I've just had a call...........

[Minnerva]

Aarghh-slightly panicking now-I have just had a call about a new(and my first) placement.
Any advice from you wonderful mumsnetters for a rookie fc who is going to be caring for an 8 year old girl (Birth kids are all boys!!)would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

Congratulations minnerva.

All children are different as you know but I will tell you what we do.

Tour of the house (usually my 9 year old does this as I think new children feel a little less intimidated with another child.
Introduce family and make sure fc knows your names.
Make sure they know the important house rules straight away (privacy, appropriate clothing ect). You can introduce other rules as you go along so as not to overwelm them.
We usually have a small tea party arranged to welcome them (not to much fuss).
I always tell them to remember if they want or need anything they must ask as my own children would. FC are often to shy to ask so will go without.

I always take mine shopping to buy new bedding of their choice. This makes their room feel a bit more "theirs".
I also buy them a couple of books so they have something of their own when they move in.

I have 1 girl in a sea of boys at the moment. She loves it when we have girlie days. We go shopping and have lunch together.

Could you speak to her sw or previous fc to find out what sort of child she is. It's so easy to overwelm some children while others love a fuss.

I am sure you will be fine. I hope this helps it's all simple stuff but it works for us.
Good luck

No advice as I have never done it but just want to congratulate you on doing such a wonderful thing and wish you luck!

hope it goes well - keep us posted

Thanks you for replying-I did read the posts but did not have time to reply before now......
Well-that was quick !!!! N was with us for just 24 hours in the end so not really time to even put any training to good use.
The poor thing was collected from school by ss after police had entered her home that morning,not quite sure why the police were at the property but anyway they were concerened enough to call in ss.
She was a sweet little girl with amazing manners (puts my boys to shame) who was obviously scared (first time in care) and worried about what was going to happen to her.She told me that mum just had to tidy up a bit and then she would be going back home.In the end though her grandma's details were passed to ss and as she has a very good relationship with her a few checks were made and she went to stay with Gran.
I was really pleased for her and I suppose it was at least the second best scenario for her-first would be obviously going home to mum but failing that Gran is an almost perfect solution.
When the orginal phone call came I was slightly thrown-it seems you spend months building up to it and then all of a sudden you are faced with the reality of a small child turning up on your doorstep.
DH and I did our best and I think it was a very easy slide into the job for us-now we await our next placement with a little bit more confidence and a bit more awareness of exactly what the job entails because until you are actually faced with a placement all of the theoretical work is just that-theoretical.

Well done Minnerva, sorry i missed your op.

It sounds like you coped well I remember well that first phone call when you've been building up to it and it eventually happens. it's exciting and terrifying all at the same time.

I'm glad it turned out well for the little girl.