Tuesday 30 June 2009

June

We have now been potentially linked with a sibling group of three from 'L'. We have a linking meeting on 7th July to meet up with their social workers.

Our social worker has put on hold our interests in the following sets of siblings:
- Two from 'D', awaiting contact from social workers to advise if they are interested in us as a potential link
- Three from 'N', awaiting outcome of sibling assessment to ascertain if they will be kept together as a three
- Two from 'Nr'
- Three friom 'H'
- Two from 'Le'.

Monday 29 June 2009

23-Jun to 29-Jun

Family-finding:
- Sibling group of 3 from 'L': we have read their paperwork and there are some great common features between them and us, like family names and so on. We have expressed our ongoing interest in them. There are four other couples being reviewed. After a meeting on 12th June, we are now the only couple being linked with these children. We have a meeting on 7th July to meet with their social workers. We have now received medical reports, foster carer reports and nursery reports. We are officially linked and if the social workers like us then we can easily reach the matching stage very soon. Everything is looking good so far!

- We have now had two meetings with our social worker about a sister and brother from 'D'. Their case is so harrowing and complex that we have had to read all their information at our social worker's office, so that there is support available to us. We want to proceed and we are awaiting feedback from their social workers to see if they are interested in linking with us.

- Our social worker has put on hold our potential interests regarding:
  • Three from 'N'
  • Two from 'Nr'
  • Three from 'H'
  • Two from 'Le'
Work update:
- Mary is working part time / casually at her local primary school until the end of term and is looking for a permanent role in September
- The course that Mary is studying will help increase her salary and give her more flexibility and choice in the future.

- Mungo is working full time in a permanent IT role. His company, and indeed the MD, are very supportive of our plans and we feel they will be so when he needs to take time off during introductions and settling in
- The course that Mungo is studying will provide him with more opportunities for roles inside and out of the company and provide a secure furture for him, mary and our long awaited Midges!

Home and garden:

- We have a new cleaner who is coming on 26th June to do her first clean. Any bets on how long she will last?
- We will attach cupboard safety catches to cupboarda and drawers in the kitchen as soon as we are matched.

Cars:
- We will be looking to purchase a nearly new car when we are matched with children. Mungo's car is to stay with us, as we can put car seats in the back of it when we take the children out separately.

Studying:
- Mary: Childcare, Learning and Development, NVQ Level 3 - Received a B in her 4th assignment, has nearly completed her 5th (of 10)
- Mary: passed her NVQ 2 in Basic Food Hygiene - a requirement of working in an afterschool club environment

- Mungo: T175 (Networked Living) - 4th assignment submitted, score was 82% and his final assignment (ECA - End of Course Assessment) was submitted on the 21st May
- Mungo: M255 (Java Programming) - first assignment submitted, score was 79% and his second assignment is due for submission on 4th June.

Monday 22 June 2009

16-Jun to 22-Jun

Family-finding:
- Sibling group of 3 from 'L': we have read their paperwork and there are some great common features between them and us, like family names and so on. We have expressed our ongoing interest in them. After a meeting on 12th June, we are now the only couple being linked with them. We have a meeting on 7th July to meet with their social workers. Very exciting!
- We have now had two meetings with our social worker about a sister and brother from 'D'. Their case is so harrowing and complex that we have had to read all their information at our social worker's office, so that there is support available to us. We have discussed the information we have read and we are happy to proceed and offer them all the support they will need for the rest of their lives. We are still awaiting feedback for their social workers to see if they are interested in linking with us.
- We are also awaiting contact from social workers regarding:
  • Three from 'N'
  • Two from 'Nr'
  • Three from 'H'
  • Two from 'Le'
Work update:
- Mary is working part time / casually at her local primary school until the end of term and is looking for a permanent role in September
- The course that Mary is studying will help increase her salary and give her more flexibility and choice in the future.
- Mungo is working full time in a permanent IT role. His company, and indeed the MD, are very supportive of our plans and we feel they will be so when he needs to take time off during introductions and settling in
- The course that Mungo is studying will provide him with more opportunities for roles inside and out of the company and provide a secure furture for him, mary and our long awaited Midges!

Home and garden:

- We have a new cleaner who is coming on 26th June to do her first clean. Any bets on how long she will last?
- Cupboard safety catches for kitchen; to be attached when we are matched and before introductions.

Car:
- We will be looking to purchase a nearly new car when we are matched with children. Mungo's car is to stay with us, as we can put car seats in the back of it when we take the children out separately.

Studying:
- Mary: Childcare, Learning and Development, NVQ Level 3 - Received a B in her 4th assignment, has nearly completed her 5th (of 10)
- Mary: passed her NVQ 2 in Basic Food Hygiene - a requirement of working in an afterschool club environment
- Mungo: T175 (Networked Living) - 4th assignment submitted, score was 82% and his final assignment (ECA - End of Course Assessment) was submitted on the 21st May
- Mungo: M255 (Java Programming) - first assignment submitted, score was 79% and his second assignment is due for submission on 4th June.

