Private fostering
“Just looking after someone’s child?”
The death of Victoria Climbié has brought private fostering to public attention. Victoria was a privately fostered child, whose tragic death may yet provoke a change in the law to offer greater protection to all those children who find themselves, similarly cared for.
What is Private Fostering?
Private Fostering is when a child of up to 16 years of age, (or 18 if the child is disabled) is in the care of someone who is not his or her parent, or who does not have parental responsibility or is not a relative of the child.
The term ‘Private Fostering’, applies only if you look after someone else’s child for a period of more than 28 days.
What is a Private Foster Carer arrangement?
A private foster child is a child who is placed with strangers for lengthy periods, often while their parents pursue studies, have work commitments, or live overseas. This means:
- If you arrange to look after someone else's child for a period of more than 28 days, the child is a private foster child from the first day.
- If you arrange to look after the child for less than 28 days and later agree to carry on caring for the child for a longer period of time, then the child is a private foster child
- If you arrange to look after the child for less than 28 days, the child in not a private foster child
Who are privately fostered children?
Children living in situations not necessarily understood as private foster care may include:
- Children from overseas whose parents are studying or working.
- Adolescents who have to live away from their own family.
- Refugee children.
- Some children who attend language schools.
- Children attending boarding schools who do not return to their parents during vacations.
- Any children whose parents have made a private arrangement for them to be looked after by someone else.
- Children coming from abroad to access the education and health systems.
- Unaccompanied minors who are living with friends, relatives, or strangers.
Children in private foster placements have the same rights to protection and access to services as children living in their fmily home. The needs of private foster children should be no different to any other child.
Who do I need to contact?
If you want to notify Children Services about a private fostering arrangement, please contact 020 8379 1000 and ask for the Children and Families Assessment Team.
