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Showing posts from November, 2019

Week in the life of a foster carer 21

Hello! For those of you unfamiliar, I offer shared foster care and cover emergencies. Shared care 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 care are where Social Services phone you and ask you to take a child that night for at least one night. I've done this over a dozen 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 23 kids to date. Monday - no kids I have training all day today but am marked as available for kids should the need arises. Training is multi-agency as in not just foster carers but there are also GPs, teachers, physios, police, nursery workers, basically anyone who comes into regular contact with children. The purpose is to help us identify signs that children might be being abused or neglected. It's a really good

Week in the life of a foster carer 20

Hello! For those of you unfamiliar, I offer shared foster care and cover emergencies. Shared care 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 care are where Social Services phone you and ask you to take a child that night for at least one night. I've done this over a dozen 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 23 kids to date. Monday - kids! Difficult day today. I had a violent day, unfortunately. Hassan's behaviour had been deteriorating and it got to the point that I had to call 999 - he was threatening to punch me - and so this is the right course of action. Whilst on the phone he legged it so became a missing person, but later returned and tried to kick the door in. Literally kicking for about 10 minutes. Good thing I

Week in the life of a foster carer 19

Hello! For those of you unfamiliar, I offer shared foster care and cover emergencies. Shared care 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 care 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 22 kids to date. Monday - kids! Today was a difficult day as I had a funeral to go to in another city. I am marked as available with social services but not until late afternoon or evening. Mid-afternoon I get asked to take a girl I have had before but, knowing her behaviour since she was last with me, I am hesitant to say yes. Eventually I say no but get rung back within 30 minutes asking to take a boy who is under police

Week in the life of a respite foster carer 18

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. Monday - no kids (but nearly kids) I am marked as available to take up to two kids today as my rooms are currently free. Early in the day I get phoned about two kids. Not related; completely seperate. A teen girl and an asylum seeking child. I ask for the referrals and these are duly sent. I have a good read, then read them again. The girl troubles me. There are quite a lot of difficult behaviours, but t