Private Fostering Arrangements 2005 Childrens Act 1989 Childrens Act 2004 Private Fostering Arrangements 2005 Legal Definition “A private fostering arrangement is essentially one that is made privately without the involvement of a local authority for the care of a child under the age of sixteen years (under eighteen if disabled) by someone other than the parent or close relative with the intention that it should last for twenty eight days or more”

Professionals Responsibility to report a Private Fostering Arrangement The title Private Fostering still confuses professionals and members of the public who are under the impression that this title is referring to an arrangement made by the Local Authority. This is not the case. These arrangements are made with the adults who have parental responsibility for the child/young person consent when their relationship breaks down with the child/young person or they are unable to care for them. If the adult with parental responsibility is not in agreement for the child to reside with an alternative carer this is not a private fostering arrangement. If the child is placed with a family member this is not a private fostering arrangement. On the identification of a Private Fostering arrangement, it is the responsibility of professionals and agencies to report this arrangement to the Local Authority for an assessment of the situation to be completed to ensure that the child/young person’s needs can be met appropriately by their carer. A Private Fostering Arrangement is when a child/young person is to reside with an adult who is not a family member and does not have parental responsibility for the child/young person and the plan is for this arrangement is to remain in place for longer than twenty eight days, this can be a continuous period or adds up to twenty eight days with periods when the child/young person returns to the adult with parental responsibility for them for short periods. The carer is not entitled to any financial payments from the Local Authority

Referrals to the Local Authority Due to the lack of understanding around Private Fostering Arrangements and the responsibilities of professionals and agencies to report these arrangements. The rate of referrals to the Local Authority is extremely low. Children/young people who may be subject to a Private Fostering Arrangement may be children/young people who attend boarding schools and do not return to their parents care during the holidays, exchange students, asylum seekers who are in the care of an adult who is not their parent and children whose parent lives overseas.

What happens when a Private Fostering Arrangement has been referred to the Local Authority The referral will be progressed to a Private Fostering Assessment. During which the adult will have to undergo a DBS check and any adults who live in their property, their home visited to determine the suitability of the environment for the child/young person. Their financial and practical capacity to care for the child/young person will be assessed The child/young person will be visited within seven days and on completion of the assessment, within seven days visits will be completed every six weeks for the first year. Then every twelve weeks thereafter. The child/young person will become subject to a Child in Need Plan until the arrangement ceases, or the child/young person reaches the age of sixteen years old (eighteen years old if disabled) with monthly meetings being held to ensure that the child/young person’s needs are being met consistently and appropriately by their carer.

Professionals Responsibility to identify Private Fostering Arrangements It is the responsibility of all professionals and agencies to ask questions of adults who may present at their agency with a child who is not biologically their child and they have no parental responsibility for the child. In regards to what the arrangement is for the child and the length of the period they intend to care for the child/young person