would this even be possible?

[elvenbread]

I've name changed for obvious reasons. I'm a teacher and a child in the school is in care - a short term fostering arrangement. I don't teach this child but know of their situation. The local authority would like this child and their younger sibling to find long term fostering. I would love to be able to do this. The child really needs a stable and long term arrangement. I feel I could give them the love and care they need.

I am single, don't live in the same town as the school, could move the children from the school to a school in my town which is a different authority which the LA thinks thechild needs - a fresh start. I have the space and two spare rooms. I would have family back up. My finances are poor but not desperate.

Would this be a total no, no as I know the child? Is it worth looking into. Would a fostering allowance be possible for a long term sibling pair? I would struggle financially if I had to take time off to settle them if I didn't get an allowance. Any advice welcome even if it's an honest 'I don't think it would work.'

[fasparent]

Don't really know, would have too do all fostering training and approval.,
one alternative which courts may consider too by pass all this is a Special guardianship order , with foster care allowance included , which also would give you parental rights, But would be careful if this is possible too do that, the allowance's continue too the end of children's education, Suggest you approach the children's social worker and LA and discuss your interest and ask of options. They also may have other idea's and plans such as the same SGO or Adoption. If you don't ask you will never know. SGO Allowances would be reviewed yearly ascertained on financial status .

[elvenbread]

Thank you fasparent.

[DwellsUndertheSink]

Id consider whether you would be able to continue with your career and look after foster children. DO not underestimate the level of meetings you need to attend, or the training requirements.

To give you an idea, this week I have taken my fc's to a therapy session (3 hours with travel), I have a SW here later in the week (2 hours) a meeting with a SW team (2 hours); a PEP meeting x2 (3 hours). I also need to take the LO for a follow up appt with the GP. Next week is quiet, but the week after I have therapy, an LAC review, SSW visit, SW visit, contact, LAC health review.....

My life is not my own. I do not know how you would be able to juggle a career and children, although it is a noble idea. Id look, first, at the allowances offered by the LA and see whether you would be able to live with that.

You might be able to make things work if you worked part time.

Also, as lovely and trouble free the children may appear in school, do not underestimate the trauma and resultant behaviours you may have to face at home. My oldest FC is no trouble at all at school. At home, he is generallly compliant, until something triggers a memory and he explodes into a violent rage.

[yellowribbons]

Hi Elvenbread,

Do contact the children's social worker as they will know what the plan is for these children and if they have in mind any possible permanent foster carers for them already. Obviously they would need to know your own situation to see if you could be a potential match. They would probably also ask if you would consider fostering other children or your interest would just be the children you mention. As fasparent says you would have to undergo training and approval. Normally this can take up to a year, but I am sure there must be some facility for fastracking if it was in the children's best interest.

If approved and matched with the children you would receive a fostering allowance. As you may have read on other threads this can vary dramatically between LAs, and also will vary with the child's age. I am uncertain as to whether you could progress to an SGO straight away, it depends so much on the child's legal status. Yes as has been said allowances for children on SGOs are means tested, and therefore as a teacher I am uncertain as to whether you would qualify.

I have undertaken all types of fostering and have also adopted. At the moment I am fostering two school age children (though soon to be three children again) - one (so called) short term and the other permanent. I also do respite care. The only problem I can see is with you working. Obviously as a teacher you would be in the brilliant position of being able to be with the children during their holidays and after school. However, there were so many meetings, assessments, contact arrangements, SW visits to attend or take the children to, that, in my experience, it is impossible work as well and in fact our LA said from the beginning we would have to give up work. To give you a little snapshot of the last two weeks for us which are pretty typical. Last week - one day we had a visit from the child's SW, and another from our SSW. Another day was taken up with taking one child to their annual medical that all looked after children have, also had one who had an after school opticians appointment, another morning taken up with one child's six monthly review. There was a lot of paperwork to complete last week too.This week we had an afternoon meeting with one of the children's schools and another day a meeting with LACES. Another full day was doing a first aid course that the LA like everyone to do every year, and had to take one child to a CAMHs appointment. We had to take one child to a contact session with their siblings after school and the other child we will take for contact on Saturday. Next week there is something every day. Some of these meetings are at quite short notice and as a foster carer who will find it is you that have to be flexible - my LA looks very unfavourably if you ask for a meeting to be rearranged. Obviously all meetings are in the week, and when it is necessary for the child to attend, they also will have to miss some school too. Perhaps this can be worked around, but it is the main obstacle that I can see.

But I wish you much luck, as it is a lovely thing for you to want to do.

[yellowribbons]

Also forgot to say it is great you have family support. Just bear in mind our LA would need anyone who was to look after the children to be CRB checked and probably have to meet the SSW too.

[NanaNina]

Have you posted about this before? I seem to remember a very similar post. Can I just say yellowribbons that the OP won't be in the position of being with the child all holidays and after school. My son and dil are both primary school teachers and routinely don't leave the school until 6.00 ish and then they often have marking in the evening, and they always go into school at least 2 days of the shorter holidays - yes they do get a good summer break but again they go in for most of the last week.

[Roshbegosh]

I think you should contact the LA about this, you might be welcomed and as a teacher that would help. As another poster has said, if you work full time you need a decent network to help and they would be part of the assessment process. Do pursue it, you are needed, maybe for these children or maybe others.
Another thing I would say is that there are a lot of meetings though IME they can often be in half terms or at the end of the day but it is the amount of family contact you have to deal with that can make a big difference. Some of them it's more than weekly and you have to take them to a contact centre and wait an hour or two then deal with the aftermath. You might have contact with mum one day, dad another, one sibling another, then another sibling etc etc That can be unsettling or helpful, it depends.
Really it is hard but so rewarding and enriching too, the hard part is saying goodbye but the placement could go on for years and you might be able to stay in touch. You will get the allowance, it was quite generous in our LA but some posters on here report getting an inadequate amount. You could look into it.
Good luck, let us know how you get on.