Advice from more experienced foster carers re placements

[tomatojayne]

Hi all you lovely foster carers out there!

Ive been fostering for 21 months now and still loving it... well, other than the limbo waiting period in between placements. Just wondered if more seasoned pro's could let me know their experiences with regard to phone calls to take a child and the new PLO system.

I had a phonecall to take a child (now 17mths) who came to me at 7 days old straight from hospital and stayed with me til 8.5 months old. They were so pleased I was free to take her but so far nothing has happened. I have tried to ask where in the process we are but nobody will give me any answers. I know its "supposed" to be going to court. In the meantime I been put on hold (my choice "for now"!) to wait to take her... My SW cant give me any answers but keeps saying I can more or less be assures she will come "at some point".... how long do I stay waiting as Im a baby carer and those placements very seldom at the moment, so could be missing out on others while waiting for this "possible" placement. The childs SW has my number and has been asked to contact me with any news, but no news since 29th July when I took the first phone call......soooooo frustrating, my heart says keep waiting, my head says give it another week or so then go back into being available... HELP!!! :-) TYIA

Threaten to take yourself off hold, should speed things up!!

If its going to Court imminently then SW must know the date, they're booked in well in advance unless its an emergency - as their SW already knows its happening she must know a more specific date than "imminently".

Ps - what is PLO system?? The only PLO I know is best kept well out of child safety!

Is it your ssw that you're asking, or the child's SW?

If it is your ssw then the chances are that they have no idea of the court date, but they need to chase up the child's SW (if they aren't already!) to get more info. I've known it to be several weeks of waiting before I've been given the court date before - such a frustrating wait.

Are you being paid for being on hold? If not, I wouldn't hang about waiting for a placement that might never happen.

It is a hard one, I would find it hard not to be available to take back a baby I had looked after previously. But how long do you wait? I think asking for an 'on-hold' payment is reasonable. It may be going to court time and time again before a interim care order is either granted or not granted. You could also ask that if this baby hasn't come by a certain date, that you automatically go to the top of the list!

you should be being paid a retainer....

thank you everyone... I rang up again today and at least got some better information so I know how much longer I have to wait... only another couple of weeks (which feels like forever when your waiting hey!) I simply can't not wait for her if she's coming into care, I couldnt live with myself.... retainer LOL LO we're lucky we get anything never mind a retainer LOL LOL ;-) xxx

Hope it all works out!

@ scarlet5tyger PLO is new system in place before going to court. Stands for Public Law Outline and is amendment to Childrens Act.

Thanks Tomatojayne - I googled it but my understanding is that the changes are just speeding up court timescales that were already in place. Shouldn't really make any difference to foster carers as we're usually only contacted to take a child once a place is likely to be needed very shortly.

The circumstances you're under are different of course (taking back a child you've previously cared for) and I'd be exactly the same - I'd do everything I could to fight for a child to come back to me, even if it meant going outside my approved number of children. Is there anyway you could take a baby placement plus the other child?

There's no way my LA would pay a retainer either, but I hope they'd keep me fully informed of what's happening.

Fingers crossed all goes well x

From what I understand new laws start after care proceeding's too placement. So it is understanding that LA's may delay care proceedings where there is insufficient understanding and need too investigate true history of children at risk., also too achieve better outcomes and reconciliation's with expert support., as perhaps alternative options too adoption and foster care. Way some LA's are going.

Thats exacly it @ fasparent.... hence there are less children coming into care and needing urgent placements.

@ scarlet5tyger - I am currently waiting to go back for re-approval for two placements but the 2nd placement will only be emergency and respite. I am a single carer with my own two children under 5 so its more to do with safety and the ability to ensure all the children get the attention they need, but in the future when mine are older that would be the plan :-) xxx

Glad you agree Tomato , only today Gov has extended Troubled family's scheme and Quadrupled funding too LA's, Some LA's are working in partnership with NHS and 3rd sector, with some success. Up to 55% success rate. Have extended this program too 50 LA's only this week.
certain way too reduce care and the social cost's, Support is available for family's for several years.

Is this the same as the Early Intervention scheme that was introduced about 3 years ago? If so my LA will be kicking themselves as they've just scrapped it! They usually go for anything with government money being thrown at it , but have had 3 high profile child deaths while running it so have had no option but to bow out.

To be honest even though you say government funding has been quadrupled 4 X zero is still zero! This government promises cash left, right and centre but very little actually makes it to grass roots level.

Sorry to derail the thread Tomatojayne. As a fellow single carer I also totally agree that you need to ensure your own children are getting enough attention.