Private Fostering

What is Private Fostering?

Private Fostering is when a a child under 16 or under 18 if they are disabled, lives for more than 28 days with someone who isn’t a close relative.

A close relative includes:

• A grandparent
• A sibling
• Biological aunts and uncles
• Step-parents by marriage or civil partnership
• Anyone with parental responsibility for the child

A parent might arrange for their child to be privately fostered without knowing this is what it’s called. There are many reasons a parent might decide to make these arrangements including:

• The parent needing hospital treatment
• The parent moving abroad
• The relationship between the child and parent becoming difficult
• The child wanting to live elsewhere

If someone else is looking after your child, if you are looking after someone else’s child, if you are a child living with someone other than a close relative or if you are a professional who is aware of a child who might be privately fostered please notify us. You can also contact the Family Placement Team for advice via FPT_Duty@bathnes.gov.uk. Information leaflets can be provided upon request.

Notify the local authority

Anyone who is aware of a child living in Bath and North East Somerset with someone who is not a close relative for longer than 28 days or who is involved in making arrangements for a child must notify local authority. There are a number of ways you can notify:

1. By completing the private fostering notification form
2. By completing the Concerned about a child or Family form
3. If you are not sure if a child you know is being privately fostered or you would like to seek advice please contact the Family Placement Team via FPT_Duty@bathnes.gov.uk or call 01225394949 and request to speak to a the duty social worker.

What happens when the local authority are notified about a possible private fostering arrangement?

A social worker will visit the child, private foster carer and parents within 7 days. This is to ensure the arrangements that have been made for the child’s care are safe and meeting their needs. The social worker will see the home that the child will be living in with the private foster carer, get information about everyone who lives in the household and complete criminal record and safeguarding checks for everyone over 16 in the household.

After this a social worker will regularly visit the child and private foster carers and will keep in touch with the parents to give the whole family support and to make sure the child’s needs are being met. Support services might include but are not limited to:

• Training for the private foster carer
• Support groups
• Mediation to support relationships
• Therapeutic work with the child
• Referrals to other support services

What happens if the local authority think the child’s needs are not being met?

If the local authority are concerned the arrangement is not meeting the child’s needs they might:

• Set some requirements with the private foster carer
• Provide services to support the arrangement via a Child in Need plan
• If there are significant risks to the child they can prohibit the private foster carer from caring for the child and may need to follow their safeguarding and child protection procedures.

The private foster carer can appeal to the family court if the local authority prohibit them from privately fostering or set requirements they do not agree with.

Further information can be found on the B&NES Fostering website.