Hello! For those of you unfamiliar, I offer respite foster care and cover emergencies. Respite is where you give either another foster carer or a child's family a break by having their child for usually 1-7 nights, quite often just one or two nights. Emergency placements are where Social Services phone you and ask you to take a child that night for at least one night. I've done this a few times and least notice I've had is 15mins and most 7hrs. Some of these kids have stayed just one night; longest was 21 nights. I've looked after 19 kids to date. I've decided to start twice a month keeping a diary of my fostering experiences as such a carer. Monday - kids! I finished work this morning and barely had I been in my home five minutes before placement rang. This is the team who try to find children places to stay. The social worker tentatively enquires: 'The system shows your room is free... is that correct?'. It is. But I think whether I w...