Lambeth Council's responsibilities
Lambeth Council has specific duties, responsibilities and functions under the Children Act 1989 and the Children (Private Arrangements for Fostering) Regulations 2005.
Primarily, it is the duty of every local authority to satisfy themselves that the welfare of children and young people who are privately fostered in their area, is being satisfactory safeguarded and promoted.
Towards this end, Lambeth Council is responsible for:
- giving and receiving notifications
- ascertaining the suitability of private foster carers and their household
- monitoring placements through visits and written records of visits
- if a child's welfare is not being promoted in a private fostering placement taking certain steps
- where appropriate, prohibiting a person from private fostering.
The role of Lambeth Council is to work in partnership with health, education and the community in order to safeguard and promote the welfare and rights of privately fostered children.
Lambeth Council's Social Worker will carry out their duty by:
- giving private foster carers advice on benefit entitlement
- parenting strategies and techniques
- appropriate training and support relating to a child in need
- advice and referrals to partner agencies if required.
OFSTED is the independent inspectorate for social care services in England. The primary function of OFSTED is to promote improvement in social care. OFSTED has a specific duty to safeguard and promote the rights and welfare of children.
Further information
Notifications, requests for further information, advice and/or support should be directed by phone or in writing to either:
The Private Fostering Service
London Borough Of Lambeth,
8th Floor International House,
Canterbury Crescent,
SW9 7QE
Telephone: 020 7926 7081
The Referral and Assessment Team (in an emergency)
Telephone: 020 7926 7868
The Out Of Hours team
Telephone: 020 7926 1000