Introduction

In the past, there have been misleading campaigns about private fostering in the media which advised doctors, schools and other organisations and individuals to notify Social Services if they became aware that a child (under the age of 16, or with a disability and under the age of 18) was living with anyone other than their parents for more than 28 days. Such an arrangement is referred to as ´private fostering´ when those arrangements have been made informally by the parents. The title ´Private foster carer´ is used for the people, other than family members, who have children live with them for more than 28 days at the request of the parent(s) or others with legal parental responsibility for the children.

Please be aware that the information on the internet related to this campaign did not make sufficiently clear that family members need not be reported to Social Services if they are caring for children. The campaign also failed to define what a relative, or distant relative is.

There was additional confusion in that it the campaign gave an example of a warning sign should an adult turn up to school and say their niece or nephew is living with them. If the adult is genuinely the aunt or uncle, they are legally entitled to have the children live with them (so long as they have the consent of someone with parental responsibility for the children) without any need for Social Services to be notified (unless there are separate concerns about the children´s welfare).

This guide seeks to clarify these points, and also provide information to non-relatives who are asked to have children come to stay with them for more than 28 days.

What is the relevant legislation?

The legal acts and statutory instruments which set out the law on these matters are:

• The Children (Private Arrangements for Fostering) Regulations 2005
• The Children Act 1989 Part IX
• Schedule 8 of The Children Act 1989 - Privately Fostered Children

What if I´m concerned about the children´s welfare?

If there are genuine concerns regarding the children´s welfare, then you should of course contact Social Services, but otherwise, the parents are legally entitled to ask a relative to look after their children without any involvement from Social Services whatsoever.

Who is considered to be a relative?

A step-parent, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt or uncle (whether full blood, half blood or by marriage).

When is it not private foster care?

When the children:

• stay with a non-relative for less than 28 days and there is no intention that they stay with that non-relative for longer;
• live in a property where there is also living either their parent or an adult with parental responsibility for them;
• live with a relative who has assumed responsibility for their care;
• are staying in a health service hospital, residential care home, nursing home or mental nursing home or in any other home or institution maintained by the Secretary of State;
• are at a boarding school.

Children are also not considered to be in private foster care if they are being looked after by the local authority, are in a children´s home or live in accommodation provided by or on behalf of a voluntary organisation. Refer also to Schedule 8 of the Children Act 1989.

I am not a relative, what should I be doing?

If you are asked to be a private foster carer for children, and are not a relative (as defined above), you must notify the local authority of the intended arrangement six weeks before the children come to live with you.

If the children already live with you, or it is impractical to give six weeks´ notice due to circumstances (e.g. the parent is taken into hospital on short notice), you should notify Social Services immediately that you have been asked to care for the children.

You must also notify Social Services 48 hours before the children come to live with you.

What happens if I don´t tell Social Services?

You are breaking the law, and could face prosecution.

What information should I provide to Social Services?

You should provide the following (or as much of this information as you are able to):

Must the parents notify Social Services?

Yes. The parents must notify Social Services (as must any other adult with parental responsibility who is aware of the arrangement) as soon as they become aware of the private fostering arrangement. The parents (and any other with parental responsibility for the children) must also notify Social Services 48 hours before the children are due to become privately fostered.

What else must the fosterer consider?

Ensure your plans have considered the following:

• Where the children will go to school;
• How they will keep in contact with other family members;
• How they will keep in contact with friends;
• Which doctors surgery they will be registered at;
• What, if any special dietary requirements the children have;
• The suitability of the children´s accommodation;
• How you will meet any special needs that the children have;
• How decisions will be taken regarding school, medical treatment etc;
• How you will manage financially;
• How you will cope with such things as collecting/dropping off to school;
• How you will cope should you or they be ill (e.g. what practical support do you have);
• What arrangements you have made regarding the children´s religion and religious practice.

what should Social Services do?

Initially, Social Services should:

• Visit your home.
• Speak to you and all members of your household.
• Speak to the children concerned (unless the Social Workers deems this inappropriate e.g. due to their age and understanding).
• Conduct an assessment which should consider whether the children´s needs and welfare will be met under the proposed arrangements e.g. is the accommodation suitable, what will be the impacts on the children´s schooling, will any special medical or educational needs be met, are you capable of meeting the children´s needs.
• That there has been consideration as to financial matters and contact between the children and adults with parental responsibility for the children.
• Speak to, and if possible, visit every adult who has parental responsibility for the children.
• Check that no member of your household has been barred from fostering a child.

What if Social Services feel I am unsuitable?

Ask them to provide you with a written report explaining why. You can make an appeal to the Court, should you wish to do so, under paragraph 8 of Schedule 8 of the Children Act 1989. Your appeal must be made within 14 days of your having been notified of Social Services having refused your being the children´s foster carer.

You can also appeal to the Court if you feel that any of Social Services conditions or recommendations are unreasonable.

During fostering, what is Social Services´ role?

Social Services should:

• In the first year of fostering, visit the children every six weeks, and in the second year, visit at least every 12 weeks.

• Additional visits should be made if requested by the children, the private foster carer or any adult with parental responsibility for the children.
• The Social Worker should see the children on their own unless the Social Worker deems this to be inappropriate.
• When visiting the children, the Social Worker should satisfy themselves that the children´s welfare needs are being met.
• Produce a written report after each visit.

Must I inform Social Services of a change in circumstances?

Yes, and in particular, you must notify Social Services if:

• Your address changes;
• Anyone in your household (including employees) is convicted of a criminal offence;
• Anyone in your household (including employees) has been disqualified from being a private foster carer;
• Anyone ceases to be a part of your household (employees leave or are sacked, or if a member of the household moves out);
• The private foster care arrangement comes to an end, and provide Social Services with the name and address for the children´s new carers, and explain their relationship to the child (e.g. the children have gone back to live with the parents).
• The children will be staying with someone else for more than 27 days. In these circumstances, you must provide Social Services with the name and address for the children´s new carers, and explain their relationship to the child.

You should inform Social Services of any change in circumstances in advance of the change happening, or at least within 48 hours of the change having taken place.

The parents, and anyone else with parental responsibility for the children should also notify Social Services if their own address changes.