Considering fostering

carefullycautious

Go for it I say. There is a terrific shortage of good foster carers and with your life experience and backgrounds Im sure they will do all they can to help you achieve this.

Good luck

travelgran

It may be that rather than caring about your qualifications as such they need to see what skills and knowledge those qualifications have brought you to help you carry out this particular 'job' successfully. It's the sort of thing you'd need to bring out in any job application and looking at your previous post, you're already demonstrating your awareness of this.

Good luck!

Penny-Pincher!!

ben1980 wrote: »

Thank you all for replying ! I didn't expect people to respond so quickly.

Just to clarify, I am well aware that we will have to have medicals. I understand that. I was asking whether a past history of severe depression which has been resolved for years is likely to cause problems and whether physical disabilities are a possible obstacle.

Also, I'm surprised at the comment that they won't "give two sticks" about our qualifications. I would have thought that two years of studying nursing (lots of challenging behaviour, dealing with frightened/distressed people, wiping up lots of bodily fluids, tons of paperwork) would be really relevant. Likewise, I had thought that my DW's degree, which is all about safeguarding, care planning, mental health/learning disabilities etc, might be viewed as fairly useful if you want to foster. As well as demonstrating that I was able to balance shift work, academic study and helping to support her physical needs, while she was able to show how she was able to advocate for the support she needed at university and undertake a fairly challenging course and voluntary work at the same time. Do you really think our qualifications are irrelevant ? If so, I'm a little disheartened.

Thanks for all your replies - they are thought-provoking and helpful.

Your qualifications are irrelevant! You seem very concerned with regards to recognition of your qualifications? A lot of foster carers have no qualifications and others have Ph D's.

What actual experience do you have with children?

You state that your OH had severe depression.....this is where you will have problems. By severe, do you mean under the mental health team, CPN, psychologists, medication etc etc?

Have you thought about having your own children?

PP
xx

RacyRed

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

Your qualifications are irrelevant! You seem very concerned with regards to recognition of your qualifications? A lot of foster carers have no qualifications and others have Ph D's.

What actual experience do you have with children?

You state that your OH had severe depression.....this is where you will have problems. By severe, do you mean under the mental health team, CPN, psychologists, medication etc etc?

Have you thought about having your own children?

PP
xx

PP, are you in a lot of pain today Hun? You are being very negative about this, which is such a shame.

OP, I read your posts as you hoping that the qualifications you both have will go some way to balancing out your wife's health poblems. And they might!

Go for it, start the process and see what happpens, you sounds like a great couple and would make lovely foster parents.

Penny-Pincher!!

RacyRed wrote: »

PP, are you in a lot of pain today Hun? You are being very negative about this, which is such a shame.

OP, I read your posts as you hoping that the qualifications you both have will go some way to balancing out your wife's health poblems. And they might!

Go for it, start the process and see what happpens, you sounds like a great couple and would make lovely foster parents.

Hi Racy

Yes, I am having a bad day today! I'll delete my post if it's coming across too harsh. I know what I mean but can't put it across any other way atm.

Sorry everyone, just ignore me!

PP
xx

RacyRed

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

Hi Racy

Yes, I am having a bad day today! I'll delete my post if it's coming across too harsh. I know what I mean but can't put it across any other way atm.

Sorry everyone, just ignore me!

PP
xx

Aww hun (((hugs))) No need to delete, it just sounded a bit negative for you, which was why I wondered if you are having a bad day. I could see what you were trying to say.

Wishing you better PP

xxx

poet123

You sound like a couple with a lot to offer vulnerable children. Your application certainly won't be dismmissed out of hand. The powers that be will make an assessment of your situation. I say go for it, you will always wonder if you don't. What is the worst that can happen? and what is the best? Good luck.

dizzybuff

My cousin and her DH foster , DH has terminal cancerand continues on his medication throughout the fostering. You and your OH will have to decide who the primary carer will be , with My cousin its her as DH has short term memory and needs care himself . They too have very little qualifications but at present care for 4 foster children from 2 families. Its a very demanding and stressful job , the paperwork is high due to expense claims etc , but it is also a high rewards job . You and your OH would make great carers , plus you already have the ability to take children in who are disabled, Im oresuming here your house is adapted for wheel chairs.

Bare in mind there are the other things that come with this. Fostering , whether you want to think of it as a business or not is . You are paid to look after the children , you provide love , but must not get too emotionally attached. These children could go back to their parents at anytime. You must also do whats right for the kids , every ounce of your time is dedicated to them.

Ive seen my cousin have children with many learning difficulties, they have been stressful carees and she has had to make the decision that her environment was not working for them . Each child if they are not same sex siblings needs their own room , this will dictate or give you an idea of how many children you can care for.

Good luck in your journey , contact the LA and they should give you some contacts with agencies .

missbishi

I don't have any advice, OP, I just wanted to say what a kind and caring couple you and the OH sound like. I wish you all the best : )

paulwellerfan

forgot to add- i have a foster carer who previously had really bad PND and she was approved. ( she was in a unit for weeks)
as long as you disclose information and be open with the assessing social worker when you do your form F you should be ok.
p.s obviously you will both need to have medicals as well.
Go for it you have nothing t6o loose.