Private fostering

Are you looking after someone else's child full time?

If you are looking after a child for more than 28 days and you're not the parent, step-parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister of that child, you may be a private foster carer.

The law says you must tell us if you care for a child under a private fostering arrangement.

For detailed information private fostering and other family and friends care, please see our Family and Friends Care Policy page.

Situations involving private foster care can include:

• Teenagers living with the family of a boyfriend or girlfriend.
• Children living with a friend or extended family member as a result of parental illness, separation, divorce or arguments at home.
• Children sent to this country for health care or education by parents living overseas.

What are my responsibilities as a Private Foster Carer?

It is your legal responsibility to notify us that you intend to care for a private foster child. If you are unsure whether or not you would be classified as a private foster carer please contact us: familyandfriends@buckscc.gov.uk or telephone 01494 586460.

You must tell us at least six weeks before the child comes to live with you. In an emergency, you must tell us within 48 hours. Please inform us immediately where a child is initially staying with you for a shorter period and the visit is then extended to a total of more than 28 days.

While you are acting as a private foster carer, you must:

• Allow a social worker to visit any foster child whom you are looking after.
• Allow a social worker to see the child alone.
• Allow a Social Worker to undertake a comprehensive assessment and checks (i.e. police, health etc.) on you and anyone else that lives in your household.
• Tell Buckinghamshire County Council of any address change in advance, with a minimum of 48 hours notice
• Inform Buckinghamshire County Council if anyone leaves or moves into the household in advance or within 48 hours of the change.

You must also tell us as soon as possible and within 48 hours if:

• You are or have been convicted of any offence
• You have had a child removed from your care by order of the Court
• Your registration as a child minder or a day care provider has been cancelled or refused
• If a child in your care has died.

What are my responsibilities as a birth parent?

If your child is being privately fostered for a period of time, the main legal and parental responsibility for looking after the welfare of your child still rests with you.

You must tell us that someone else is looking after your child. If you do not inform us, we may not be in a position to protect them from abuse or neglect.

You will retain parental responsibility and should continue to be involved in all decisions concerning your child’s development, including school and religion.

Please tell the carer as much as possible about your child including: health records, school records and contacts, religion, ethnic or cultural background.

It is very important that you stay in frequent contact with your child. We will do all we can to help you and ensure the safety and well-being of your child.

What are our responsibilities as professionals working in Children's Services?

The Children Act 1989 places a legal duty upon us to safeguard children living in private fostering situations. We will work in partnership with you and your child to ensure that:

• Your child is safe and well cared for.
• The chosen carer is suitable to look after your child.
• We will promote all aspects of your child’s development, including their cultural identity and needs and enable regular contact with those who are important to them

We will also:

• Make regular visits to see your child
• Make a note of the kind of care given
• Provide help and advice when needed

Although most arrangements will be positive for all those concerned, these checks are intended to help protect vulnerable children. In extreme cases where a child has been placed in unsuitable accommodation, the child can be removed from private foster care if there is reasonable cause to suspect the child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm.

We have devised a range of literature to provide more information. These are available below to download. Alternatively, if you would like to be sent a copy of these leaflets, please email: familyandfriends@buckscc.gov.uk or telephone 01494 586460

Family and Friends Team
King George V Road
Amersham
Buckinghamshire
HP11 1NH