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?
A care arrangement, for more than 28 days, in which a child under 16 (or under 18 if they have a disability) is looked after (living with) somebody who is not:
- 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 by the carer and the person with parental responsibility, privately. Private foster carers have a significant responsibility for the child’s welfare during their time in their care but do not hold parental responsibility.
Children who are looked after 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 are caring for a child who is not their immediate relative
- an adult is seen with a child who has not been seen before
- an adult attends regularly with different children referred to as their ‘niece’ or ‘nephew’
- a child mentions that the person they are with is not their parent
- a child says there is another child staying at home with them
- a child attends an independent boarding school and does not 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 are 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 then within 48 hours. This isn’t something to be worried about, we are here to help and support.
If you are not sure whether the arrangement is private fostering, please speak to us. Your contact will be treated sensitively and with respect.
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 will 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 are a professional or an organisation who would 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]