Private fostering

Private fostering is an arrangement made between a parent and a carer, who is not a close relative such as a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt (full, half blood or by marriage) and step-parent, to look after and provide accommodation on a full-time basis to a child or young person under the age of 16 years (under 18 years if they have a disability) for a period of more than 28 days.

Usually, a birth parent chooses and arranges a private fostering placement. Private foster carers do not hold parental responsibility for the child(ren) they care for.

When a child is living in a private care/fostering arrangement, Children’s Social Care in the area in which they are living must be advised about this, so that they can ensure this is a safe arrangement, and can offer any support needed.

There are various reasons why a parent might arrange for someone else to care for their child which could include:

• A child needs to live away from their family as a result of separation, divorce or disputes at home
• The child has been sent to this country without a parent for education or health opportunities
• The child is a cultural exchange student
• The parent’s study or work long or unsociable hours, which makes it difficult for them to use ordinary child care arrangements

If you are unsure whether a child in the City is in a private care/fostering arrangement, or you have any other questions about private fostering, please contact the Children’s Social Care and Early Help Service on 020 7332 3621, or email the team directly.

What do parents need to do to arrange for a private care/fostering arrangement - key responsibilities

By law under the Children Act 1989, parents must:

• Inform their local authority, in this case the City of London Children’s Social Care and Early Help Service, of the private care/fostering arrangement at least six weeks before the arrangement begins
• Or if the arrangement begins in an emergency, within 48 hours of when the arrangement begins
• Notify the Local Authority when the arrangement comes to an end
• Provide the carer with as much information as possible about the child, such as health records, school records, religious and cultural requirements, eating preferences, hobbies, likes and dislikes
• Ensure that the private care/fostering arrangement is suitable for the child

Will you lose your parental rights?

• No, parental rights can only be limited via a legal process and Court Order being made
• You retain parental responsibility for your child and should be involved in all decisions concerning their development and upbringing.
• You should remain in frequent contact with your child so that you can help make these decisions

 

What are carers' responsibilities?

People intending to care for someone else’s child (for more than 28 days) must:

• Inform the City of London Children’s Social Care and Early Help Service of their intention to privately care for/foster a child at least six weeks prior to the child's arrival (in an emergency, within 48 hours of the child's arrival)
• Allow a social worker to visit your home and see the child
• Provide information to the social worker as required
• Allow the social worker to inspect your home and make reasonable recommendations
• Report any changes in your household
• Comply with all legal requirements
• Make an agreement with the child’s parents about their expected level of involvement in the day-to-day care and decision-making about their child
• Promote the child’s welfare in your home
• Notify the Children’s Social Care and Early Help Service within 48 hours of when a child leaves your care, stating why and giving the name and address of the person into whose care they have moved

Will carers be able to claim benefits?

People who are caring for someone else’s child may be able to claim Universal Credits. Find out more by emailing the City of London Corporation's Benefit team or contacting them by telephone: 020 7332 3937.

Things a person who is not a parent or carer with parental responsibility can't do

An adult providing private care/fostering cannot:

• Change a child’s name
• Change a child’s school
• Move a child to another family
• Take a child to another part of this country
• Take a child overseas to another country

If a child needs serious medical treatment, their own parents have to agree to this, unless it is an emergency, and the parents cannot be contacted quickly enough.

Who can provide help or advice to people caring for someone else’s child?

You can contact the Children’s Social Care and Early Help Service for advice and to arrange support services.

Email the Children and Families team or phone 020 7332 3621.

All professionals who work with, or have contact with, children have a legal duty to ensure that privately cared for/fostered children are safe and supported.

Professionals play an important role in identifying and notifying the Children’s Social Care and Early Help Service of private care/fostering arrangements and ensuring that parents and carers are aware of their responsibilities.

The Children’s Social Care and Early Help Service should be notified of all private fostering arrangements based in the City of London. Please email the team or telephone 020 7332 3621.

The City of London Corporation has a legal duty to ensure that children who are not cared for by their parents are well cared for and safeguarded from harm. Our responsibilities include:

• Checking that the adult(s) identified to care for the child are suitable to do so
• Making regular visits to children in the home in which they live
• Ensuring that parents and carers are aware of their responsibilities
• Providing support and advice to parents and carers
• Offering advice about private care/fostering arrangements.

By monitoring and supervising private care/fostering arrangements, we help to safeguard children who may be at risk of abuse or neglect.

The City of London Corporation's Children's Social Care and Early Help service should be notified of all private fostering arrangements in the City by contacting 020 7332 3621 or by emailing the team.

Once we know a child might be privately cared for/fostered, a social worker will go and visit them in the home to make sure that they are safe, well, know why they are living where they are, and that they are happy there.

The social worker will:

• Talk to the adults involved and offer any help or support they may need
• get in touch with the child’s parents to make sure they have given their agreement to the arrangement and know the child is being well looked after
• Visit the child at least every six weeks during your first year of the private care arrangement. If the arrangement last for more than a year they will then visit every three months but can visit more often if needed.

Privately care for and fostered children are safeguarded by legislation set out in Part 9 of the Children Act 1989; the Children (Private Arrangements for Fostering) Regulations 2005; and Section 44 of the Children Act 2004 effective 1 July 2005. Standards of care and management for private fostering arrangements are set out in the National Minimum Standards for Private Fostering.

It is essential that the City of London Corporation's Children’s Social Care and Early Help team is aware of such arrangements so that they can safeguard and promote the welfare of potentially vulnerable children.

ConramBAAF provides a range of information about private fostering.

There are also a number of national organisations that can give children support and advice, these can be found on the City of London Corporation's Family Information Service Directory.