Private Fostering
Sometimes a parent may arrange for their child to live with another family. Sometimes a young person may decide to leave home and live with another family. This may be just for a few days, or may be for longer. It it’s for longer than 28 days it could be a private fostering arrangement.
What is private fostering?
Do you have a child living with you who is not a close relative? Or is your child living with someone else for short while? It could count as private fostering which by law you must tell us about.
If a child
- Is under 16 years old (or under 18 if disabled) and
- Lives away from the family home for more than 28 days and
- Is not living with a close relative
- This counts as private fostering and you must tell us about it.
A close relative is a:
- Grandparent
- Brother or sister
- Uncle or aunt
- Step-parent who is also a full or half relation by blood or marriage.
Private fostering can include:
- Children sent from abroad to live with another family in this country
- Children at boarding school who stay with another family during their school holidays
- Overseas students who are living with a carer or host family for more than 28 days
- A teenager living with friends or in the home of a boyfriend or girlfriend because they are not getting along with their own family
- Children living with another family because their own parents are ill, in hospital for a long time or because of family breakdown.
Private fostering is an informal arrangement made between private individuals and is different from public fostering which is arranged by and paid for by the local authority.
Tell us a child is being privately fostered.
If you:
- have asked someone else who is not a close relative to look after your child
- are looking after a child who is not a close relative
- are worried that a child might be being fostered privately
- work with children and you know that a child is being privately fostered
Please contact the Newham MASH team
Why you must tell us about private fostering
Even if your child is not living with you, as a parent you are still responsible for your child. By law you must tell us about private fostering arrangements so that we can make sure that the child’s care meets his or her needs, protect the child or young person.
It is a criminal offence not to report a private fostering arrangement if your child is being privately fostered or you are privately fostering a child.
Working with children
If you are a professional or agency working with children you have a duty under Section 10 of the Children Act 2004 to tell us of any child or young person who is being, or is going to be, privately fostered.
Before you make a private fostering arrangement
If you are thinking of arranging for a child to live with someone else or you are considering taking a child into your home, contact the MASH Team on 020 3373 4600 to tell us about the arrangement or call the Newham Council general enquiries number on 020 8430 2000 if you need further advice.
What needs to be done when a child is in a private fostering arrangement?
The law says that the person making the private fostering arrangement or the private foster carer must notify their local authority about the arrangement at least six weeks before it starts (or immediately, if it has already started).
Why you must tell us about private fostering
Even if your child is not living with you, as a parent you are still responsible for your child. By law you must tell us about private fostering arrangements so that we can make sure that the child’s care meets his or her needs, protect the child or young person.
It is a criminal offence not to report a private fostering arrangement if your child is being privately fostered or you are privately fostering a child.
Working with children
If you are a professional or agency working with children you have a duty under Section 10 of the Children Act 2004 to tell us of any child or young person who is being, or is going to be, privately fostered.
Once the local authority has been notified, they have to:
- Visit the home where the child lives and carry out some checks
- Make regular visits to make sure the child continues to be safe and well cared for
- Make sure that advice and support are available to the private foster carer, and
- Say whether or not they find the arrangement acceptable.
Notify Newham’s Safeguarding Service
If you are making arrangements for your child to live with another family or you are a private foster carer, you must contact the Private Fostering Team
» www.newham.gov.uk
