Looking after someone else's child: Private fostering

Private fostering is when a child under 16 years old (or 18 if they have a disability) is living and being cared for by someone who is not a close relative or parent for more than 28 days.

These arrangements are made privately and informally.

A private foster carer may be a:

• neighbour
• cousin
• family friend

It is not classed as private fostering if the carer is a close relative, for example:

• Parents
• Grandparents
• Siblings
• Step-parents
• Aunts or uncles

Private fostering is not the same as regular fostering.

Regular foster carers have been formally assessed and approved by the Council, and then work with us to look after other people's children.

If carers who are privately fostering a child do not inform the Council then they will be without support. 

Each example of private fostering will be different depending on family circumstance and needs.

Examples of why a child may be privately fostered include:

• A child living with a friend of his / her family because of separation, divorce or arguments at home
• A teenager living with the family of a boyfriend / girlfriend due to a family breakdown
• A child needing to be cared for because his / her parent has a long-term illness and is unable to look after the child
• A child from overseas staying with a host family while attending a language school, or overseas students at boarding school who stay with a host family during holidays
• A child needing to be cared for because his / her parent(s) work away from home or work particularly long / unsociable hours

If you think you're privately fostering, or planning to have your child privately fostered you need to think about, you need to do the below:

If you're a parent or someone caring for a child

If you are a parent or someone caring for a child in these circumstances then you need to inform the Council about the arrangement.

Ideally this should be between 6 and 13 weeks before the child goes to live with private foster carer.

If the private fostering arrangement happens in an emergency and is likely to last more than 28 days, you must tell the Council as soon as possible.

If you're a professional and become aware of a private fostering arrangement

If you are a professional and you become aware of a private fostering arrangement, then you need to make a referral to the Contact and Referral Team.

You need to inform the child / young person and their family that you have a responsibility to do this.

Tell us about a private fostering arrangement

To notify the Council about a private fostering arrangement, or to get more information, please contact the Referral and Assessment Service:

The Contact and Referral Team
Phone: 0191 456 5010
Email: contactandreferralteam@southtyneside.gov.uk

If it's an emergency

Emergencies: If you need to speak to a social worker in an emergency out of normal office hours (before 8.30am and after 5pm) phone the Out of Hours Team on 0191 456 2093 to speak to a social worker. 

What happens after the Council has been notified

Once notified, we have a duty to contact the child, carers and parents.

We will undertake checks and enquiries to make sure that the carers are suitable as private foster carers and they can meet the child's needs.

We will then conduct follow up visits to the child / young person and their carers every 6 weeks for the first year, and every 12 weeks thereafter and make sure that all appropriate support is in place.

The Council's role

South Tyneside Council wants people who arrange for their child to be cared for by someone who is not close family to let us know and get support.

Notifying the Council of private fostering arrangements is a legal requirement.

The Council does not want to disrupt the arrangements that you have made, but needs to know about the arrangement so it can check that children are safe and being properly cared for.

The Council also wants to make sure that you are getting the help you need.

You still have parental responsiblity for your child after they have been privately fostered.

You should remain involved in all important decisions.

It is up to you to make sure the private fostering arrangements are suitable for your child.

Financial responsibility

As the child's parent, you are financially responsible for the child.

Financial arrangements should be made directly between yourself and the carer(s).

Providing information about your child

It is important that you give your child's private foster carers as much information about your child, including:

• family history
• previous life experiences
• medical history

You should agree arrangements for your child's care, including:

• their education - you must make sure you child receives full time education.
• their hobbies and interests.
• their health needs, and any on-going or upcoming medical treatments.
• which methods of discipline are and aren't acceptable to you.
• how the religious and cultural needs of your child are met.
• what contact your child will have with you and other members of your family. It's important you stay in frequent contact with your child while they are living away.
• how and when the carer will update you on your child's progress.
• how you will support your child financially.

You must contact the Council if:

• your child moves out of the house they are living in, or if someone else moves into the house
• you have any concerns about the level of care your child is getting

Support from the Council

Your child will be allocated a social worker, to make sure they are happy, safe and well cared for.

The social worker will arrange to visit your child and their carer(s).

Where possible, they will also arrange to visit you. 

After doing an inspection of the place your child is living, an interview, and speaking to other people who live with the carer, a decision will be made to determine if this is the best arrangement for your child.

Anyone living in the same household as the carer will need to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) police check.

Enquiries will be made to guarantee the suitability of the private foster carer looking after your child.

Other agencies already involved in your child's care (e.g. school and health visitors) may be contacted.  

You have a legal duty to tell the Council that you are privately fostering a child.

You need to make sure that:

• the child's parents give you as much information as possible about the child, including the child's routines, language, culture, education, health and support
• the child is happy, healthy and safe, and that their needs are met
• the child is registered with a doctor, dentist and optician (if required), and is attending school
• you encourage and allow the child to keep in contact with their parents
• you reach an agreement with the parents about covering the costs of caring for the child and meeting their needs
• you tell your social worker about any changes to people in your household, if you move house or if the child leaves
• if the child leaves, you must tell the Council within 48 hours and tell us the name and address of the person who will be caring for the child

Who is legally responsible for the child

As a child's private foster carer, you will be providing a home and day-to-day care.

You have a responsibilty to safeguard their welfare.

The child's parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have parental responsibility and should continue to be involved in all important decisions that will affect the child.

What checks you need to go through

After an initial visit, the social worker will interview you. Wherever possible, they will also interview the child's parent.

The child will always be seen on their own by the social worker so that they can talk openly. 

All other members of the household will be seen.

There will be an inspection of the accommodation the child is living in.

You will be asked to make a declaration about circumstances that may bar you from privately fostering a child.

You and all members of your household over the age of 16 wll be asked to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) police check.

Financial support

The child's parents remain financial responsible for their child.

Financial arrangements are made directly between the parent and the carer.

You may be able to claim social security benefits.

Contact your local Benefits Agency Office for more advice.

If there's changes to your situation

You must tell the Council within 48 hours if there's any significant changes during the private fostering arrangements.

This includes:

• change of address
• if someone is joining or leaving your household
• if any member of your household has court convictions, or any other reason which means they may not be suitable to be part of a private fostering arrangement
• if the child you are caring for leaves your care

Support from the Council

It is our duty to make sure the child is safe and well looked after.

Once we have been told about a private fostering arrangement, a social worker will arrange to visit you and the child.

After this, the Council will arrange to visit you every 6 weeks during the first year of fostering, and every 12 weeks after the first year.

The social worker will consider the child's needs in the home, their education setting, community and with friends. 

They will make sure appropriate help and support is in place. 

Support from your social worker

Your social worker can help you if you're unsure about caring for a child under 16 years old (or 18 years old if they have a disability), by giving you guidance on:

• average bed time
• internet usage 
• health problems 
• family contact

If you're unhappy with the private fostering arrangements

If you are unhappy or concerned about any issues around child you are caring for, you should contact your social worker.

The Council will do everything possible to support you in promoting and safeguarding the child's welfare.

A lot of children and young people don't realise they are in a private fostering arrangement. If you think you are, you must let the Council know.

Parents and carers are legally required to tell the Council they are part of a private fostering arrangement.

The Council will work with you, your parents and carers to make sure that the best possible arrangements are in place for you. This includes:

• listening to what you want
• arranging for a social worker to support you and your carer(s)
• helping to make sure that your racial, cultural, linguistic and religious needs are met
• offering advice to everyone involved on what will happen next
• offering parenting support to your carer
• helping to bring families in crisis back together