Private fostering - are you looking after (living with) somebody else’s child who is not a close relative?
This could be a private fostering arrangement. The following information will provide an insight into private fostering and who to get in touch with for more information.
What is private fostering?
Private fostering is a care arrangement under the following conditions:
- an arrangement for more than 28 days
- involving a child under 16 (or under 18 if they have a disability)
- where the child is looked after by (living with) somebody who is neither:
- their parent
- their stepparent
- someone with parental responsibility or a legal order
- a close relation, defined as a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt (whether full blood or half blood or by marriage or civil partnership or step parent)
This arrangement is made privately, between the carer and the person with parental responsibility.
Private foster carers have a significant responsibility for the child’s welfare during their time in their care but do not officially hold parental responsibility.
Children who are looked after or fostered by the local authority are not considered privately fostered.
The period of 28 days should be continuous, but the continuity is not broken by the occasional short break. The duration or regularity of the short break is not specified within guidance.
The important starting point would be to understand the arrangement.
What are signs or examples that a child may be privately fostered?
- An adult:
- mentions that they're caring for a child who's not their immediate relative
- is seen with a child who#s not been seen before
- attends regularly with different children referred to as their ‘niece’ or ‘nephew’
- A child:
- mentions that the person they're with is not their parent
- says there's another child staying at home with them
- attends an independent boarding school and doesn't return home for the holidays
- Teenagers who, possibly having broken ties with their parents, are staying in arrangements with friends or other non-relatives
- A child is a language student and living with a host family
- A child, pursuing a sports career, stays with a host family - for example, children who are on trial with a local football club
What does this mean for me?
We all have a responsibility to protect children in our Luton community.
If you're aware of a private fostering arrangement, you must let us know. This should be at least six weeks before the arrangement begins or, if this is an emergency/short notice arrangement, then within 48 hours. This isn’t something to be worried about, we're here to help and support.
If you didn't realise this until now, then don't worry – just let us know now.
If you're not sure whether the arrangement is private fostering, please speak to us. Your contact will be treated sensitively and with respect.
If an arrangement is confirmed as private fostering, we'll arrange to meet with the carer and the child or young person you're caring for. We'll complete an assessment, with your consent, to confirm if the arrangement meets the needs of the child or young person. We understand that sometimes people worry when they hear the word assessment, but this is not something to concerned about.
This is so we can support everyone involved and carry out regular checks to make sure the children are safe and happy.
Our aim is to help children and their parents and carers have a positive experience of private fostering, not to intrude in arrangements which are working well.
Does this mean I become an approved foster carer?
No, despite the name, private fostering is not the same as being an approved foster carer.
While both involve caring for a child who's not your own, private fostering is a private arrangement between a parent and a carer, while regular fostering is arranged and managed by the local authority.
Children who are privately fostered are not in the care of the local authority.
We understand that being a private foster carer is not something that you apply for, but you do it because you want the best for the child or young person.
Similarly, we want to work with you to support you and ensure the child or young person in your care has all their needs met.
How can I help promote awareness of private fostering?
Please help spread awareness of the information above within your personal or professional networks.
We're all part of the Luton community and have a collective town-wide vision for Luton 2040 where:
- Luton is a healthy, fair and sustainable town
- everyone can thrive
- no-one has to live in poverty
Supporting children and young people who may be living in private fostering arrangements also supports this vision.
Please reach out to the fostering team if you'd welcome a friendly member of our team to talk to your organisation or community group about private fostering in more detail.
How do I get in touch with you?
The Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) should be informed in the first instance of any new private fostering arrangements, who will then liaise with the Fostering Service.
Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub
Telephone: 01582 547653
Out of hours: 0300 3008123
Emergency: 999
Email: [email protected]
You'll be treated sensitively and in confidence.
The Fostering Service will continue to hold responsibility for promoting awareness of private fostering and supporting and overseeing the suitability of private fostering arrangements.
Please contact the team directly if you're a professional or an organisation who'd like to discuss further awareness raising, training or support that we could offer you in regard to private fostering.
The Fostering Service
Telephone: 01582 547636
Email: [email protected]