What is private fostering?
Private fostering means looking after someone else’s child who is not related to you, for 28 days or more
The child should be under 16 years of age or under 18 years if disabled
You may be helping a relative or friend by caring for a child for some time. Perhaps you are looking after a child who is studying in this country or who is a refugee
A private foster carer might be:
Extended family eg cousin or great aunt
Family friends of the privately fostered child
Someone with no relation to the family– who is willing to privately foster a child
However, close relatives such as an aunt, grandparent, step-parent, brother or sister looking after a child would not be regarded as a private foster carer.
Common examples of private fostering arrangements
Children from overseas whose parents are working or studying in the UK
Young people who have chosen to live away from their family
Refugee children
Children whose parents have made private arrangements for them to be looked after by someone else
Children who attend boarding school and do not return to their parents during holidays
Children coming form abroad to access education or health resources in this country
What to do if the private fostering arrangements apply to you?
If you know or are unsure about whether you are privately fostering a child or whether your children are being privately fostered, please call 020 8583 3448 for further information and advice.
What you must do if you are a private foster carer?
You must notify us 6 weeks before a child comes to live with you / or
Notify us within 48 hours of the child coming to live with you if arrangement have been made in an emergency
You must notify us if a child is already living with you and you haven’t advised us previously
You must notify us at least 48 hours before a child leaves your care
When the child moves on you must tell us where they are moving to.
Birth parents
Call 020 8583 3448 to notify us of the private fostering arrangement at least 6 weeks in advance, or within 48 hours of the child being privately fostered in an emergency, and at the end of the arrangement.
What you must do if you are the parent of a child being privately fostered
Notify us of the private fostering arrangement at least 6 weeks in advance, or within 48 hours of your child being privately fostered and at the end of the arrangement
Exercise parental responsibility by participating in all decisions about your child
Provide the prospective carers with as much information about your child as possible, including information about their health, dietary preferences, education, hobbies, religion and ethnicity
It is your responsibility to ensure that the proposed private fostering placement is suitable for your child
What you must do if you are a professional
Professionals should ensure that children’s services know about all private fostering arrangements.
This includes a wide range of people who come in contact with children including teachers, religious leaders, doctors and health visitors. Professionals should also encourage the child’s parent or career to notify children's services.
You will not be breaching confidentiality by notifying children’s services, but you will be helping safeguard a child.
What happens next?
The private foster carer must provide us with relevant information about their privately fostered child and also some information about themselves and other members of their household
A social worker will arrange a visit and speak to the carer and members of the household to ensure the arrangements are satisfactory for the privately fostered child
A social worker will also visit the parents, wherever possible
We will ensure that you are provided with all the information you need including details of advice and support available to you, the child and the child’s parents
For further information or to discuss your situation with a social worker contact us.
Contact us
Tel: 020 8583 3448
Fax: 020 8583 3444
Email: Fostering@hounslow.gov.uk
Hounslow Family Placement
Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow
TW3 4DN
