Children’s social care

Private fostering

What is private fostering? 

Private fostering is when a child under 16 (or under 18 with a disability) is cared for by someone who isn’t a close relative for 28 days or more. Close relatives include parents, step-parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents.  

These arrangements are made privately between parents and carers, often for reasons like studying abroad, family difficulties, or cultural exchanges. An agency may sometimes help a parent to initiate a private fostering arrangement, for example; for children who come to study from overseas.   

Why do people become private foster carers? 

There are lots of different reasons why a child might be privately fostered. For example, some children need to leave their home country because of conflict or have come to study and stay with a host family whilst they are attending school. There are also times were children stay with friends because it is difficult to stay with their own family.  

Other common situations include

  • children with parents overseas 
  • children living with host families for a variety of reasons 
  • children on holiday exchanges which last more than 27 days 

Why is it important that we know about private fostering arrangements?  

Any child living away from their parents is potentially vulnerable. Devon County Council have a legal duty to safeguard the wellbeing of children in Devon, so it is essential that we are made aware of all private fostering arrangements so we can assess the arrangements and ensure the child is safe and well cared for. 

When should you contact us?  

People involved in private fostering arrangements must contact us in the following timescales: 

  • If the child is not yet living with private foster carers, six weeks beforehand. 
  • If the child moves in with private foster carers in less than six weeks, immediately. 
  • If the child is already living with private foster carers, immediately. 

What should professionals do? 

There are a number of professionals who may come into contact with children or families who are involved in private fostering arrangements. These include teachers, religious leaders, doctors and health visitors. 

If you are a professional and are made aware of a private fostering arrangement, you should inform Devon County Council’s Private Fostering Team and encourage the child’s parents or carers to do so as well. 

You will not be breaching confidentiality by informing us. This legislation is in place to protect and safeguard children. 

What we will do: 

The Private Fostering Team will work in partnership with the parents and carers to make sure the child is safe and well cared for in the arrangement.  

We will: 

  • arrange for a social worker to visit the child and their private foster carers, and we will always seek to speak with the child alone and listen to their wishes and feelings. 
  • Check there are no concerns in relation to the private foster carers. Everyone in the household aged 16 years or older will need to have a DBS and/or police check 
  • we will complete an assessment of the private fostering arrangement to consider the suitability of this 
  • support parents and carers to ensure that the child’s physical, emotional, educational and cultural needs are met 
  • help parents and carers consider financial, consent and contact needs 
  • visit the child and carers regularly, providing advice and support, whilst also acting as a listening ear for child, parents and carers for any concerns or difficulties they may have.  

If we think that the private fostering arrangement is not suitable, we will need to ensure that the child is safeguarded.  We will talk to the child’s parents and private foster carers and provide advice about what should happen next.  We will also need to let other professionals working with the child know. 

Contact Us 

If you think you are involved in a private fostering arrangement, or have an enquiry, please contact us via phone or email.  

Call 0345 155 1071  
Email: privatefostering@devon.gov.uk 

Make a referral

More information 

If you think you might be involved in a private fostering arrangement in Torbay, please visit the Torbay Council website, or you can call 01803 208100.