The steps to becoming a private foster carer
 
The Children Act 1989 says children's social care has a legal duty to make sure the welfare of all privately fostered children is safeguarded and promoted.
 
  • We have a legal duty to check private foster carers and their premises are suitable.  A social worker will arrange to visit you and the child's parents to discuss the plan
  • We will need to take out statutory reference checks with the Police, Probation, Child Protection Register, Department of Health, Local Authority, GP and Health Authority on everyone over 16 years old who lives in the house
  • You must provide us with two references who have known you personally for over two years
  • The social worker will write a report about you, the suitability of your home, the reasons and intended length of the placement, the involvement of birth parents and the child's views about the placement
  • Children's social care will then make a decision about your suitability to be a private foster carer
  • We will send you a letter, informing you of our decision; we may need to impose some requirements.  For example, this could be about the number of children a private foster carer may have living with them
  • You can appeal against these decisions if you disagree
 
If the placement is agreed
 
A social worker will regularly visit you and the child, and keep in touch with the parents, for as long as the placement lasts.
 
If the placement is not agreed
If you are not considered suitable to privately foster a child you should:
 
  • You should contact us to try and resolve the disagreement
  • If you cannot reach an agreement you may appeal to the Family Proceedings Court within 14 days of the notification
 
It is an offence to accept the placement of a child when the purpose is for adoption.  In general, only an adoption agency can arrange such a placement.
 
What if the placement ends?
 
  • If the child leaves your care, you must contact us within 48 hours, giving the name and address of the person who has taken over the care of the child
  • If the child dies whilst living with you, you should notify us in writing within 48 hours

 

  

Peterborough City Council. Town Hall, Bridge Street, Peterborough, PE1 1QT - (01733) 747474 - DX12310 Peterborough 1