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Private fostering is when a child or young person under 16 years old (or 18 if they have a disability) is looked after for 28 days or more by someone who is not a close relative, guardian or person with parental responsibility. A relative is defined in the Children Act 1989 as a grandparent, uncle or aunt (whether by full-blood, half-blood or by marriage or civil partnership), or sibling.
It is not private fostering if the arrangement was made by Children’s Services, or if the person looking after the child is an approved foster carer.
People become private foster carers for all sorts of reasons. Private foster carers can be a friend of the child’s family or be someone who is willing to care for the child of a family they do not know.
Common situations may be:
Situation | When you should inform us |
---|---|
If the child is not yet living with private foster carers | Six weeks beforehand |
If the child will move in with private foster carers in less than six weeks |
Within six weeks |
If the child is already living with private foster carers | Immediately |
Children’s Services will work in partnership with the child, parents and private foster carer to ensure that the best possible arrangements are in place for the child. This includes:
Professionals should ensure that Children’s Services know about all private fostering arrangements.
Professionals should also encourage the child's parent or carer to notify social services.
Please contact us to tell us about a private fostering arrangement of if you are not sure whether you are a private foster carer, please contact our Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).
Private Fostering Annual Report 2021-22
Private Fostering Annual Report 2021-22 plain text