cases heard you must give up completely so hoping to get some advice from here.
Also would appreciate some info regarding the process and support received please.

I know a foster carer who did this last year (at request of SS). She said the assessment was gruelling, worse than for fostering, but worth it. She has to give up fostering for a year but is, I think, being paid to adopt so shouldn't be any worse off financially.

I know that it's rare for a foster carer to be asked to adopt though, in fact it's usually frowned upon - I suspect because the SS don't want to lose a valuable resource but also because parents could easily identify you (and therefore their child) in the future.

We have looked into this, but as Scarlet5yger said ssw is totally against the idea. Will watch this thread with interest. Let us know how you get on x

Yes. One year 'on hold' is expected.

We adopted a child we were fostering. We have lots of FC friends who have also adopted and like us continue to foster after the adoption. A years break from fostering was required by our LA.
In most cases I know of SS have been extremely supportive to carers who want to adopt. I know of two cases where SS didn't agree with the adoption and the carers went to court and won their case. However, they were not able to carry on fostering afterwards and both spent £1000s fighting the LA.
If the LA are supporting you there should be minimal costs (£140 in our case).
The assessment is brutal. Similar to the fostering form F but even more in depth (I didn't actually think that was possible ). As scarlett says well worth it though.

Thank you for replies.
We have support from child's SW but waiting to hear from our FO so no idea what will happen next.
I did wonder about adoption allowances and in what circumstances this would be paid so any further info would be great.
Thanks again.

Hi Tulips.. as you know we are looking into an SGO for our LO and have requested funding... the guardian mentioned assisted adoptions but when I asked the SW she said you are more likely to get funding with an SGO...

I googled it as obviously we have an interest in this and found this... www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1991/2030/contents/made... looks very technical but may help....

I think we got a fight on our hands tulips!! Good luck & please keep in touch x x

Can i ask a question our fc has surspected FAS And we think that fc chances of being adopted now are very low.
and feel if no one else wants fc we will have fc
How long do you think we should wait until we throw out hat in the ring

The problem is the childs family finder is one who is not very keen on fc adopting but i been told once a child is diganosed with any kind of condition that slims their chances of being adopted
All of a sudden they are tripping over you to adopt

Hi BTD, thanks for the link to the info and just wondered if you have heard anything yet regarding the SGO? Hope you manage to get sorted soon x

Mrbojangles1 - I think personally I would speak to SW as soon as you are sure you have made your decision. You may find you have support from others which will help a lot. Are you thinking about adoption or long term fostering?

I would wait before expressing my intentions, personally. The longer the search goes on for an adoptive family the more likely you are to seem like a good option - and you would probably get better post-adoption support as the lac would be a 'hard to place' child. Especially if a formal diagnosis is likely in the near future. I have has several adoptions fall through at the last minute due to fc deciding they would like to keep the child after all.

I've fostered several babies with FAS and NAS. All have moved on to adoption or kinship care. Yes it's taken longer (10 months for last child) but at no point was it suggested that it wasnt a viable option.

How old is your FC MrBpjangles? I think age is more of an issue than FAS. If it's a 5+ child with FAS you might very well get asked to consider adoption otherwise I suspect there won't be much support from SS.

look at me thread...... bout adoption

375 a week, thats a good wage

I would suggest fostering as there is more money in it 375.00 a week. I have expereice of foster carers who are just in it for the money.

Obviously you are a lovely person. I wish you the best of luck x

Sounds to me the person you are saying is bad is a soc worker not a foster carer brokenhearted.

Anyway most foster carers get a much lower sum than the amount you mentioned. Most fc's work for the LA esp those that look after little ones and that sounds like an fostering agency wage.

375 per week??? I wish! I get barely half of that! And I spend around 50 per week on petrol alone, just for contact. Most of the FCs I know have weeks when we actually LOSE money doing this - I always advise prospective carers that this isnt a job you do for the money. (I'm with LA)

And even if that is an agency fee there may well be long gaps between placements with no money coming in...

I really really wish FC allowances were more public as I get so upset with people thinking I do this for the money. It's a difficult enough job as it is! (sorry, emotions running high as in the middle of moving one child on and settling in a challenging new placement. Luckily both sleep well!)

Thanks scarlet I couldn't agreed more..... It make me so angry when people say things like that.

Just for the record broken heart even if a Foster-carer got £375 per week (on what planet who knows) it would work out at £2.25 per hour as FC need 24 hour care. Really good wage not!

£375 a week?

Maybe it was £37.50