Is a child or young person not living with their parents?

Is your child not living with you? Are you caring for someone else's child? There could be many different reasons why your child is not living with you or why you might be caring for someone else's child. Some of these reasons could be:

You have made arrangements for your child to live with someone else
Your child is not able to live with you because of concerns about how you look after them, therefore they are living with foster carers or in a children's home, placed there by Children Services.
In cases when you as the parents have made arrangements for your child to live with someone else, your child could be either in a 'Kinship Care' arrangement or he/she could be 'Privately Fostered'

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What is Private Fostering?

Are you caring for a child or young person under 16 (or under 18 if disabled) who is not your own child or not your niece or nephew?
Are you the cousin, great uncle or aunt of this child or young person?
Are you the child or young person's mother or father's previous partner or one of their friends?
Have you been looking after this child or young person for 28days (4weeks) or more,
Has this private arrangement been made between the child or young person's parents and you as carers?

If you could say yes to any of the questions above, then you are probably a private foster carer.

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Examples of Private Fostering

Below are some examples of situations that could lead to private fostering arrangements:

Children and young people living apart from their families.
Minority ethnic children with parents working or studying in the UK.
Children with parents overseas.
Children living with host families for a variety of reasons.
Children on holiday exchange.

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What is a kinship carer?

If you are a grandparent; an uncle or aunt; step-mum or step-dad; brother of sister of the child or young person you are looking after, then you are not a private foster carer. You might, however, be a 'Kinship Carer'.

More information on Kinship Care can be found on the Wandsworth borough council site.

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What does it mean if I am privately fostering?

All children have the right to be well looked after and for all their needs to be met. The local council where you live, i.e. Wandsworth Borough, has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and young people who live in the borough. This therefore also includes all privately fostered children or young people.

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What does it mean if my child is being privately fostered?

As parent you have a responsibility to inform the local council when you make arrangements for your child to be cared for someone else for a period longer than 28 days. The local council has the responsibility to make sure that such arrangements are appropriate and that all privately fostered children or young people's needs are being met.

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What should I do if I'm privately fostering?

It is the law that the local council should be informed of all private foster care arrangements, so that they can make sure that such arrangements are appropriate and that all privately fostered children or young people's needs are being met. As private foster carer you have a responsibility to inform the local authority when you agree to care for someone else's child for a period longer than 28 days.

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When should the council be told about a private foster care arrangement?

The law requires that the council be told about a private foster care arrangement at least six weeks before you intend to privately foster a child or young person. However if such an arrangement is made in an emergency, then the council should be informed within 48 hours of you caring for a child or young person.

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What happens when the council is told about a private foster care arrangement?

The following things will happen when the council is informed about a private foster care arrangement:

A referral is made to the Referral and Assessment service at Children's Specialist Services (old Social Services).
Checks will be done to make sure that it is indeed a private foster care arrangement.
An assessment will be completed with you and the child or young person in your care and checks will be done on you as carers, to make sure you are suitable to look after the child or young person.
A social worker will make regular visits to the child and will monitor the overall standard of care you are providing.
The council or other agencies may also offer help and support to you and/or the child or young person, to support you in looking after the child or young person.
Advice will be made available to you.

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Contact details for the council

If you want more information about private foster care or if you want to inform the council about a private foster care arrangement, please contact the following team:

Referral and Assessment Service
Children's Specialist Services (previous Social Services)
Welbeck House
43-51 Wandsworth High Street
London
SW18 2PT

Tel. (020) 8871 6622
Email: childreferraldutymanager@wandsworth.gov.uk

More information on Private Fostering can be found on the Wandsworth Borough Council site.

Private Fostering Leaflet and Poster

Private Fostering Leaflet (January 2009)

Private Fostering Poster (January 2009)

Wandsworth Safeguarding

Supporting and Protecting Todays Youth

Is a child or young person not living with their parents?

What is Private Fostering?

Examples of Private Fostering

What is a kinship carer?

What does it mean if I am privately fostering?

What does it mean if my child is being privately fostered?

What should I do if I'm privately fostering?

When should the council be told about a private foster care arrangement?

What happens when the council is told about a private foster care arrangement?

