Foster pannel questions

[Alibaba]

Hello, I am having my foster assessment on Friday, I am nervous a out this. What will they ask me I am bad at job interviews I just sit there like a rabbit in headlights...
Also does the court always go with the court guardian.
Any help much appreciated

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Alibaba

Welcome back to the kinship carers' forum and thank you for your post.

I can understand that you are nervous about attending the fostering panel. I can see from your previous posts that you have been very proactive in challenging an initially negative viability assessment and then progressing to a kinship fostering assessment. You have now completed this and your assessment is being taken to Panel today. You have had to discuss your personal circumstances and your health needs with the assessing social worker as part of this process which often feels both intrusive and challenging; you’ve also had to respond to the social worker's queries and concerns.

You haven’t said what the assessing social worker recommended at the conclusion of their assessment so I cannot give you specific advice. I hope that you have had a copy of the report and that you have provided any written observations to the social worker if you needed to.

However, I hope that the following will help:

The Panel will consist of a number of people with relevant professional or lived experience e.g.

 *Social workers and former foster carers
 *People who have spent time in foster care as children
 *Education and health specialists
 *Local councillors
 *A chair who is independent of the fostering service.

They will understand your motivation to be assessed as a kinship foster carer for your granddaughter and the effort and commitment you have made so far.

They will know how important this is for you as it is about whether you are being recommended to care for your granddaughter.

They may ask you some questions to clarify information but they will be relevant to the assessment and I am sure you will be able to answer them.

Remember to just be yourself. It is ok to say you feel a little nervous, the panel members should be able to empathise with you. Maybe have a bottle of water with you and take a sip if you need to.

I am sure you are aware but here is a reminder of the different possible outcomes of the panel meeting :

 *To approve you as a kinship foster carer.
 *To approve you as a kinship foster carer subject to any specific conditions identified during the assessment.
 *To ask the social worker to come back to the panel at a later date and provide more information.
 *Not to approve you as a kinship foster carer.

Remember that the final decision about approval is made by the agency decision maker having considered the fostering panel’s recommendation.

It is important for you to know your options if you are not approved and also to know what happens next if you are approved. Please see the information in pages 12 – 14 of our advice sheet 2g.

You asked if the court always goes with the Children’s Guardian’s decision. They are particularly important as their role is to represent the child in the care proceedings and recommend to the court what is in the child’s best interest so their view is taken very seriously. However, the court will consider all the evidence and make their decision based on this.

I hope that the Panel meeting goes well but please do post back for further advice or call the freephone advice line to speak to an adviser if you need to, whatever the outcome. The helpline number if 0808 8010366 and the line is open from Mon to Fri, 9.30 am to 3.00 pm (except bank holidays).

Best wishes

Suzie