Private fostering

'A "privately fostered" child is a child or young person aged under 16 (or under 18 years old if they are disabled) who is cared for by an adult who is not their:

  • Parent;
  • Relative, i.e. grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt or step parent;
  • Any other person with Parental Responsibility for the child.


A child is considered to be 'privately fostered' only if they have been living away from home for more than 28 days, or will be living away from home for more than 28 days under an arrangement between the parent and the carer. Privately fostered children could include:

  • children sent to York for education or health reasons
  • boarding school children living with friends during the summer holiday
  • cultural exchange students
  • children from overseas whose parents are studying or working during unsociable hours which make it difficult for them to use ordinary child care provisions
  • children that have to live away from their family as a result of separation or divorce
  • where disputes at home result in a child, often adolescent, having to live away
  • teenagers living with the family of a girlfriend or boyfriend
  • refugee children
  • any child whose parents have made a private arrangement for them to be looked after by someone else.
     

A private fostering arrangement does not include children who are being Looked After by the City of York Council.
 
A private foster carer cannot privately foster more than three children at a time. 
Involvement of the City of York Council (CYC)

 
CYC Children's Social Care have a duty to safeguard the welfare of all children in the city including privately fostered children. 
The Children Act 1989 states that parents and carers have the responsibility to notify Children's Social Care of a private fostering arrangement. (Please click here for contact details)

Children's Social Care are responsible for making sure that all privately fostered children are well cared for and safe. This will include:

  • making compulsory checks on the private foster carers and anyone aged over 16 living in that household
  • providing advice and support to private foster carers as needed
  • determining that the child's educational, emotional, cultural and physical needs are being met
  • helping parents and private foster carers to work together for the benefit of the child
  • taking action if the care provided is not satisfactory
  • If the private foster carer changes address, or if the parent decides to change private foster carers Children & Families must be notified of this change immediately.


If Children's Social Care  are not notified we will not be able to safeguard the child sufficiently.
 
Children's Social Care are not responsible for:

  • the day to day care of the child
  • any financial arrangements/disputes between the parent and the private foster carer.


Information for parents of a privately fostered child

 
If your child is to be cared for by another person a for more than 28 days and who is not a parents, relative, i.e. grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt or step parent or a legal guardian you must notify Children & Families Services at least six weeks before the arrangement. If your child is already living with their private foster carer then you must notify us immediately.
 
You need to give the carer as much information as possible about your child. This includes:

  • health details
  • eating preferences
  • school details
  • hobbies
  • ethnic and cultural background
  • religion.


This information will give the carer a clear understanding of your child's needs, which will help them to look after your child properly.
 
It is important that you keep regular contact with your child and the private foster carer. You still have parental responsibility for your child and should continue to be involved in all decisions concerning their development. The private foster carer is only looking after your child on a day-to-day basis.
 
If you have any concerns regarding your child's private fostering arrangement, contact the Children and Families Service, we may be able to help you resolve these.

Information for private foster carers

 
A private foster carer is a person who is not a close relative of the child that they are looking after. If you are a cousin, a great uncle, great aunt or a close family friend of the child then you are a 'private foster carer'.
 
You are only responsible for looking after the child on a day-to-day basis. The child's parents maintain parental responsibility and they are to be involved in all decisions made.
 
If you are planning to privately foster a child you must inform Children's Social Care at least six weeks before the child comes to live with you. If you already have a child living with you then you must contact Children's Social Care immediately.
 
Your household will be subject to an assessment to determine your suitability to safeguard the child's welfare, this will be reviewed on an annual basis, however often you care for a child, for as long as you wish to continue in this role.
 
You will be expected to cooperate with the child's social worker in their role of providing advice and support to the child.


Information for professionals

 
As a professional it is important for you to notify Children's Social Care if you are in contact with a child who is being privately fostered, as this will help to protect the child against abuse or neglect and provide some reassurance that the child is being looked after properly.
 
All privately fostered children should be registered with a local G.P. and if they are of school age then they should be attending school.
 
All staff in health and education (including GPs, teachers, health visitors, dentists, etc) have a responsibility to notify Children's Social Care if they believe a child is in a private fostering arrangement. The notification should include the name and address of the private foster carer and birth family where known.