Contact details for the council

Private Fostering Leaflet and Poster

Information for Children and Young People Information for Parents, Carers, Families and Friends What is abuse? Reporting abuse Internet and mobiles Sexual health Bullying Weapons Drugs and alcohol Domestic violence Self harming Eating disorders Running away Young carers Children with disabilities Privately fostering children Useful Links Information for Professionals working with Children and Young People About Us Contact Us Policies and Procedures Resources Training		On this page: What is private fostering? \| Examples of private fostering \| What is a kinship carer? \| What does it mean if I am privately fostering? \| What does it mean if my child is being privately fostered? \| What should I do if I am privately fostering? \| When should the council be told? \| What happens when the council is told? \| Contact details \| Private Fostering Leaflet and Poster Is a child or young person not living with their parents? Is your child not living with you? Are you caring for someone else's child? There could be many different reasons why your child is not living with you or why you might be caring for someone else's child. Some of these reasons could be: You have made arrangements for your child to live with someone else Your child is not able to live with you because of concerns about how you look after them, therefore they are living with foster carers or in a children's home, placed there by Children Services. In cases when you as the parents have made arrangements for your child to live with someone else, your child could be either in a 'Kinship Care' arrangement or he/she could be 'Privately Fostered' Top of page What is Private Fostering? Are you caring for a child or young person under 16 (or under 18 if disabled) who is not your own child or not your niece or nephew? Are you the cousin, great uncle or aunt of this child or young person? Are you the child or young person's mother or father's previous partner or one of their friends? Have you been looking after this child or young person for 28days (4weeks) or more, Has this private arrangement been made between the child or young person's parents and you as carers? If you could say yes to any of the questions above, then you are probably a private foster carer. Top of page Examples of Private Fostering Below are some examples of situations that could lead to private fostering arrangements: Children and young people living apart from their families. Minority ethnic children with parents working or studying in the UK. Children with parents overseas. Children living with host families for a variety of reasons. Children on holiday exchange. Top of page What is a kinship carer? If you are a grandparent; an uncle or aunt; step-mum or step-dad; brother of sister of the child or young person you are looking after, then you are not a private foster carer. You might, however, be a 'Kinship Carer'. More information on Kinship Care can be found on the Wandsworth borough council site. Top of page What does it mean if I am privately fostering? All children have the right to be well looked after and for all their needs to be met. The local council where you live, i.e. Wandsworth Borough, has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and young people who live in the borough. This therefore also includes all privately fostered children or young people. Top of page What does it mean if my child is being privately fostered? As parent you have a responsibility to inform the local council when you make arrangements for your child to be cared for someone else for a period longer than 28 days. The local council has the responsibility to make sure that such arrangements are appropriate and that all privately fostered children or young people's needs are being met. Top of page What should I do if I'm privately fostering? It is the law that the local council should be informed of all private foster care arrangements, so that they can make sure that such arrangements are appropriate and that all privately fostered children or young people's needs are being met. As private foster carer you have a responsibility to inform the local authority when you agree to care for someone else's child for a period longer than 28 days. Top of page When should the council be told about a private foster care arrangement? The law requires that the council be told about a private foster care arrangement at least six weeks before you intend to privately foster a child or young person. However if such an arrangement is made in an emergency, then the council should be informed within 48 hours of you caring for a child or young person. Top of page What happens when the council is told about a private foster care arrangement? The following things will happen when the council is informed about a private foster care arrangement: A referral is made to the Referral and Assessment service at Children's Specialist Services (old Social Services). Checks will be done to make sure that it is indeed a private foster care arrangement. An assessment will be completed with you and the child or young person in your care and checks will be done on you as carers, to make sure you are suitable to look after the child or young person. A social worker will make regular visits to the child and will monitor the overall standard of care you are providing. The council or other agencies may also offer help and support to you and/or the child or young person, to support you in looking after the child or young person. Advice will be made available to you. Top of page Contact details for the council If you want more information about private foster care or if you want to inform the council about a private foster care arrangement, please contact the following team: Referral and Assessment Service Children's Specialist Services (previous Social Services) Welbeck House 43-51 Wandsworth High Street London SW18 2PT Tel. (020) 8871 6622 Email: childreferraldutymanager@wandsworth.gov.uk More information on Private Fostering can be found on the Wandsworth Borough Council site. Private Fostering Leaflet and Poster Private Fostering Leaflet (January 2009) Private Fostering Poster (January 2009)