What is Private Fostering?
A private foster career is someone other than a parent or close relative who cares for a child for a period of 28 days or more, in agreement with the child’s parent. Private foster carers may be from extended family such as a cousin or a great aunt, a friend of the family, or the parent of a friend of the child.
Close relatives would not be defined as private foster carers. Close relatives are defined as: a grandparent, a sibling, an aunt or uncle, or a step parent. Private fostering only applies to children under the age of 16, or under 18 if they are disabled.
Who is responsible for the child/young person?
When a child is privately fostered their parents still have full parental responsibility. The law requires that parents, carers or anyone else involved in the arrangement must notify the local authority prior to the arrangement starting or as soon as they become aware of it. It is an offence not to notify the local authority.
The child’s parents should provide as much information as they possibly can about the child including their health, education, likes/dislikes, hobbies, religion and ethnic and cultural background. This will assist the private foster carer in understanding them better so that they can take good care of them.
Financial arrangements for the care of the child should be agreed between the parent(s) and the private foster carer(s).
Notification of private fostering
Those involved in arranging for a child to be privately fostered are required by law to notify Coventry City Council of the arrangements. Families and carers often do not tell professionals or agencies about such arrangements, and they may not be aware that they need to do so. As a result of not informing the council of an arrangement, many private fostering arrangements remain hidden.
Children’s services are not involved in making private fostering arrangements, but they are responsible for checking that the arrangements are suitable for the child.
What situation would be classed as private fostering?
The reasons why parents seek private foster carers for their children are diverse but can include:
- children from overseas attending schools in the UK.
- children at boarding schools who do not return to their parents during school holidays.
- children living apart from their families due to parental or family problems.
- teenagers living with friends, or friend’s parent/carer, where relationships at home have broken down.
- unaccompanied minors who are living with friends or relatives.
- children being cared for by extended family or family friends whilst a parent is serving a prison sentence.
Please note: a child or young person who is Looked After by a local authority or placed in a residential home, hospital or school is excluded from the definition.
The role of Children’s Services
Children’s Services are not responsible for creating or organising of private fostering arrangements; however they do hold several other roles within the process as follows:
- where a private fostering arrangement is already in place or a child is in an emergency arrangement the carer or parent should tell Children’s Services within 48 hours of caring for the child
- a social worker should visit within 7 working days to see the child, the child’s parents (if possible), the carers and other members of the carer’s household
- an assessment will be made about the suitability of the arrangements, including DBS checks on all members of the household aged 16 or over and references of the carers
- a decision will be made on the suitability of the proposed arrangement by the lead manager for private fostering
- an arrangement is a private fostering arrangement when the intent is that it will last for more than 28 days, even if it has only just commenced
- if a private fostering arrangement is assessed as suitable and safe, social workers will visit regularly, see the child alone, and ensure that the child’s welfare is promoted, and their needs are met
- private foster carers should inform social workers of any changes to any circumstances
- if the arrangement is not suitable action will be taken to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare
Your responsibilities as a parent/carer
You must notify Coventry Children’s Services if:
- any change of address;
- any further offences you or another person in the household has been convicted;
- any further disqualification imposed on you or a person who is part of, or employed at, his household under Section 68 of the Children Act 1989;
- any person who begins to be part of, or employed at, his household, and any offence of which that person has been convicted, and any disqualification or prohibition imposed on him under Section 68 or 69 of the Children Act 1989 (or under any previous enactment of either of those sections); and
- any person who ceases to be part of, or employed at, his household
- notification of changes should be reported wherever possible in advance and, in any other case, not more than 48 hours after the change of circumstances
If you are no longer caring for the child/young person you need to let Coventry Children services know within 48 hours.
Key contacts and further information
Make sure you know your allocated social worker details/contact details.
- Office number: 02476785568
- Out of hours (emergency): 02476832222
Compliments and complaints
- Telephone: 08085 834 333
- Email: CLYPCustomerRelations@coventry.gov.uk