A great big thank you

[Alakazam7]

Just to say thanks to those who were kind enough to respond to my threads about the fostering process and what to get in advance. Got through panel this week!! Now to get started properly!

Whoop not the scary bit looking after the children

Well done and good luck with it! Hope you get your first placement soon.

Can I ask how long it took pls

Took about 5/6 months altogether to go through panel but it varies.
A year on from first applying I've had 4 placements, some I've turned down and I've got my first placement that is likely to be staying with me long term!

Hey!! Congrats on the successful placement Alakazam7!
I'm just about to go to panel, form F completed and now to wait!

I've been a lurker on here but finally stepped up :D Hi everyone :)

The application process is a real eye-opener and completely changed the way I think about myself, it made me so much more confident in my own skills. I knew I was passionate about it before applying, but now i'm sure I was made to do this!

Good luck to anyone in the same boat!

Good luck KTfostermam, we are currently having weekly assessment visits and completing lots of homework and looking to go to panel Feb/March time so still a long time off

Yay Ameliarose123 How are you finding it?
The time will go before you know it, I cannot believe its nearly November, March feels like 2 weeks ago!

Might have an extra special christmas present this year! :D

Really slow up to this point, now it feels like a rollercoaster, lol 2 visits this week, I'm so pleased the pace has picked up though, I think they were advertising for the assessment social worker position.
I hope you are successful at panel and have a few extra pressies to buy for Christmas, you must be so excited

Thank you Ameliarose123 I think they like to speed things up when they start feeling that it might be a real possibility, so thats great news!

absolutely on tenterhooks now, I'm having to stop myself from buying little things they can choose themselves but it's so hard when it's still not final! Still making my spare room cosy too. You wont be able to see them for all the cusions!

Are you in a couple? I think my assesment went faster because theres only me. However I'm a disabled person too so I needed extra medicals...swings and roundabouts!

Glad you’re getting on well Alakazam!
Good look KT and Ameliarose.
I’ve been fostering 3 years now and it’s flew by x

I’m with a partner, sorry for the delay in answering, 17 days till our panel date now. KTfostermam have you had a placement yet x

Good luck with panel! We are 7 weeks today till ours x

Good luck!!! I would really love to do it!

We passed panel today !!

Congrats Amelia!

I've just been through my end of first year panel. I've looked after 4 children in my year and it's been a rollercoaster.

One thing I would say is don't do too much to put stuff in a room for a child coming to you if they are coming from previous placements. They can arrive with a LOT of stuff and are very attached to it and your lovely cushions won't be needed. Play it by ear, keep your room neutral, have some books and toys in case they come with nothing (I had one darling little 7yo who came in his school uniform and had nothing else, no pants, pjs toothbrush-nothing). I was an emergency placement and I had to buy a set of clothes just to get him through the next couple of days.
Good luck to all who are starting on this road, it's wonderful, important and hard work.