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
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.
Friends and Family Care Policy
Friends and Family Care Policy