Private Fostering - Information for Carers

Am I a private foster carer?

If you are caring for someone else’s child who is under 16 (or 18 if the child has a disability) for more than 28 days and you are not a close family member, you are a private foster carer.

It is not private fostering if the child is living with a grandparent, aunt or uncle or adult brother or sister, or if the carer has Parental Responsibility, a Residence or Child Arrangements Order or a Special Guardianship Order.

Some examples of private fostering are:

• Children living with a friend’s family because of difficulties at home
• Teenagers living with the family of a boyfriend or girlfriend
• Children living with a parent’s unmarried partner when the parent leaves the home (for example is imprisoned)
• Host families looking after children while they attend a language school
• Children who have been supported to travel to this country for education or health care reasons by parents living abroad
• Children staying with a distant relative when their parents go abroad for an extended visit (i.e. a great aunt/uncle or great grandparent, cousin)

What do I need to do if I am caring for another person’s child?

The law requires you to tell Torbay Children’s Services at least six weeks before the arrangement begins, or within 48 hours if it is an emergency.

If an existing short term arrangement becomes a private fostering arrangement or you are planning to make an arrangement, you should make contact with Torbay Children’s Services in the following timescales:

• If the child is not yet living with you - six weeks beforehand
• If the child is moving in with you in less than six weeks - immediately
• If the child is already living with you - immediately

When you agree to look after someone else’s child you must make sure that you get information about the child from their parent, including information on health, school, eating preferences and interests, religious and cultural background. This will help you to understand the child and take better care of him or her.

What will the Local Authority do?

As a private foster carer you will have contact with a social worker from Torbay Children’s Services.

A social worker will want to talk to you about the child’s needs and how you are meeting them. They will also want to see the child on their own to seek their views on what help they might need. The child will continue to have a social worker while they are privately fostered, and they will visit the child every six weeks (or every 12 weeks if the child lives with you longer than a year). A social worker will also visit you are your home to undertake an assessment of you and whether you can provide a safe place for the child you are caring for and meet their needs. They will want to meet all members of your household and get their views about the child living with you. An assessment will be completed which will focus on the child and their needs, how their needs will be met whilst in your care and will include all members of your household. You will get a copy of the assessment and will be able to add your comments.

As part of the assessment of your household, you will be asked to provide your consent so that the following checks can be made:

Children’s Services records

DBS (Police check) to be completed by everyone over 18 in the household. If you or a member of your household have offences or are known to the Police this will not automatically stop you from being a private foster carer, but you should tell the social worker about this at the earliest opportunity so that this can be discussed with you. 

Health form that is sent to your GP for comments.

Declaration of Suitability to be completed by everyone over 16 in the household. The social worker can help you complete these forms.

What happens after the assessment is completed?

When the assessment, including the checks have been completed, a manager will make a decision about the arrangement. You will get a letter to let you know if the arrangement has been agreed. You will also get a form asking you to let a social worker know if there are certain changes, for example if the privately fostered child leaves your home permanently or if another adult moves into your home. It is important that this information is shared with the local authority. If the arrangement comes to an end, Torbay Children’s Services need to be informed within 48 hours.

What happens about financial help?

Private fostering is a private arrangement between you and the child’s parent, the person with Parental Responsibility or the school or agency if you are a host family. Financial arrangements should be made with them. You may be able to claim benefits such as Child Benefit and Universal Credit.

These may be useful websites:

• Private foster carers financial support and benefits - Kinship
• Looking after someone else's child - GOV.UK

What other help is available while I am privately fostering?

Once the assessment is completed, a social worker will visit the child at your home every 6 weeks in the first year. After the first year, the visiting frequency may reduce. If you need further advice or support please contact the child’s allocated social worker. All the local universal services available to children in your area will also be available to children who are privately fostered and it is important that the child living with you is registered with a GP and a dentist and is attending school.

Who should know that I am privately fostering?

Please let the child’s school know that you are privately fostering. If you rent your home, you should inform your landlord or housing association. If you have household insurance, you should let the insurance company know.

If you need to notify Torbay Children’s Services that you are currently acting as a private foster carer or planning to do so, please contact us by calling our Mash Team on (01803) 208100. Alternatively you can self refer on the online Portal Children, Young People and Families Portal