Monday 15 June 2009

09-Jun to 15-Jun

Family-finding:
- Sibling group of 3 from 'L': we have read their paperwork and there are some great common features between them and us, like family names and so on. They are definitely of interest to us. We have heard from our social worker that there is to be a meeting on Friday to discuss four couples (including us). So much for us being the only couple they are interested in!
- We have now had two meetings with our social worker about a sister and brother from 'D'. Their case is so harrowing and complex that we have had to read all their information at our social worker's office, so that there is support available to us. We have discussed the information we have read and we are happy to proceed and offer them all the support they will need for the rest of their lives.
- We are also awaiting contact from social workers regarding:
  • Three from 'N'
  • Two from 'Nr'
  • Three from 'H'
  • Two from 'Le'
Work update:
- Mary is working part time / casually at her local primary school as a Breakfast Club / Afterschool Club Playworker, Lunchtime Supervisor, Teaching Assistant and Treasurer for the Afterschool Club Committee. She has an appointment to see the headteacher on Monday to discuss a permanent role, as the adoption wheels are grinding so slowly.
- The course that Mary is studying will help increase her salary in some of those roles and will give her more flexibility and choice in the future
- Mungo is working full time in a permanent IT managerial job and has been in his current role for over a year. His company, and indeed the MD, are very supportive of our plans and we feel they will be so when he needs to take time off during introductions and settling in. The company is based nearby and is flexible in its approach to home working and time off for meetings and so on
- The course thatMungo is studying will provide him with more opportunities for roles inside and out of the company and provide a secure furture for him, mary and our long awaited Midges!

Home and garden:

- We are still looking for a new cleaner.
- Cupboard safety catches for kitchen; to be attached when we are matched and before introductions.

Car:
- We will be looking to purchase a nearly new car when we are matched with children. Mungo's car is to stay with us, as we can put car seats in the back when we take the children out separately.

Studying:
- Mary: Childcare, Learning and Development, NVQ Level 3 - Received a B in her 4th assignment, has nearly completed her 5th (of 10)
- Mary: passed her NVQ 2 in Basic Food Hygiene - a requirement of working in an afterschool club environment
- Mungo: T175 (Networked Living) - 4th assignment submitted, score was 82% and his final assignment (ECA - End of Course Assessment) was submitted on the 21st May
- Mungo: M255 (Java Programming) - first assignment submitted, score was 79% and his second assignment is due for submission on 4th June.

Monday 8 June 2009

02-Jun to 08-Jun

Family-finding:
- Sibling group of 3 from 'N': awaiting the full paperwork and outcome of a sibling assessment to identify if they should remain together or be split up.
- Sibling group of 3 from 'L': we have read their paperwork and there are some great common features between them and us, like family names and so on. They are definitely of interest to us. We are waiting for the social worker to let our s/w know if they have read our paperwork and are interested in us.
- We are also awaiting contact from social workers regarding:
  • Two from 'Nr'
  • Three from 'H'
  • Two from 'Le'
- We have an appointment to see our social worker tomorrow (Thursday) to discuss two others. All we know so far is their names, they are a sister and brother and their case is so complex we have to read their information at our social worker's office so that there is support available to us.

Work update:
- We thought
you might like updates on our work situation, and how this process is affecting it.
- Mary has spent her entire working life in the Finance and Risk industry, only to be made redundant just as we were starting our adoption journey - perfect timing in some ways but not in others! She decided to change her career completely and, bearing in mind she had little childcare experience, chose to work part time in her local primary school as Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant and Lunchtime Supervisor on a one year contract. When the contract was up we went to panel and, believing matching to a sibling group was on the horizon, decided to work casually, so as to not have to start a permanent job only to give it up a short time later.
- Mary
is still working casually at her local primary school as a Breakfast Club / Afterschool Club Playworker, Lunchtime Supervisor, Teaching Assistant and Treasurer for the Afterschool Club Committee. She doesn't do all that every day though, she still manages to work part time! She is seriously considering that permanent role, as the adoption wheels are grinding so slowly.
- The course that Mary is studying will help increase her salary in some of those roles and will give her more flexibility and choice in the future
- Mungo is working full time in a permanent IT managerial job and has been in his current role for over a year. His company, and indeed the MD, are very supportive of our plans and we feel they will be so when he needs to take time off during introductions and settling in. The company is based nearby and is flexible in its approach to home working and time off for meetings and so on
- The course thatMungo is studying will provide him with more opportunities for roles inside and out of the company and provide a secure furture for him, mary and our long awaited Midges!

Home and garden:

- Mary has had to sack the 5th cleaner, as she just wasn't cleaning anything!
- Cupboard safety catches for kitchen; to be attached when we are matched and before introductions.

Car:
- We will be looking to purchase a nearly new car when we are matched with children. Mungo's car is to stay with us, as we can put car seats in the back when we take the children out separately.

Studying:
- Mary: Childcare, Learning and Development, NVQ Level 3 - Received a B in her 4th assignment, has nearly completed her 5th (of 10)
- Mary: passed her NVQ 2 in basic Food Hygeine - a requirement of working in an afterschool club environment
- Mungo: T175 (Networked Living) - 4th assignment submitted, score was 82% and his final assignment (ECA - End of Course Assessment) was submitted on the 21st May
- Mungo: M255 (Java Programming) - first assignment submitted, score was 79% and his second assignment is due for submission on 4th June.