Non-driver with scruffy home and SW coming!

[MaMisled]

Hi all. This forum has been so valuable to read through so now Im going to jump in with my fears, looking for reassurance please!

Since filling in an application to our LA on Monday, showing our interest in fostering, things have moved very quickly. I had a long phone call Tuesday and a SW is visiting today, Friday!

I have told them I dont drive though OH does and he is home weekends and 1 or 2 days in the week and evenings. Are there any other non-drivers on here who foster? How do you manage? Is it a massive problem?

Also, Im now suddenly seeing my home through the eyes of others and.....its scruffy! Its clean and fairly tidy but there is paint peeling, the garden is a mess, laminate flooring is lifting in places and there are areas of neccessary clutter. We will be addressing this over the coming weeks and months with a view to hopefully being successful in our application.

And......we have 6 cats and 2 dogs and 2 teenagers, rising to three at weekends (SD)!

Is the SW going to turn around and walk straight back out???

[fasparent]

Just be yourself, dogs will have too be assessed, SS sent a dog trainer too assess ours.

[Mumof3xox]

I reckon your dogs will be more of a concern than peeling paint

[LaurieFairyCake]

The dog assessment consisted of our social worker giving him a cuddle so don't worry

Loads of foster carers I know don't drive

They want a healthy, happy home - they are very unlikely to give a shiny shit about mess.

[MaMisled]

Thankyou. The dogs are small and obediant but I guess its how tolerant they are that matters? Does anyone else have experience of dogs and foster children working well?

[MaMisled]

Thankyou LaurieFairyCake, that made me smile and feel better!

[LaurieFairyCake]

It will depend on different approval categories - if you want older children you will have no trouble with the dogs - we were approved for over 5 years and we currently have a teenager

It will be more difficult if you wanted under 5's as there would be quite a lot of monitoring and training the child to be around the dogs - if they've come from chaotic backgrounds then the dogs need to be kept safe so they don't get cornered by a boisterous 4 year old

[Jennifersrabbit]

My adopted DC has very fond memories of their foster home, but fondest are those of the dogs

[MaMisled]

I am mostly interested in looking after maybe 9 years and up. My own two at home are 15 and 16. I understand they try to place children with you that are younger than your own?

I didnt even like dogs until 3 years ago so I am aware lots of people have a problem with them!

[LaurieFairyCake]

All of my pets over the years have brought so much joy to foster children

The bunny assessment was very funny - had a very odd placement student come to run one of the meetings with the experienced social worker. She was going on and on about how dangerously bitey rabbits were. I plonked Bun on the table with his big floppy ears and he just lay down and went to sleep - possibly the most chillaxed rabbit ever - he lived til 12.

Same woman was worried about bird flu with our chickens (years ago) and was most freaked when they wandered into the kitchen and pecked at the dog who ignored them - again they were very tame and I mischievously popped one on the table so she could study it

The social worker was grateful I'd ignored her whining and said that she needed to get used to animals and that a sterile environment was not what they were looking for

[MaMisled]

I want to come and be fostered by you! Chickens and bunnies and dogs.....wonderful!

I am very drawn to animal people and all their bitey bunnies, and bird flu......how funny!

I also have 7 cats actually so am really hoping the visiting SW likes animals!

[suzylee73]

It sounds like a great place to live and you must have so much love to give if you have so many pets :)

I have two dogs and the dog assessor (professional dog trainer) came out and said that my naughty and unruly dogs were absolutely no threat to any age of child. I looked after an 18 month old once and she used to walk my greyhound around like he was a horse, they adored each other.

Foster families are regular everyday families and not many of us live in shiny perfect houses so don't worry too much.

Let us know how it goes :)

[MaMisled]

Thankyou so much! Scared but excited too!

[mum2tots]

We have a dog a cat, bearded dragon and two gerbils, didn't have a dog assessment as he is a soppy lab and the SW gave the beardy a scratch and said she was lovely lol. Our house is always well lived in with toys absolutely everywhere all the time.

[EmmaC67]

Hope it all went well for you! We worried about our home too before we got assessed. I keep a very clean house but its no palace! Its warm and cozy and none of our furniture matches! SS are looking for warm loving homes that are clean and free from any any dangers. They are not (or shouldn't be) looking for designer furniture and all the mod cons! We have a dog and 3 cats. Our dog was assessed by a pet psychologist for temperament - he pulled her tail and ears; covered her eyes and took her outdoors for a walk and generally teased her - happily she passed! We are now looking after a very boistress 4 year old boy! Good luck with it all hun!

[MaMisled]

Thankyou all for your comments, anecdotes and reassurance. What a lovely forum this is! The meeting went very well, thankyou! I had been sooooo nervous but it was great. I believe the SWs words were that she was reccommending us and we have picked dates for training. Not really sure what happens now? We are going with LA.

[kendalmintcake0311]

That's brill MaMisled
We are new carers with LA, it is the best thing we have ever done!!
Good Luck on your Fostering journey

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

Great news OP.

I've though about fostering when our dc are a little older. Is it possible to work and foster or not?