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Private Fostering
Private Fostering
Private fostering is a private arrangement between a child's parents and foster parents. Children are privately fostered if they live with someone for 28 days or more or are placed with the intention that they will stay for 28 days or more. Private Fostering applies to children under 16 years old (or 18 if they are disabled) and doesn't include arrangements made between the child's parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles or step parents. All other relatives would be considered private fostering.
- What the law says about Private Fostering
- What private foster carers need to do
- What birth parents need to do
- What we will do
- Prohibitions and restrictions
- Information for health, education and social care professionals
- Cultural and Ethnic Issues
- How to notify Thurrock Fostering
- Support for Private Fostering
- Checklist for Private Fostering
What the law says about private fostering
Private fostered children are protected by the Children Act 1989 and The Children and Private Arrangements for Fostering Regulations 1991. This places a responsibility on Local Authorities Children’s Services departments and other agencies, such as Health and Education, to work with private foster parents and the child's birth parents to make sure the child's welfare is priority.
What private foster carers need to do
It is a legal requirement for private foster carers in Thurrock to advise the Thurrock Fostering Team of their intention to foster a child at least 6 weeks in advance, or in emergency cases within 4 hours of the child’s arrival. Private foster carers also need to let us know when a child leaves their care, giving the name and address of the person they are moving on to.
What birth parents need to do
Birth parents are obliged to pass on as much information as possible about the child to the carers, such as health records, dietary requirements, school records, hobbies and religion. If the private foster carer hasn't informed us of the arrangement then the birth parent should as soon as possible.
What we will do
It is our legal duty to make sure all private fostering arrangements are safe for the child, but we can only do this if we are aware of the arrangement. Once informed of the arrangement it is our job to check the suitability of private foster carers, to make regular visits to the child and to ensure advice, help and support is available when needed.
Prohibitions and restrictions
If the Thurrock Council fostering team feel that the proposed – or actual – arrangement in a foster home is unsuitable, they can either take action to stop the placement or impose specific requirements. If such action is taken, foster parents are informed in writing, but have the right to ask a court for a decision on the matter.
Information for health, education and social care professionals
Private foster carers are legally required to notify us but many still don't know that they have to. This means we are unable to make sure the child's welfare is safeguarded. Professionals within the education, health and social care fields need to help us by ensuring they are proactive in identifying and notifying us of private fostering arrangements that they are aware of. If you know, or suspect, that a child is being privately fostered and you think we are unaware please notify us or encourage the parent/carer to do so.
Further information about how to notify us can be found in the section How to notify Thurrock Fostering.
Cultural and Ethnic Issues
Traditionally, many West African children – mainly Nigerian – are privately fostered. It is important that these children maintain their sense of cultural and racial identity and that their particular needs (diet, skin care and hair care for example) are understood and met by their foster parents. Your social worker or health visitor can give advice on these issues. If you are privately fostering a foreign child, you should make sure that immigration papers are in order and his or her immigration status is clear.
How to notify Thurrock Fostering
If you are entering into a private fostering agreement we need to know. You can inform us by calling 01375 652616 or 652618 and stating that you wish to notify us of a private fostering arrangement. You can also email fostering.adoption@thurrock.gov.uk
We will require the following details from you when you contact us:
- the name, sex, date and place of birth, ethnic and cultural background of the child
- the name and address of the proposed foster parents and any previous addresses within the last five years
- the purpose and intended length of the fostering arrangement
- the name and address of the child's parents or anyone else who has parental responsibility for the child
- the name and address of any other person involved in making the fostering arrangement (eg any other agency)
- the date the fostering arrangement is to begin or when it began You also need to let us know once the child moves on and is no longer living with you.
Support for private fostering
We are here to offer help and advice to private fostering carers in Thurrock;
- In certain cases you may be able to obtain assistance for children that are seen to be 'in need'. This is usually in the form of support services and in exceptional circumstances, financial assistance.
- You may be able to get involved in support networks that we already have established for foster carers
- Private foster carers may be entitled to social security benefits, such as Child Benefit, Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance. To find out more please contact us and we'll put you in touch with your local Benefits Agency Office.
Checklist for private fostering
- ensure the child is enrolled in school
- notify the Thurrock Council Fostering Team of your intention to foster by calling 01375 652616 or 652618
- get written consent from parents to have care of the child
- keep in touch with the child's parents
- make sure you have background information (including medical history) for the child before he or she is placed with you
- if the child is from abroad check his or her immigration status
- register the child with your GP
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Thurrock Council Privacy Statement |