F1 Form

[Catfriend]

got my first visit from the SW to start my F1 form any advice???? What does the first meeting go into?????

Well the first meeting is really to get to know each other. Assume you have finished the prep course? I am a retired sw and manager (30 years experience) I would always just have a general chat and cast my eye over the house (don't mean looking for everything spick and span - far from it) but just to make sure it is reasonably clean and you can tell this immediately. I think the process of the assessment should be explained to you on this visit, and sws sometimes forget to do this, and rush on with the paperwork.

The F1 form is just to collect factual information about you and your family, names, address, dates of birth, may want details of your education and working history (for both of you) how long you have lived in your present house, etc etc. I would always ask if the aplicants are in good health and also if there were any offences as it would be best to know right away, as the sw has to apply for a CRB police check.

I think though that if you are wondering about something, just ask.....sws are ordinary mortals you know! Sometimes they forget that something they are doing on a regular basis will not be known by applicants. She/he should should tell you how often they will visit to carry out the F2 which is the comprehensive assessment (might be called something different now!) you can't be exact about this because all assessments are different. The sw may ask you for names and addresses of referees they can approach.

So relax - offer a coffee and suss the sw out as well as you need to be able to work together in an atmosphere of trust and harmony, but of course sws like everyone else differ, so hope you get a good one. Oh just thought sw has to complete a Health & Safety check on your home, so if I saw anything obvious on my first visit (like an open stair case) if it is young children you are considering. Mind having said that I think if there are big alterations to be made, it is not fair that the applicant starts making changes until they have been approved.

Sorry I might be overwhelming you with info...............am sure it will be fine.

I think it is easy to forget that it is a two way process - the social worker will be finding out all they need to know about you, your family, neighbourhood, work and education history, your own children, friends, relatives, hobbies and your home to get a good match for any foster child and you (hopefully!) will remember to ask lots of questions (you know the ones I mean - the ones you remember that you wanted to ask after the social worker has gone!).

I wish you well and hope also that you get a good social worker. Ours was really lovely and we looked forward to her visits.

I am sure you will be fine too.

Wow NanaNina. Thank you for your wise words I have attended the skills to foster course and found it very interesting but very sad aswell. It's made me more determined to want to go ahead with the whole process.

If I think of any questions from now till the sw visits I'm going to jot them down cos I will go blank when she arrives!!!

Thanks Fosterangel I know exactly what questions you mean ha ha. I'm going to jot down if I think of any questions from now till my visit, I will just go blank ha ha ha. Thanks for your support:)

Well after a few delays along the line I finally got to meet my sw yippee. Lots of reading to do before our next meeting. Is it selfish of me to just want the form done so I can start fostering??