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Approved. Heard nothing for 8 weeks. Then three phonecalls in one week

7 replies

mum2tots · 30/06/2014 10:51

Title says it all really. Just a bit frustrated. Heard nothing after panel regarding placements then i sent an email to the placement team introducing us :P on the Friday. Week after I had three phonecalls. First was can we take a baby the next day. We said yes, 30 mins before he was due to arrive got a call to say no longer coming. Then i got a call the next day for three siblings although i only have space for two. Then Friday i got a call about a toddler which we said yes to, his social worker said she will ring with a court date this week and he will come to us right after.....I'm now just kind of sitting and waiting for this call. We might even be the back up plan. What if this one ends up a dead end too? How long should I wait before saying yes to another child that i might be called about?

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DwellsUndertheSink · 30/06/2014 13:05

we had similar - nothing for months, then 2 placements offered in 3 days - the first were for siblings, but no court date. Another set of siblings were higher need, and so they came instead.

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mum2tots · 30/06/2014 13:32

Just had a call from someone. "Hello i've been told you now have D placed with you"....errr no..... They wanted to arrange a placement planning meeting. Still not heard from his sw though...

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scarlet5tyger · 30/06/2014 14:11

If it's not been to court yet its very possible it will "fall through". The social worker needs to have a place for the child to go before they can take it to court - ie a foster placement. Once the matter's at court there's still every chance the judge will refuse to remove the child from home so lots of foster carers find the child they're waiting for doesn't actually arrive. Most of the time you won't get a phone call advising they're no longer coming either!

(Its for precisely this reason that I no longer rush out to buy anything for a child until they're actually through the door).

The "feast or famine" situation is also very, very common!

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mum2tots · 08/07/2014 09:25

Second Little one didn't come, court didn't agree with SW. SW sounded pretty annoyed when they called to tell us. 10 weeks since approval still empty. Meet our second SSW for the first time tomorrow. :(

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wonderpants · 08/07/2014 10:38

I think this is in many ways the toughest part of fostering. We have just waved off our FC and are now in limbo land. It is so hard to plan ahead not knowing what our family will be!

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Gillian1980 · 08/07/2014 22:06

I think the element of the unknown is one of the hardest parts of fostering; not knowing whether it will be days, weeks or months until your next placement. And not knowing whether the children you are put forward for will come to you or not.

Hang on in there, it will be worth it when the right placement finally happens. Try not to be too disheartened after 10 weeks, realistically it could be much longer so be prepared for a wait.

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mum2tots · 09/07/2014 07:42

Thanks, we are trying to keep the mindset of waiting for the right placement. Can't see there will be much to talk about at our 12 week review though :D