Fostering questions - please help!

[Marual]

Hi there

Basically, I'm pregnant and due to go on maternity leave at the end of May. I want to foster (always have done) but am aware this won't be possible while pregnant or with a newborn (possibly?). The predicament I'm in is that I want to apply to foster as soon as possible, as if approved I don't plan on returning to work as I'd want to concentrate on fostering full time, if you see what I mean. What are the guidelines of applying to foster with regards to having a baby? Do you have to wait until they're a certain age? Could it go in my favour that I'd want to stay home instead of work so will need to give my work notice? Sorry if this doesn't make sense, I'm typing as I'm thinking about it... Thanks in advance xx

Our agency would want the baby to be two before you could apply to foster.

It may seem a little strange that you don't want to prioritise bonding with your own baby first. Fostering when you are trying to bond with and establish a relationship with your baby seems, like it could be detrimental to all parties. Why the rush?

Where I am the baby has to be at least 2 before they all consider you.

Two here as well. That's for starting the application process. Will then take 4-6 months minimum for assessment (depending on availability of an assessing SW), so realistically you're looking at your own child being an absolute minimum of two and a half.

You'd be expected to give up work to foster anyway.

Also, usual guidelines are that any foster child should be 2 yrs younger than your youngest birth child. Babies are generally very easily placed (more baby carers than babies coming into care) and some LAs have stopped recruiting carers that will only take babies. You could take older children, I do, but they really prefer for the foster children to be younger than your birth child.

I would have thought it was obvious that bonding with my own baby is my priority. Thanks to everyone else for your answers!

HI I'm pregnant with my first but already an approved foster carer, I have fostered 3 children in total since being approved but don't currently have a placement. I am considering doing short break or respite (which I also have experience of) until a month or so before I'm due but once I've had the baby I think I will need to have at least 6 months up to 2 years before fostering again with a full time placement. Normally foster children are 2 or more years younger than your own youngest child, however I read somewhere of a foster carer fostering teenagers when they had a baby of their own as they found that worked well in terms of the needs of both age groups not competing with each other. The children that I have fostered have been very challenging and all consuming, so personally I will not be in a rush to foster a child again (other than short break) once the baby arrives. Fostering can be amazing and rewarding but it's also hard work and challenging!

Can i say please that some agencies do not expect you to give up work the LA I'm with do not expect you to give up work to foster

I am on mat leave and in the process of the training ect, my ds is 6mo and social worker never had an issue with it although it might turn against us when we are put to panel