Looking after someone else's child

If you're looking after someone else's child, your arrangement may be known as either:

  • kinship carer (also known as connected carer)
  • private fostering

Kinship carers

You're known as kinship carer, or connected carer, if: 

  • you're looking after a child who can't be cared for by their birth parents, and
  • you're a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, family friend, or connected to the child in another way

Kinship carers


Private fostering

You're private fostering if:

  • you're not a close relative, ie grandparent, brother or sister, uncle or aunt or step-parent, and
  • you're looking after a child who's under 16 (under 18 if they're disabled) for more than 28 days in a row

You must tell the Council about this arrangement.

Private fostering


Friends and Family Care Policy 

Friends and Family Care Policy