What is private fostering?

Private fostering occurs when a child or young person aged under 16 years - or 18 years if the child is disabled - is looked after for 28 days or more by someone who is not a parent, guardian or close relative. The term 'close relative' includes parents, step-parents, aunts, uncles or grandparents.

Private fostering is very different from arrangements made by the local authority for children who are 'looked after' and living with approved foster carers. Private fostering is a private arrangement made by a parent/s - or those with parental responsibility for a child - for someone to care for the child because they are unable to do so.

There are many reasons why a child may need to be in a private fostering arrangement for either a short period or longer term. These include:

• A child living with a friend of their family because of separation, divorce or arguments at home
• A teenager living with the family of a boyfriend or girlfriend
• A child living with a school friend's family because of family breakdown
• A child needing to be cared for because his/her parent has a long-term illness and is unable to look after the child
• A child being sent to this country by his/her parent/s who are living overseas, for education or healthcare reasons
• A child needing to be cared for because his/her parent/s work away from home or work particularly long or unsociable hours.

What the law says about private fostering

The child's parent/s, private foster carer, or anyone else involved in setting up the private fostering arrangement are legally required to inform the Local Authority in whose area the child is placed that the child is being privately fostered. The Local Authority should be informed as soon as possible, and ideally at least 6 weeks before the arrangement begins.

The child's parent/s or guardian/s continue to hold parental responsibility for the child throughout the time that he/she lives in a private fostering arrangement. The parent/s or guardian/s should therefore remain in regular contact with the child and with his/her private foster carer in order to monitor the child's well-being and to ensure that the fostering arrangement is, and continues to be, suitable to the child's needs.  He/she/they should continue to be involved in all decisions about the child's care and future. The child's parent/s or guardian/s should give the person who is looking after the child as much information about the child as possible, and there should be a formal agreement about the duration of the placement, the financial arrangements, and the care arrangements. It is recommended that this agreement is set down in writing.

Why do Children's Services need to be involved?

Local authorities have a duty to check that all children who are living in private foster care arrangements are safe and well cared for. In Wokingham, the responsibility for children living in private foster care arrangements within the Borough is shared between the Children's Services Neighbourhood Teams and the Adoption and Permanence Service.

Our duties include:

• Checking the suitability of private foster carers and investigating the circumstances surrounding each private fostering arrangement

• Making regular visits to each privately fostered child in his/her foster home, to check on his/her welfare and monitor the overall standard of care provided. This includes listening to the child's wishes and feelings

• Ensuring that private foster carers get the advice and support that they need to keep the children who are placed with them safe and well

• Providing preventative and support services where appropriate.

   

Private foster carers don't have to be 'approved' by us but we do have legal powers to take action if a private fostering arrangement is deemed to be inappropriate to the needs of the child concerned.

For more details please contact

Family Placement Team,
Wokingham Borough Council,
2nd Floor,
Shute End,
RG40 1BN              

Telephone: 0118 974 6243
Email: familyplacement@wokingham.gov.uk                    

To make a referral contact

Referral and Assessment Team,
Wokingham Borough Council,
2nd Floor,
Shute End,
Wokingham,
Berkshire,
RG40 1BN

Telephone: 0118 908 8992            

Information supplied to the Local Authority by any party, that belongs to a Private Fostering arrangement will form part of the agency's case record, held in an electronic form, and subject to the relevant provisions in the Data Protection Act 1998 and other relevant statutes.