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Private Fostering

What is Private Fostering?

dollsPrivate Fostering is when a child or young person under 16 years old (or under 18 if disabled) goes to live with someone for 28 days or more by private arrangement (without the involvement of a local authority) with someone who is not a:

  • parent;
  • close relative (brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandparent or step parent)
  • guardian or a person with parental responsibility;

Private foster carers might be:

  • friends of the child’s family;
  • someone willing to care for the child of a family they don’t know; or
  • relatives not mentioned in the list above, for example a cousin or great aunt.

Examples of private foster care arrangements:

  • children sent to this country for education or health care by parents or guardians living overseas;
  • Teenagers living with a friend’s family as a result of problems at home;
  • children on holiday exchanges;
  • children whose parents’ study or work involves unsociable hours, which make it difficult for them to use ordinary day care or after school care.

Information Posters for Parents/carers and Children & Young People:

Guides for Parents/carers:

Guide for Children and Young People

Why should you tell us about private foster care arrangements?

  • A child could be at risk.
  • It is an offence for the carer and parent not to notify the local authority.
  • If you are a private foster carer, you could be putting yourself and your family at risk and miss out on help and support.

If your child is being privately fostered or you are a private foster carer the law says you must tell us about it. Please do not worry if you have been Privately Fostering for sometime but were unaware of your duty to let the local authority know, we will not take legal action against those who have acted in good faith. If you are in any doubt about whether or not what you are doing is private fostering you can ask for advice.

When you contact us:

  • we will ask for full details about your private fostering arrangement, so please have the following details to hand; child’s name and date of birth, name of parents/carers and their address;
  • a social worker will visit the carer and talk to them about how well they will be able to look after the child. The social worker will ask the carer to fill out a consent form so we can make legal checks with other agencies such as the Disclosure and Barring Service;
  • the social worker will offer a joint visit with a professional from Targeted Preventative Services. The purpose of the joint visit will be to assess the need for targeted support to be offered as appropriate across the continuum of need including Early Help.
  • the social worker will advise parents and carers how best to meet a child’s needs and what support is available;
  • the social worker will talk to the child about their wishes and feelings if they are old enough;
  • a social worker will visit regularly during the time of the arrangement to make sure everything is OK;
  • an Independent Reviewing Officer will hold a meeting with the carer, child, social worker and any key agencies such as Education and Health to discuss the child’s developmental needs and any significant events;
  • we have the right to stop a person from private fostering if they, or their home, are not suitable;

Who is responsible for what?

  • Parents and carers are both responsible for informing us about their private foster care plans for a child.
  • Parents remain legally responsible for their children and must make adequate financial arrangements for them. They must be consulted about important things like school and health matters.
  • Carers must keep a child safe and well, make sure they go to school and carry out any duties agreed with the parents. They must allow a social worker to visit the child and their home.
  • children’s Services are responsible for checking arrangements to make sure children are well looked after.
  • Everyone who works with children and families, for example teachers and children’s health workers, has a duty to let us know about any private fostering arrangements they are aware of.

Contact us

To contact us about a Private Fostering arrangement or for some advice, please contact:

the Integrated Front Door

Mon-Fri, 9:00am – 5.00pm Tel: 0151 606 2008

Outside of these hours Tel: 0151 677 6557

E-mail: [email protected]

Links
PF-Statement-of-Purpose-2018 – 2020
Private Fostering Procedures
http://www.privatefostering.org.uk/

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