Private Fostering
What is Private Fostering?
Private fostering is the term used to describe an arrangement made privately (that is without the involvement of the local authority) where a child under 16 (if disabled under 18) is cared for and lives with an adult who is not a relative. Under the Children Act 1989, a relative is defined as a grandparent, brother, sister, aunt and uncle and step parent.A child is considered to be in private foster care if he or she is in the care of someone who is not directly related, or is a legal guardian, for a total of 28 days or longer.
Private foster carers are not approved as local authority foster carers and usually have had no training to become foster carers. Families find private foster carers themselves, and the responsibility remains with the parents to ensure that they find suitable carers.
This does not include children and young people who are being looked after by us.
How Many Children are Privately Fostered?
There is no accurate figures but infomation suggests about 10,000 children and young people nationally are being privately fostered. Often circumstances arise where a birth parent feels that it would be best for them to make an arrangement for their child to be cared for (often temporarily) by someone else; for example, in cases of separation or divorce, or employment abroad.Responsibilities of the Parent and Foster Carer
By law, those involved in the private fostering arrangement (both the placing parent or person with parental responsiblity and the pricate foster carer) must notify us. We must be aware of the situation six weeks prior to the child being privately fostered. We must then be notified again within 48 hours of the child arriving. We must also be notified of any changes in circumstances such as change of address. By law when a child is privately fostered, the child's parents still have full parental responsiblity.How can We Help?
Under the Children Act 1989, we have a duty to make sure that the proposed arrangement will provide for the child's needs and safeguard their welfare.We will work with the child's parents and the carer to make sure they are meeting the child's neeeds. We can also explain the rights and responsibilites of both the parents and the carers and help you to meet these.
We will also:
- Visit the parents to find out why the placement is needed and whether any services can be offered to help keep the child at home.
- Visit the foster carer to check that the placement is suitable for the child and that it is safe.
- When the child is living with the foster carer the social worker will visit regularly to make sure everything is going well. If there are any concerns they will be reported immediatley to the parents.
We have the powers to prohibit a person from privately fostering, if they, or their household is judged to be unsuitable.
Responsibilities of the Parent and Foster Carer
By law, those involved in the private fostering arrangement (both the placing parent or person with parental responsiblity and the pricate foster carer) must notify us. We must be aware of the situation six weeks prior to the child being privately fostered. We must then be notified again within 48 hours of the child arriving. We must also be notified of any changes in circumstances such as change of address. By law when a child is privately fostered, the child's parents still have full parental responsiblity.Policy Statement
Durham County council is fully committed to its duties and to promoting best practice in relation to private fostering as specified in the Children Act 1989, the Children Act 2004, the National Minimum Standards 2005 and the private Fostering Regulations 2005. Durham County Council aims to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people who are privately fostered. This policy statement sets out the principles and key strategies by which this commitment will be fulfilled.We have produced a public information leaflet and poster which you can download
private fostering leaflet.pdf (4 pages, 2762kb)
private fostering poster.pdf (1 page, 629kb)
Private fostering policy statement.pdf (4 pages, 28kb)
You can complete our private fostering form online, and we will contact you with further information.
