Private fostering

This is an arrangement made privately (ie without the involvement of the local authority) where a child under 16 (or 18 if they have a disability) goes to live with someone who is not a close relative for 28 days or more.

Who can be private foster carers?

Private foster carers can be:

extended family, for instance a cousin or great-aunt.
a family friend.
a parent of the child's friend.
someone not known to the child’s family.

When is it not private fostering?

It is not considered private fostering if a child lives with a close relative. Close relatives would include a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt (whether of full blood, half blood or by marriage).

When might private fostering take place?

There are many situations when private fostering may happen. It may take place when:

a child is sent to this country, for education or healthcare reasons;
a teenager lives with a friend’s family as they do not get on with their own;
a child lives with a friend’s family because their parent(s) study/work means they work unsociable hours and it makes it difficult to use day care facilities or after school care;
if a child's parents separate or divorce, they may need to stay with another family;
if the child is from abroad, but attending a UK boarding school, they may stay with a host family during holidays.

What if my child needs private fostering?

You must tell the Children's Locality Service or Private Fostering Team six weeks before your child goes to live with a private foster carer.

What if I am going to be (or am already) a private foster carer?

If you are a private foster carer, you should contact the Children's Locality Service or Private Fostering Team:

at least six weeks before the child is coming to live with you, if you know this.
within 48 hours, if a child comes to live with you in an emergency situation.
immediately, if you already have a child living with you.
at least 48 hours before a child leaves your care and give details of where they are going to live.

What do Children's Services do?

Visit the parent(s) and private foster carer to discuss all the arrangements for the child.
Make sure the private foster home is suitable and safe for the child by visiting it.
The social worker will visit regularly to make sure everything is going well.
The social worker will offer advice/support to parents, carers and the child about the arrangement if they need it.

Professionals - what is your role?

Many people who work with children may come across private fostering situations. If you do, it is important that you encourage the carer, or parent, to contact the Private Fostering Team or Children's Locality Service about the arrangement. For more information about your role, please download the Dfes leaflet at the bottom of this page or contact us.

Contact details:

Private Fostering Team
Coventry Fostering & Adoption Service
Old Stoke House
Coventry

CV2 5NY

Telephone: 024 7678 5579
Fax: 024 7665 9004
e-mail: privatefostering@coventry.gov.uk

Downloadable documents

About PDFs and Accessibility

Private Fostering - DfES information for professionals (PDF - 90KB) (93 kb)

Coventry City Council