Private Fostering

Information on Private Fostering, including the law, responsibilities for carers and birth parents and information for professionals. On this page

• What is private fostering?
• What the laws says about private fostering
• What private foster carers need to do
• What birth parents need to do
• What we will do
• Information for professionals
• Contact Details

Anchor Point:WhatWhat is private fostering?

A child or young person is defined as being privately fostered if they are:

• under the age of 16 (or 18 if disabled) and
• cared for and accommodated by someone other than a parent or close relative and
• the arrangement has been in place for more than 28 days.

Close relatives are defined as

• step-parents,
• grandparents,
• brothers or sisters,
• aunts or uncles (whether full blood, half blood or by marriage).

Anchor Point:LawWhat the law says about private fostering

The Children Act 1989 and The Children (Private Arrangements for Fostering) Regulations 2005 contain provision to promote the welfare of privately fostered children.

These place a responsibility on the Local Authority to work with:

• the child or young person,
• the private foster carer(s) and
• the child or young person's parents

to ensure the child or young person's welfare is promoted and he or she is safeguarded. Other agencies including health, education and immigration will assist in this task.

Anchor Point:CarersWhat private foster carers need to do

It is a legal requirement for private foster carers to advise us of their intention to privately foster a child or young person at least 6 weeks in advance, or in emergency cases immediately after the child or young person's arrival. Private foster carers should also notify us of any changes in their own circumstances whilst they are caring for the child or young person.

Private foster carers also need to let us know when a child or young person leaves their care, giving the name and address of the person they are moving on to.

Anchor Point:ParentsWhat birth parents need to do

Parents of a child or young person who is privately fostered must advise us of the arrangement as soon as it is made and also if the child or young person moves.

Anchor Point:WeWhat we will do

It is our legal duty to make sure all private fostering arrangements are safe for the child or young person, but we can only do this if we are aware of the arrangement.

Once informed of the arrangement it is our job to check the suitability of private foster carers, to make regular visits to the child or young person and to ensure advice, help and support is available when needed.

Anchor Point:ProfInformation for professionals

Private foster carers are legally required to notify us but many still don't know that they have to. This means we are unable to make sure the child or young person's welfare is safeguarded.

Workers from all agencies need to help us by ensuring they are proactive in identifying and notifying us of private fostering arrangements that they are aware of.

If you know a child or young person is being privately fostered and you think we are unaware please notify us or support the parent/carer to do so.

Anchor Point:ContactContact Details

For further information about private fostering or to notify us of a child or young person who is privately fostered please contact the Duty, Assessment and Referral Team at:

Chelmsley Wood Library
Stephenson Drive
Chelmsley Wood
Solihull
B37 5TA

Telephone: 0121 788 4300

If you have any concerns about a child, please contact:

Telephone: 0121 605 6060 out of hours or 0121 788 4333 at all other times