Private fostering

What is private fostering?

Private fostering is an arrangement that is made for the care of a child or young person under the age of 16 (or 18 where the child has disabilities) by someone other than a parent or close relative (grandparent, sister, brother, aunt or uncle)

If this arrangement is, or is planned to be for 28 days or more, the law classes this as a private fostering arrangement and the person who looks after the child is called a private foster carer.

How is private fostering different to other types of fostering?

When families have a problem at home and they can’t look after their own children, the Local Authority will arrange for a foster carer to look after them whilst they and other agencies try to help resolve family crises and hopefully enable the child or young person to return home to live.

Where a private fostering arrangement exists, it is the parents or close relatives who choose where the child lives rather than social workers. Private foster carers and parents must still follow rules and regulations to ensure the children are safe and well cared for and the law states that a parent must inform their Local Authority if someone other than themselves is looking after their child. Private Foster Carers are also required to notify the Local Authority.

Related Information

Private fostering information for parents and carers.