Private fostering

If you’ve arranged for someone else to care for your child, both you and the child’s carer must inform us of the arrangement at least six weeks before it begins.

If someone is are already caring for your child and you haven’t informed us, please let us know immediately.

Preparing for the arrangement

Before starting the arrangement with the child's new carer, you should ensure that the placement is suitable for your child.

It is also important to provide the carer with as much information about your child as possible. This will help both the carer and your child. Information may include:

• health records
• school records
• religious and cultural requirements
• eating preferences
• hobbies
• likes and dislikes.

Once your child is in care, a social worker will visit them every six weeks. During these visits, they'll have a friendly chat with your child and keep in touch with you to ensure everything is ok and that everyone is happy with the arrangement.

Your parental rights

As a parent, you still keep all your legal rights and responsibilities when your child is privately fostered. 

This means that you should:

• keep regular contact with your child
• meet with the social workers and keep them updated about plans for your child
• continue to financially support your child
• be part of any decisions made about your child and be asked for your views about important things like school and health matters.

End of care

You can end a private fostering arrangement at any time. However, it is important to notify the council immediately so we are informed about the child's new living arrangements and any other relevant details

If you plan to privately foster a child, both you and the child’s parents must inform us of the arrangement at least six weeks before it begins.

If you are already caring for someone else’s child and haven’t informed us, please let us know immediately.

Things to keep in mind

As a private foster carer, you will be responsible for the child’s health, education, and overall wellbeing. While parents or legal guardians still have parental responsibility and should be involved in major decisions, it’s important that they provide you with key information about the child before they are placed in your care.

This should include details about:

• health
• school records
• religious and cultural needs
• eating preferences
• hobbies
• likes and dislikes.

Having this information will help you care for the child more effectively.

To ensure everything is going well, a social worker will visit you every six weeks. During these visits, they will also have a chat with the child, making sure they are ok. Regular communication will also be maintained with the parents to make sure that everyone is happy with the arrangement.

End of care

When the child leaves your care, you must inform the council immediately. It is important that you provide us with details about the child’s new living arrangements and any other relevant information to ensure a smooth transition.

Professionals who work with children and young people have a shared responsibility to ensure privately fostered children are well cared for and kept safe from harm.

Many parents and foster carers don’t realise they must inform their local authority about their child’s care arrangements. If you work closely with children and their carers, you can help by identifying private fostering situations, notifying the Brent Family Front Door, and ensuring parents and carers understand their responsibilities.

Our duties and responsibilities as a local authority

After we are informed about a private fostering arrangement, we will visit the home where the child is being cared for within 7 days of receiving the notification.

We will:

• ensure DBS checks are completed on all adults in the household and a medical assessment is undertaken of the adult carers
• talk to the private foster carer, all household members, and, if possible, speak to the child alone to consider their wishes and feelings about the arrangement
• ensure that the child's physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and behavioral development is appropriate and satisfactory
• ensure the child's needs related to their religion, race, culture, and language are being met
• speak to and, if possible, visit the parents or guardians of the child to ensure the intended duration of the private fostering arrangement is understood and agreed upon by all parties
• make sure that any financial arrangements for the child's care and maintenance are in place and agreed by all.

Additionally, our team continues to visit the child and the carer at least every six weeks, offering ongoing advice and guidance to the private foster carer.

Let us know

If you become aware of a private fostering arrangement or would like to get more information, please contact the Brent Family Front Door.