Private fostering - are you looking after someone else's child?

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Private fostering is the term used when a parent or guardian places a child under school leaving age in the care of someone else who is not a close relative or officially approved foster carer for a period of time of more than 28 days.

You might be a private foster carer without realising it.

For example

• are you looking after a friend's child while they work away from home?
• has your neighbour had trouble coping with a new baby and asked you to look after it for a few weeks?
• have friends from abroad asked you to let their child stay with you while they attend school here?

The local authority has a responsibility to secure the welfare of all privately fostered children so they need to carry out a number of checks.

The most important aspect of private fostering is the safety and welfare of the child and these reports and checks are there so that the social work department can provide you with any advice and support you might need.

Responsibilities of parents and guardians
If you are a parent or guardian and you intend placing a child under school leaving age in someone else's care, who is not a close relative or an approved foster carer, for more than 28 days, this is what you should do:

• at least two weeks before the placement begins, you should contact your local authority social work service and let them know what you intend to do.
• if the child has been placed in someone else's care in an emergency, you should contact social work within seven days of the emergency.
• you should give social work certain information in writing: this will include where they will be placed, who will be responsible for their care and any other information which social work needs from you.

Responsibilities of carers
If you're are planning to take someone else's child into your care for more than 28 days who in under school leaving age and not closely related to you, this is what you should do:

• at least two weeks before the placement begins, contact your local authority social work service in writing and explain what you intend to do.
• if the child is placed with you in an emergency, you must let social work know within seven days of the placement.
• if you change address while caring for the child, you must inform social work in the area you are moving from and the area you are moving to.
• if the child dies, or is removed from your care, you should inform the local authority social work service within 48 hours.

If you would like more information or advice you can contact us by:

email: childcare@renfrewshire.gov.uk
phone: 0141 842 5159
call in or write to us at:

Renfrewshire Fostering and Adoption Services
Social Work, 3rd Floor
Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street
Paisley PA1 1TZ

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