Private Fostering

Private Fostering is when a child or young person under the age of 16, or 18 if they have a disability, is looked after for 28 days or more by someone who is not a close relative, guardian, or person with parental responsibility. Close relatives include parents, step-parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

It is not Private Fostering if the arrangement was made by Social Services – or if the person looking after the child is an approved foster carer.

People become Private Foster Carers for all sorts of reasons. They can be a friend of the child’s family, or a person who is willing to care for the child of a family they do not know.

Examples of Private Fostering:

Children, adolescents, and teenagers 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.

^{(back to top)}

What is Devon's policy on Private Fostering?

Read the Devon County Council Policy and Procedures Manual. image - PDF icon (41KB - pdf help)

^{(back to top)}

Why must the fostering service be told?

By law, we at Devon County Council’s fostering service must be informed about all Private Fostering situations in the county.

The child’s parent(s), private foster carer, and anyone else involved in the arrangement are all legally required to notify us within these timescales:

SITUATION	TIMESCALE
If the child is not yet living with private foster carers	6 weeks in advance
If the child will move in with private foster carers in less than 6 weeks	Immediately
If the child is already living with private foster carers	Immediately

^{(back to top)}

What should professionals do?

Professionals who come into contact with children – like teachers, religious leaders, doctors and health visitors - should make sure that we know about all private fostering arrangements.

Informing us is not a breach of confidentiality – and may help to secure the child’s welfare.

The child’s parent or carer should also be encouraged to notify us about the arrangement.

^{(back to top)}

What will the fostering service do?

We will work in partnership with the child, parents and private foster carer to ensure that the best possible arrangements are in place for the child. This includes:

visiting the child and private foster carer
helping to make sure that the child’s racial, cultural, linguistic and religious needs are being met
offering advice and support to the child, parents and private foster carer.

^{(back to top)}

Why does the fostering service have to be involved?

The 1989 Children Act gives Children’s Services a legal duty to safeguard the wellbeing of privately fostered children. This includes making sure they are:

Safe and well looked-after
Healthy
Receiving a proper education
Being encouraged to reach their full potential
Keeping in touch with people who are important to them
Living with someone who helps them value their culture and sense of identity
Properly supported when they become independent

Despite this, many private fostering arrangements remain hidden, leaving children vulnerable to abuse and neglect. This was highlighted by the tragic death of privately fostered child Victoria Climbié.

^{(back to top)}

What should you do next?

If you’d like to notify us about a private fostering arrangement, or find out more about private fostering, then please call us on 0845 155 1013 – email us at privatefostering@devon.gov.uk – or download our Private Fostering leaflet image - PDF icon (168KB - pdf help).

Please remember that if you are involved in a private fostering arrangement, and you don’t notify us – you are committing an offence, and could risk a fine.

^{(back to top)}