Advice for parents of children in private fostering arrangements

Planned private foster care arrangements

Some parents arrange for their children to live with another family. Sometimes this is just for a few days; sometimes it’s for a longer period of time. If your child is living away from you and any other ‘close relative’ for 28 days or more, this becomes a private fostering arrangement and the people with whom your child will be staying are known as Private Foster Carer(s).

Under private fostering arrangements, the law defines a child as someone who is under 16 or, if they are disabled, under 18.

The law requires you to notify your local authority six weeks before the private fostering arrangement begins. It is an offence not to do so. Local Authorities become involved to ensure that the welfare needs of your child are safeguarded and promoted while in the private fostering arrangement.

Parents, you have by law, a parental responsibility for your child even if your child is not living with you. Your parental responsibility remains even when your child is cared for within a private fostering arrangement.

Once you have notified the local authority of the private fostering arrangement, it remains your responsibility to notify the Private Fostering Service of any significant changes to the arrangements.

Parents and private foster carers must have a clear agreed plan for the day to day care and maintenance of the child or young person.

For example:

• consideration to be given, and necessary steps taken, to make arrangements for the medical, dental and optical care treatment(s) required by the child and who will and/or is holding the child's medical record
• consideration to be given to, and necessary steps taken to make arrangements for the child's education
• agreement to be reached about the nature and frequency of contact between the child or young person and their parent
• agreement to be reached about how decisions about the care of the child will be taken.

Emergency private foster care arrangements

Where the private fostering arrangement is made in an emergency situation, the requirement is that parents’ notify the local authority within 48 hours of the child being placed with the private foster carer.

What does it mean for the child?

Children living in private foster arrangements have the same rights to protection and access to services as children living within their family home. By notifying us, you can make sure that we visit and make enquiries to ensure that your child is safe. We will also make sure that the young person’s wishes and feelings are listened to, and where appropriate, offer advice and support.

Lambeth Private Fostering Service is here to help

We don’t want to disrupt the arrangements that you have made. We just need to know about the arrangement so we can check that children are safe and being properly cared for. We also want to make sure that you are getting the help you need.

Contact details

To notify Lambeth Council of a proposed private fostering arrangement, an existing private fostering arrangement or to request further information please:

• call the Private Fostering Service on telephone number 020 7926 7081
• write to Private Fostering Service, London Borough Of Lambeth, 8th Floor International House Canterbury Crescent SW9 7QE
• or send written notification by fax to 020 7926 6541.
• For a child protection or urgent concerns about a privately fostered child contact the Referral and Assessment Duty on 020 7926 7868

It is an offence not to notify Lambeth Council of a private fostering arrangement.