{"id":743,"date":"2015-03-18T13:43:59","date_gmt":"2015-03-18T13:43:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/beta.devon.gov.uk\/educationandchildren\/?page_id=743"},"modified":"2026-02-18T16:37:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T16:37:01","slug":"private-fostering","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/childrens-social-care\/adoption-and-fostering\/private-fostering\/","title":{"rendered":"Private fostering"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is private fostering?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Private fostering is when a child under 16 (or under 18 with a disability) is cared for by someone who&nbsp;isn\u2019t&nbsp;a close relative for 28 days or more.&nbsp;Close relatives include parents,&nbsp;step-parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These arrangements are made privately between parents and carers, often for reasons like studying abroad, family difficulties, or cultural exchanges.&nbsp;An agency may sometimes help a parent to&nbsp;initiate&nbsp;a private fostering arrangement, for example; for children who come to study from overseas.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why do people become private foster carers?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are lots of&nbsp;different reasons&nbsp;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.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other common situations&nbsp;include<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>children with parents overseas&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>children living with host families for a variety of reasons&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>children on holiday exchanges which last more than 27 days&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why is it important that we know about private fostering&nbsp;arrangements?&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Any child living away from their parents is potentially vulnerable.&nbsp;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&nbsp;and&nbsp;ensure the child is safe and well cared for.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When should you contact us?&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>People involved in private fostering arrangements must contact us in the following timescales:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If the child is not yet living with private foster carers,&nbsp;<strong>six weeks beforehand<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the child moves in with private foster carers in less than six weeks,&nbsp;<strong>immediately<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the child is already living with private foster carers,&nbsp;<strong>immediately.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What should professionals do?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are&nbsp;a number of&nbsp;professionals who may&nbsp;come into contact with&nbsp;children or families who are involved in private fostering arrangements. These include teachers, religious leaders,&nbsp;doctors&nbsp;and health visitors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are a professional and are made aware of a private fostering arrangement, you should inform Devon County Council\u2019s Private Fostering Team and encourage the child\u2019s parents or carers to do so as well.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You will not be breaching confidentiality by informing us. This legislation is in place to protect and safeguard children.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What&nbsp;we&nbsp;will&nbsp;do<\/strong><strong>:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We will:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>arrange for a social worker to visit the child and their private foster carers, and we will always&nbsp;seek&nbsp;to speak with the child alone and listen to their wishes and feelings.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check there are no concerns in relation to the private foster carers.&nbsp;Everyone in the household aged 16 years or older will need to have a DBS&nbsp;and\/or police&nbsp;check&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>we will complete an assessment of the private fostering arrangement to consider the suitability of this&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>support parents and carers to ensure that the child\u2019s physical, emotional,&nbsp;educational&nbsp;and cultural needs are met&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>help parents and carers consider financial, consent and contact needs&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>visit the child and carers regularly, providing advice and support, whilst also acting as&nbsp;a listening ear for child, parents and carers for any concerns or difficulties they may have.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If we think that the private fostering arrangement is not suitable, we will need to ensure that the child is safeguarded.&nbsp;&nbsp;We will talk to the child\u2019s parents and private foster carers and provide advice about what should happen next.&nbsp;&nbsp;We will also need to let other professionals working with the child know.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Contact Us<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you think you are involved in a private fostering arrangement, or have an enquiry, please contact us via phone or email.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Call&nbsp;<strong>0345 155 1071<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>Email:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:privatefostering@devon.gov.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">privatefostering@devon.gov.uk<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-8a84367c wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-dcc-transparent-button\"><a onclick=\"dataLayer.push({&amp;apos;buttonEvent&amp;apos;: &amp;apos;Information page&amp;apos;});\" class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/devoncountycouncil.outsystemsenterprise.com\/MASH\/homepage\" rel=\"noopener\">Make a referral<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>More information<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/childrens-social-care\/adoption-and-fostering\/private-fostering\/caring-for-somebody-elses-child\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">More information for private foster carers<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/childrens-social-care\/adoption-and-fostering\/private-fostering\/information-for-carers-of-overseas-students\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Information for carers of overseas students<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dAgI2qrdyxE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Somebody Else\u2019s Child \u2013 A guide to Private Fostering<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Further guidance about private fostering is available at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/national-minimum-standards-for-private-fostering\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GOV.UK<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Information and guidance for Homes for Ukraine can be found at:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/collections\/homes-for-ukraine-sponsor-guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Homes for Ukraine: sponsor guides &#8211; GOV.UK<\/a>&nbsp;and at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents-or-legal-guardians\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Homes for Ukraine: Guidance for councils (children and minors applying without parents or legal guardians) &#8211; GOV.UK<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you think you might be involved in a private fostering arrangement in Torbay, please\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.torbay.gov.uk\/children-and-families\/private-foster-care-old\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">visit the Torbay Council website<\/a>,\u00a0or you can call\u00a0<a href=\"tel:01803208100\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">01803 208100<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When a child is looked after by someone who is not a close relative, guardian or person with parental responsibility<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":1872,"parent":735,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-743","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-26 12:28:16","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=743"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/743\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":73276,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/743\/revisions\/73276"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/735"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1872"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}