If you’re looking after a child or young person under the age of 16, (or 18 years old if they have a disability), for a period of 28 days or more, and you’re not their parents, step-parents, aunts, uncles or grandparents, and you don’t have any parental responsibility for them…..we’d like to know, please.
That’s called ‘Private Fostering’, and there’s a legal responsibility for people in those circumstances to let us know.
People become private foster carers for all sorts of reasons. They can be a friend of the child’s family or someone who is willing to care for the child of a family they do not know.
Next Wednesday (5 November) is Private Fostering Awareness Day, and we’re reminding everyone that by law, people involved in private fostering arrangements must let us know.
That’s because any child separated from their parents is potentially vulnerable and we have a responsibility to make sure the alternative care they receive is suitable.
We will work in partnership with parents and carers to make sure the child is safe and well cared for in the arrangement by, for example, making sure the carers are trustworthy, finance, consent and contact needs are considered, and the child’s physical, emotional, educational and cultural needs are met.
We will also visit the child and carers regularly, providing advice and support and be a listening ear for the child, parents and carers any concerns or difficulties there might be.
If you think you are involved in a private fostering arrangement you can make a referral online or by contacting our team by telephone: 0345 155 1071 or email privatefostering@devon.gov.uk to discuss it.