medical history??

Hi all, am new to this forum. Have a question wondered if any one can help me with?? My husband and I are interested in fostering, we have 3 kids (3,5,9). However, since having my first child I've suffered from anxiety (it followed a health scare which turned out to be nothing but I found I'd started to worry a bit excessively about my health). It was never a major problem, but after my 3 year was born I discussed this with my gp & took mild antidepressants for a few months and was then refer to see a counsellor for some anxiety management! We want to apply to LA to look after little ones, but wonder if we would be immediately turned down because of this?? I realise foster is an extreming difficult thing but it is something i've wanted to do for many years. I do think we could handle it. Although i'd suffered anxiety it isnt something I feel is made worse by stress, and at no time has it affected how i care for my kids.
Can they just say an outright no, or would they say come back to us in a year or two? Have thought about leaving it a bit longer before applying so more time has past since i had this treatment?

Think I need to stop looking on the internet, gather my courage (have read too many social worker horror stories) and actually ring & ask them!!

Anyway, thanks....

hello and welcome to the forum.
Give them a ring and see when their next information days are. They look at each person individually with a full assessment and will gather lots of information about you, your husband and children.
Good luck.
Don't be put off by social worker horror stories they are quite positive whilst recruiting foster carers.
Honey.x

Hello and welcome to the forum
Your anxiety should not be a problem at all. If this was effectively managed and in the past it should be viewed as positivly seeking support when needed as you would do with any difficulties for you or the kiddies.
good luck.
Pixxie x

Hi madmum and welcome I'm pretty new here myself.

I wouldn't think your anxiety would be an issue they would however propably wish to talk to your gp, though they can not do this without your permission.

My situation is a little different to yours I'm applying for guardianship of a family member, but I too suffer from anxiety.
I suffer from more of the physical side of it so even though I don't feel mentally stressed sometimes when I have alot going on my body reacts and I get an overwhelming feeling, palpatations and feel like my insides are shaking. My symptoms are controlled with the mild antidepressant citalopram which I am now able to reduce slightly.

I brought up my anxiety with the social worker involved in the case during our initial accessment and arranged a chat with my gp, to which she stated that my anxiety is nothing to do with my children and that they have always been my priority and alot of other nice things

This has not so far affected our application, infact we just got our viability accessment last week and it was extremely possitive.

goodl luck to you, I pick up the phone they arn't as scary as you think

3, 5 and 9, that will be fun finding a foster child to fit those ages as any foster child has to be two years either older or younger so you would be looking at babies, maybe a 7 yr old or 11+

As for the anxiety, I have rheumatoid arthritis and this has led to depression in the past. When we applied to foster I asked for the medical part to be done first as I did not want to go all the way through the process just to fall as that hurdle. The IFA I applied to was happy to do this and once my doctor said that I was fit to foster I went ahead with the process.

Maybe this would be a good idea for you.

Just wanted to say thanks everyone for your supportive comments, will definately give my LA a call and take it from there My youngest will be 4 soon, so was thinking by the time assessment was done (if its done!) she will be around 5. Would like to foster the 0-4 range if poss. Was going to LA as they seem a better bet for fostering little ones.

Glad I found this forum, its been very helpful, both encouraging and eye-opening!! Will keep you posted......