Private fostering
Private fostering is usually where a child
under the age of 16 (or under 18 if they are disabled) is cared
for, and provided with accommodation, for 28 days or more by
someone other than their parent, brother, sister, grandparent,
aunt, or uncle.
List of common situations in which children are privately
fostered:
- children or young people who are sent to this country for
education or health care by their birth parents from overseas
- children or young people whose parents are from overseas and
who work or study long and/or antisocial hours
- children or young people who are living with a friend's family
as a result of parental separation or arguments at home
- local children living apart from their families
- children attending language schools and living with host
families
- children boarding at independent schools who do not return home
for end of term holidays
- children of members of the Armed Forces stationed abroad
Legal requirement
The Private Fostering Regulations 2005 create a mandatory
obligation on the private foster carer, the birth parent or person
arranging for a child to be fostered privately to inform the local
council of the arrangement at least six weeks in advance (or
immediately if already started, or will be starting within 6
weeks).
The local council is obliged to assess the
suitability of the private foster carers, and our enquiries will
include checks with external agencies. It is an offence if you fail
to notify Peterborough City Council of a private fostering
arrangement, which then comes to the Council’s attention.
Peterborough City Council positively welcomes enquiries from any
person who has placed their child or is caring for a child who is
not their own and who may have due to lack of awareness failed to
have previously given the necessary notice.
Statement of purpose
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Private fostering statement of purpose
(75KB, 16 pages)
Finance
Any financial arrangement is usually made
between the parent and the private foster carer. There is no
financial support available for private fostering from Children
Services. Private foster carers might be entitled to Child
Benefit and Child Tax Credit and should seek advice from the
appropriate Benefit Office.
Contact details
If there is anything about private fostering
that you are unsure of, or you would like to make a referral, or
seek further advice, please contact the Referral & Assessment
Team and ask for the Duty Social Worker, telephone 01733 –
864170 / 864180.
Further information
Are you looking after someone else's child?
(65KB, 2 pages)
Is someone else looking after your child?
(64KB, 2 pages)
What's your role? A guide for professionals
(91KB, 6 pages)
Is someone else's child living with you?
(751KB, 1 pages)