Private Fostering

Are you looking after someone else’s child or are you a parent making arrangements for someone to look after your child?

• Are you helping out a friend by having his/her child(ren) to stay?
• Has a relative or friend from outside the UK sent their child to live with you?
• Have you had one of your teenager’s friends staying with you for a while?

If you answered Yes to any of these, and this has been the case for more than 28 days, then this is private fostering.

Private Fostering and the Law

Private fostering is an arrangement between a child’s parents and another adult who is not directly related* and is not a legal guardian with parental responsibility.

Children and teenagers who are under 16 (18 if disabled) are considered to be privately fostered if they live with someone for 28 days or more.

*Direct relatives are grandparents, the siblings of parents (aunts and uncles), brothers or sisters

Where arrangements are made to privately foster a child in advance, for example a child is being sent from abroad, or you are intending to take care of a child while his/her parents are away for work or study, then you and the child's parents should inform the Children’s Services Department at least six weeks in advance.

A social worker will make contact with you as soon as possible after you and the child's parents have notified Children's Services about the private fostering arrangement.

If the arrangement is made in an emergency, then notification must be made within 48 hours or as soon as feasibly possible.

There is a legal requirement for the local authority to ensure the child's health, welfare and schooling needs are being adequately catered for. A social worker will contact you to do an initial assessment, set up a Care Plan and make regular visits to you and the child.

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

If the child returns to his/her birth parents or goes to another carer, the Local Authority needs to be informed within 48 hours.

For further information contact:

Rosie Smith,

Children's Services Department, Hampshire County Council,

Ashburton Court East,

The Castle,

Winchester. SO23 8UG

Tel: 01962 847173 / 07725201326

Fax: 01962 842406

Email: rosie.smith@hants.gov.uk

For more information on childcare during the day, visit the Childcare pages.