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

Are you aware of a child not living with his/her parents? There could be many different reasons. Some of these reasons could be:

The parents have made arrangements for their child to live with someone else.
The child is not able to live with their parents because of concerns about the care they received from them; therefore they are living with foster carers or in a children's home, placed there by Children's Specialist Services? See link to CLA website for more info

When the parents have made arrangements for their child to live with someone else, the 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 aware of a child or young person under 16 (or under 18 if disabled) being cared for by someone who is not their own parent, sibling, direct uncle or aunt or grandparent?
Is the carer a great uncle or aunt of the child?
Is the carer the child or young person's cousin?
Is the carer the child or young person's mother or father's previous partner or one of their friends?
Has the child been looked after by their new carer for 28days (4weeks) or more?
Do you know whether this private arrangement has been made between the child or young person's parent(s) and the carer(s)?

If you could say yes to any of the questions above, then this child or young person is probably being privately fostered.

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 kinship care?

If a child or young person is being cared for and looked after by a grandparent; one of his/her (older) brothers or sisters; step-mum or step-dad; or one of his/her mum or dad's brothers or sisters, then he/she is not privately fostered. He/She however might be in a 'Kinship Care placement'.

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

Top of page

What does it mean if a child is privately fostered?

Children have the right to be well looked after and for all their needs to be met. The local council where he/she lives, i.e. Wandsworth Borough, has a duty to ensure that all children and young people, who live in the borough, are kept safe and that their welfare is promoted. This therefore also includes all the children and young people who are privately fostered.

Top of page

What should I do if I'm aware of a child or young person who is being privately fostered?

If you think a child/young person might be privately fostered, you should inform the local council. It is the law that the local council should be informed of all private foster care arrangements, so that they can make sure that the arrangements are appropriate and that all the child or young persons needs are being met.

Top of page

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

The law requires that the council is told about a private foster care arrangement at least six weeks before a child or young person is going to be looked after by a private foster carer. However if a child or young person becomes privately fostered in an emergency, then the council should be informed within 48 hours of the child or young person living with their new carers.

Top of page

How is the council involved and 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 team 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 the carer and the child or young person in his/her care and checks will be done on the carers, to make sure he/she is 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 that is being providing.
The council or other agencies may also offer help and support to the carers and/or the child or young person, to support the carers in looking after the child or young person.
Advice will be made available to the carers.

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 Team
Children's Specialist Services (previously 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.

Top of page

Private Fostering Leaftlet 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 kinship care?

What does it mean if a child is privately fostered?

What should I do if I'm aware of a child or young person who is being privately fostered?

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

How is the council involved and what happens when the council is told about a private foster care arrangement?

Contact details for the council

Private Fostering Leaftlet and Poster

Information for Children and Young People Information for Parents, Carers, Families and Friends Information for Professionals working with Children and Young People What is abuse? What is Child Protection? 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 Managing Allegations Against Staff Serious Case Review Safeguarding Trafficked Children Working with the Voluntary and Faith Sector Corporate Parenting Working with the Voluntary and Faith Sector Safer Recruitment Child Death Review Process MARAC - Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference What is Safeguarding? What does Significant Harm mean? 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 a child is being privately fostered? \| What should I do if I'm aware of a child who is being privately fostered? \| 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? Are you aware of a child not living with his/her parents? There could be many different reasons. Some of these reasons could be: The parents have made arrangements for their child to live with someone else. The child is not able to live with their parents because of concerns about the care they received from them; therefore they are living with foster carers or in a children's home, placed there by Children's Specialist Services? See link to CLA website for more info When the parents have made arrangements for their child to live with someone else, the 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 aware of a child or young person under 16 (or under 18 if disabled) being cared for by someone who is not their own parent, sibling, direct uncle or aunt or grandparent? Is the carer a great uncle or aunt of the child? Is the carer the child or young person's cousin? Is the carer the child or young person's mother or father's previous partner or one of their friends? Has the child been looked after by their new carer for 28days (4weeks) or more? Do you know whether this private arrangement has been made between the child or young person's parent(s) and the carer(s)? If you could say yes to any of the questions above, then this child or young person is probably being privately fostered. 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 kinship care? If a child or young person is being cared for and looked after by a grandparent; one of his/her (older) brothers or sisters; step-mum or step-dad; or one of his/her mum or dad's brothers or sisters, then he/she is not privately fostered. He/She however might be in a 'Kinship Care placement'. More information on Kinship Care can be found on the Wandsworth borough council site. Top of page What does it mean if a child is privately fostered? Children have the right to be well looked after and for all their needs to be met. The local council where he/she lives, i.e. Wandsworth Borough, has a duty to ensure that all children and young people, who live in the borough, are kept safe and that their welfare is promoted. This therefore also includes all the children and young people who are privately fostered. Top of page What should I do if I'm aware of a child or young person who is being privately fostered? If you think a child/young person might be privately fostered, you should inform the local council. It is the law that the local council should be informed of all private foster care arrangements, so that they can make sure that the arrangements are appropriate and that all the child or young persons needs are being met. Top of page When should the council be told about a private foster care arrangement? The law requires that the council is told about a private foster care arrangement at least six weeks before a child or young person is going to be looked after by a private foster carer. However if a child or young person becomes privately fostered in an emergency, then the council should be informed within 48 hours of the child or young person living with their new carers. Top of page How is the council involved and 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 team 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 the carer and the child or young person in his/her care and checks will be done on the carers, to make sure he/she is 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 that is being providing. The council or other agencies may also offer help and support to the carers and/or the child or young person, to support the carers in looking after the child or young person. Advice will be made available to the carers. 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 Team Children's Specialist Services (previously 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. Top of page Private Fostering Leaftlet and Poster Private Fostering Leaflet (January 2009) Private Fostering Poster (January 2009)