Private Fostering
 What is private fostering?
Private fostering is when a child under the age of 16 (under 18 if disabled) is placed in the care of someone who is not their parent or close relative through a private agreement made between their parent and a carer, for 28 days or more. A close relative is a step-parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt whether of full blood, half blood or by marriage.
Are you looking after someone else's child? Is your child living with another family?
Find out more about the national campaign on private fostering - Somebody Else's Child.
You might be involved in a private fostering arrangement. If you are, you must let us know. Private foster carers can receive advice and support. If you haven't told us, you could be missing out.
Examples of private fostering arrangements
- children sent to the UK for education or health care by parents who live overseas
- a teenager living with the family of a friend because they have problems with their own family
- children staying with another family because their parents have separated, divorced, are hospitalised or imprisoned
- students at boarding school who stay with a host family during the holidays.
Southwark 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 us if you are entering into a private fostering arrangement. It is an offence not to notify the council of such an arrangement.
We don't want to interfere in what is working well. Our aim is to provide support and advice to ensure that the private arrangement goes as smoothly as possible.
What you must do
You must let us know if you think you are already, or are about to be, making a private fostering arrangement. We're here to help and can give you help and advice and answer any queries you may have.
What we must do
The council has a legal requirement to make sure that all children in the borough not living with their parents, for whatever reason, are safe and that they are receiving the services and protection they need and are entitled to.
It's easy to sign up as a private foster carer in Southwark
Contact us - details at the bottom of this page - and you'll get advice and support, including
- access to our trained advisers
- advice on whether you can claim extra social security benefits
- a support network made up of other foster carers
- a wide range of training courses and schemes designed to help you.
Information for children and young people
The Private Fostering website provides usfeul information for children and young people. You can find out about:
- what your private foster carer must do for you
- what a private foster carers must not do
- what to do if you are having problems living with your private foster carer.
Frequently asked questions on private fostering
- I am looking after a relative’s child but she does not pay me. Is this private fostering?
Yes, it makes no difference whether money changes hands or not - it is still a private fostering arrangement.
- This is a private arrangement between me and my friend. What has it got to do with the council?
We are legally required to ensure that all children being privately fostered are being cared for by suitable carers in an appropriate environment. We can not interfere if we find all is well with the child. Children who are privately fostered have told us that they want a social worker to visit and make sure they are alright.
- The child’s mother does not want the authorities involved. Do I have the right to go against her wishes?
Yes, otherwise both of you may be committing an offence. Parents also have a duty to tell the local authority that they are arranging for someone else to look after their child. This should be done before the arrangement starts but we realise many people do not know this so the main thing is to get in touch now.
- I work in a school, we know lots of children who live away from their parents. I do not know whether I should be doing anything about this.
Yes, you should be doing something. Contact us for advice.
- I am a private foster carer. Is there financial support available to me?
There may be financial assistance and benefits you are entitled to. Please contact us to find out more.
Still confused?  Read some examples of private fostering (Word 20kb).
Useful links
Leaflets
To view these documents, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Strategy and annual report
The private fostering statement of purpose and annual report are available to view in Publications.
Contact us
Private fostering
Tel: 020 7525 3946
Sumner House
Sumner Road
Londn
SE15 5QS
|