Private Fostering
Private fostering is a private arrangement between a parent and a carer. When a child under 16 (or 18 if disabled) is cared for and provided with accommodation, by an adult who is not a relative, for 28 days or more, it is called private fostering.
If someone else is, or will be, looking after your child you must check that the placement is suitable for your child contact Children’s Social Care at least six weeks before the arrangement begins or within 48 hours of the arrangement being made in an emergency.
A private foster carer might be:
- extended family e.g. cousin or great aunt
- family friends of the privately fostered child
- someone with no relation to the family – who is willing to privately foster a child, however, close relatives such as an aunt, grandparent, step-parent, brother or sister looking after a child would not be regarded as a private foster carer
Common examples of private fostering arrangements
- children from overseas whose parents are working or studying in the UK
- young people who have chosen to live away from their family
- refugee children
- children whose parents have made private arrangements for them to be looked after by someone else
- children who attend boarding school and do not return to their parents during holidays
- children coming from abroad to access education or health resources in this country
What to do if the private fostering arrangements apply to you
If you know or are unsure about whether you are privately fostering a child or whether your children are being privately fostered, please call 020 8583 3426 for further information and advice.
If you are a private foster carer
- you must notify children’s services 6 weeks before a child comes to live with you or
- notify children’s services within 48 hours of the child coming to live with you if arrangement have been made in an emergency
- you must notify children’s services if a child is already living with you and you haven’t advised them previously
- you must notify children’s services at least 48 hours before a child leaves your care
- when the child moves on you must tell children’s services where they are moving to
If your child is being privately fostered
- notify children’s services of the private fostering arrangement at least six weeks in advance, or within 48 hours of your child being privately fostered and at the end of the arrangement
- exercise parental responsibility by participating in all decisions about your child
- provide the prospective carers with as much information about your child as possible, including information about their health, dietary preferences, education, hobbies, religion and ethnicity
- it is your responsibility to ensure that the proposed private fostering placement is suitable for your child
If you are privately fostering a child
- the private foster carer must provide children’s services with relevant information about their privately fostered child and also some information about themselves and other members of their household
- a social worker will arrange a visit and speak to the carer and members of the household to ensure the arrangements are satisfactory for the privately fostered child
- a social worker will also visit the parents, wherever possible children’s services will ensure that you are provided with all the information you need including details of advice and support available to you, the child and the child’s parents
Other rules
You may be helping a relative or friend by caring for a child for some time. Perhaps you are looking after a child who is studying in this country or who is a refugee
