medicals

[Surburbia]

I've just read a thread about a couple with diabetes, overweight and having asthma being rejected for fostering (or unlikely to be seen by panel).

Considering that many f.carers are retired/early 60s there can't be that many who don't have some health issues.

I wonder how social workers assess the impact of 'health conditions' when assessing potential carers.

I know loads of people with health issues but they seem to be able to carry on a completely normal life....so why not fostering?

And aren't a third of all UK residents now overweight?!

I saw that thread too and wondered along the same lines as you

Actually just looked it up on gov.uk which says:

In the year to November 2020, 62.8% of adults (people aged 18 and over) were overweight or obese, a similar percentage to the previous year (62.3%)

67.5% of Black adults were overweight or obese – the highest percentage out of all ethnic groups

It’s not the social workers who make the assessment on health, they receive a medical report which says whether their health conditions would prevent them from fostering.

I know many carers with diabetes, asthma and who are overweight but have still been able to foster.

@FFSandmoreFFS - Yes, I'm sure a lot of people with those conditions are capable of fostering. I can't think of many health conditions that would stop you fostering, can you? I am aware that because of prejudice though that some disabled people find it hard to be accepted for fostering.

It's not so much the health issues, it's whether they would affect the carer's parenting. On paper my husband is very overweight and when we raised this with the SW who came to do our initial assessments she said 'I've just watched him chase a cat up and down the stairs (she was scared of cats so we were trying to put ours out) so I don't have any concerns about his ability to physically look after kids.' And I think that was the only time anything was ever mentioned. It is something that has to be addressed. In our early days of fostering we had a 6 year old who without warning would suddenly start running. If my husband hadn't been able to catch him he could have ended up lost or run over.

We foster. Both overweight and I'm diabetic.
When the doc does your medical they will make a decision if your health would impact on and children placed with you.
Their report goes to the fostering team who will then make a final decision.
Having very young children can be very tiring and health conditions could be seen as affecting the development of the child so may be a reason.

The GP assesses, not the assessing social worker.

Based on your medical notes or an actual medical. I never see the GP.

Surburbia
its a mix of both. You are given a form to take to your dr. There are questions which the dr answers. They look back at your medical history to answer them.
the dr then examines you, just like a medical really, height,,weight, blood pressure etc.

As with adoption it depends on how the condition or weight issue affects you.

I'm going to panel in a few weeks. I am overweight, but have no health conditions - at the moment. Im not stupid, I know long term being overweight is not good and am trying to lose weight. But at the moment I am healthy and active.