Private Fostering

All parents must notify the local authority if they make private arrangements for their child to be cared for away from their home by somebody else for more than 28 days.

Although this is a private arrangement between the child’s parent and the carer the local authority must legally be told.

This is called Private Fostering and the local authority has a legal duty to make sure these arrangements are safe and suitable for the child, and to offer support and advice to the child, their parents and carers. Children who are privately fostered are not 'looked after children' and therefore will not be known to Children's Services.

It is not private fostering if the child is being cared for by their grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister or step parent and in these circumstances the local authority does not need to be told. Everyone else who looks after someone else’s child under 16, or 18 if disabled, for 28 days or more legally becomes a Private Foster Carer and must tell their local authority.

If you are working with children and families you have a responsibility under safeguarding to help identify children who are privately fostered.

If you know of a child being privately fostered please don’t ignore it but let Children’s Services know. If you are not sure always contact Children’s Services for advice. All professionals working with children and families should make sure they know what the realtionship is between a child and their carer so that they can identify where a child is being privately fostered.

You can notify the local authority about a private fostering arrangement by phoning Children’s Services on 0845 603 5620 or by filling in an on line form at :

www.hants.gov.uk/private-fostering

For further information on private fostering for Children & Young People, Parents and Carers and Professionals please click on the below link.