A private fostering arrangement is one that is made privately (i.e. without the involvement of the local authority) between parent and carer, to provide care and accommodation for a child under the age of 16, or under 18 if disabled, by someone other than a parent or close relative, for 28 days or more.
Private fostering arrangements can involve:
- children where arrangements are made due to parental illness or working hours
- young people who stay with friends’ families because of family tensions
- teenagers living with the family of a boyfriend or girlfriend
- children staying with families whilst attending a school away from their home area
- children from abroad whose parents do not reside in this country
- children who are cared for by their parents’ partners while the parent lives elsewhere, eg in prison or hospital
- children staying with host families whilst they have a holiday or medical treatment in this country, or attend boarding or language school
Under the Children Act 1989, private foster carers and those with parental responsibility are required to notify the local authority of their intention to privately foster, or to have a child privately fostered, or where a child is privately fostered in an emergency.
The local authority has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of privately fostered children, and to ensure that such advice as appears to be required is given to private foster carers. In order to do so, local authority officers must visit privately fostered children at regular intervals. Children should be given the contact details of the social worker who will be visiting them while they are being privately fostered.
All professionals working with children have an important role in relation to safeguarding privately fostered children. If they become aware of a private fostering arrangement, and they are not confident that it has been notified to the local authority, they should contact the local authority themselves.
The Department for Education has produced a series of information leaflets in relation to private fostering:
- A guide for professionals who work in health, education or social care, which explains their role in foster care and providing for foster children (https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/Childrenandfamilies/Page27/PFL1)
- A leaflet for people who are privately fostering a child or children, which aims to help them understand what they must do as a private foster carer (https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/Childrenandfamilies/Page28/PFL2)
- A leaflet for people whose child is being privately fostered, which aims to help them ensure that their child is properly cared for (https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/Childrenandfamilies/Page29/PFL3)
Anyone who becomes aware of a private fostering arrangement should contact:
Contact
Children Services Referral Team
Swindon Borough Council
Civic Offices
Euclid Street
Swindon
Wiltshire
SN1 2JH
Tel: 01793 466903
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