Fostering

Private Fostering

“Are you looking after somebody else’s child…?”

Private Fostering is an arrangement made for a child under the age of 16, or under 18 if a child has a disability, to be cared for by someone other than a close relative for 28 days or more. Close relatives include parents, step-parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

It is not private fostering if the arrangement was made by social care, or if the person looking after the child is an approved Foster Carer.

People become private foster carers for all sorts of reasons.  Private foster carers can be a friend of the child's family, or be someone who is willing to care for the child for a family they do not know.

Common situations may be:

• Children sent to this country for education or health care by birth parents living overseas.
• Children living with friend's family as a result of parental separation, divorce or arguments at home.
• Teenagers living apart from their family.
• Children whose parents study or work involves unsociable hours, which makes it difficult for them to use ordinary daycare or after school care.
• Children on holiday exchanges.

Notifying Children's Services

By law you must inform us about any private fostering situations on the Isle of Wight

The child's parent(s), private foster carer and anyone else involved in the arrangement are legally required to inform us.  Please contact the Children’s First Response Team on 01983 814374.

Time scales

People involved in private fostering must inform children’s services in writing within the following time scales:

• If the child is not yet living with the private foster carers child services should be informed six weeks beforehand.
• If the child will move in with private foster carers n less then six weeks or if the child is already living with private foster carers then childrens services should be informed immediately.

What will we do?

We will work together with the child, the parents and the private foster carers to ensure that the best possible arrangements are in place for the child.  This includes:

• Listening to the child's wishes and feelings
• Arranging for a social worker to visit the private foster carers
• Assisting carers to fill in the necessary forms to apply to be a private foster carer
• Helping to ensure that the child's cultural, linguistic and religious needs are being met
• Offering advice and support to the child, their parent(s) and private foster carers.

If we think that the arrangement is unsuitable, we will decide what action to take to safeguard the child's welfare.  This often means providing the appropriate support to the carers and parents.

Why do we have to be involved?

 The Children’s Act 1989, gives local authority children’s services a legal duty to safeguard the wellbeing of all children.

This includes making sure children are safe, well looked after, healthy, receive an education, encouraged to reach their full potential, keep in touch with people who are important to them and are supported when they become independent.

However, many private fostering arrangements remain hidden, which can leave some children vulnerable.  We have a range of support available for both private foster carers and parents.

How you can notify us or contact us for further information:

Children’s First Response
St James Centre
4-5 St James Street
Newport
Isle of Wight
PO30 5HE

Telephone: 01983 814374