Private fostering - responsibilities of local authorities

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

Although the arrangement is private, the local authority social work department has an obligation to secure the welfare of every privately fostered child and make a series of reports and checks.

The information on this page deals briefly with some of the duties of local authorities. There are other duties in relation to care and education and other aspects of the child's welfare. This information is only intended as guidance - its not an authoritative statement of the law. The courts ultimately decide how the law should be interpreted.

Responsibilities of local authorities
When a local authority is notified of a private fostering arrangement, they must determine whether the placement is appropriate to the child's needs. In doing so they must:

• visit the child and their parent/guardian either before the placement is made, or within two weeks of receiving notification, if that is later. This may mean visiting both parents and private foster carers if the child is already with carer.
• obtain a statement on the child's health prepared by a fully registered medical practitioner.
• as far as possible, ascertain the child's wishes and feelings regarding the placement, taking into account their age and understanding.
  Once notified of the placement the local authority has continuing duties of visiting the child and must make other checks on the household of the private foster carer. These duties include:
• visiting the premises where the child will be kept within one week of the placement being notified to check that they are adequate for the child's needs;
• interviewing the carers;
• obtaining a certificate from a fully registered medical practitioner stating whether the carers have any medical problems likely to adversely affect their ability as carers;
• preparing a written report on the outcome of the checks listed above, together with any other relevant written information, and deciding whether the placement is appropriate to the child's needs;
• giving written notification immediately to the parent and carer on whether they are satisfied or not that the placement is appropriate;
• visit the child at least every three months as long as the placement continues up to one year; and if it continues longer, visit every six months; and visit on other occasions as the authority considers necessary.

The local authority must visit a child in a private fostering arrangement every three months for the first year of a placement, and every six months in other circumstances. A written report must be provided on each visit.

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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