Private Fostering

• Is someone else looking after your child or children?
• Are you looking after someone else’s child?
• Are you a privately fostered young person?

If the answer is yes to either of these questions then you may be part of a private fostering arrangement.

Private fostering is a private arrangement between a parent and a carer. When a child under 16 (or 18 if disabled) is cared for and provided with accommodation, by an adult who is not a relative, for 28 days or more, it is called private fostering.

A relative in this situation is either a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt. They can be a full or half relation and could be related by marriage. Relatives also include step-parents.

Partners of the mother or father of a child would not qualify as a relative; neither would extended family members such as great aunts, great uncles or parent’s cousins.  

There are many reasons why a child may be in a private fostering situation. They include -

• living with a family friend because of a family crisis
• a teenager (possibly a teenage parent) is living with friends or neighbours
• their parents may be studying or working unsociable hours
• refugee and homeless children
• children with parents overseas
• trafficked children

Hackney Council has a legal duty to ensure that children and young people in this situation are safe and properly cared for. Under the Children Act, you must tell the Council if you are entering into a private fostering arrangement.

Please note: it is an offence not to notify the Council of such an arrangement.

Professionals

Professionals who work with children also have a duty to notify the Council of any private fostering arrangements they know of. For more information about what you should do if you come across a private fostering situation, download the Private Fostering: A Guide for Professionals leaflet from the box on the right of this page.

Parents

If someone else is, or will be, looking after your child you must -

• check that the placement is suitable for your child
• contact Hackney Children and Young People’s Services at least six weeks before the arrangement begins or within 48 hours of the arrangement being made in an emergency

You can call the Access and Assessment Team on 020 8356 5500 or the Recruitment and Assessment Team on 08000 730 418.

What should you tell the carer?

You should make sure that the person who is looking after your child has as much information about them as possible.This will include information about their health, school records, religious and cultural requirements, eating preferences, hobbies, likes and dislikes.

Are you giving up your rights to your child?

You are not giving up any rights to your child, as your child is only being looked after temporarily. You still retain parental responsibility for your child and should be involved in all decisions concerning your child’s development and upbringing. Frequent contact with your child is important so you can help make these decisions.

What will Hackney Children and Young People’s Services do for me and my child?

Hackney has a duty to find out whether the carer is suitable to care for your child.  We will make regular visits to see your child and will provide support and advice where appropriate.

What if I can’t find out what is happening to my child?

If you have any concerns about your child’s welfare, do not hesitate - contact us for assistance.

Carers

If I intend to foster a child privately, what do I need to do?

You need to contact Hackney Children and Young People’s Services as soon as the arrangement is made or at least six weeks before the child comes to you. If it is an emergency situation Children Services should be notified within 48 hours. You can call the Access and Assessment Team on 020 8356 5500 or the Recruitment and Assessment Team on 08000 730 418.

What information do I need to have?

You should make sure the child’s parents give you as much information as possible about the child, including their health, school records, religious and cultural requirements, eating preferences, hobbies and likes and dislikes. This will help you understand the child and take better care of him or her.

If I need help or advice while I am privately fostering where do I go?

You should contact the Access and Assessment team on 020 8356 5500 for advice and in some cases a range of support services may be available to you.

Will I be able to claim Social Security benefits?

You may be able to claim tax credits and/or social security benefits such as Child Benefit and possibly Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance, if you receive Child Benefit. Your local Benefits Agency office will be able to advise you.

What do I do when the child leaves my care?

You must tell Hackney Children and Young People’s Service on 020 8356 5500 within 48 hours that the child has left your care. You must also give the name and address of the person who will be caring for the child in the future.

Carers can download the Child Information form from the box on the right of this page to record important information about the child they are looking after.

Information for children and young people who are privately fostered

How do I know if I am privately fostered? If you are under the age of 16 (18 if disabled) and your parents or close family member asks someone (who is not a close relative) to look after you in their own home, as if you were their own child, for 28 days or more.

The person who looks after you in their home is called a private foster carer.

A close relative is defined as step-parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt (whether of full blood, half blood or by marriage).

Hackney Council has a duty to make sure that every child in Hackney is safe and properly cared for. If you are being privately fostered Hackney Children’s Services need to know who is looking after you and where you live. You can contact us on 020 8356 5500.

For more information on private fostering download our Private Fostering Young people’s guide on the right of this page.

Contact

If you are in a private fostering arrangement or know someone who is please contact the Access and Assessment Team on 020 8356 5500 or the Recruitment and Assessment Team on 08000 730 418.

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Page updated: 14 Jan 2009