1. Somebody Else’s Child Briefing
Remembering the Forgotten and Hidden Children in Private Fostering Arrangements
JUDI

2. What is Private Fostering?
Privately Fostered children and young people are those up to the age of 16 (disabled children up to 18) who are not looked after by a parent or a close relative. The intention is that the arrangement will last for more than 28 days.
Privately fostered children are cared for by people who do not hold Parental Responsibility.
KAYLEIGH

3. Close relative…? Not a close relative. Close relative.
IS Private Fostering:
A divorced Step-parent
Great-aunt
Great-uncle
Cousin
Friends
Neighbour
Step sibling
Close relative.
Is NOT Private Fostering:
Parents
Step-parents*
Brothers
Sisters
Aunts
Uncles
Grandparents
KAYLEIGH

4. Other Private Foster Carers might be:
Family friend
Host family for educational exchange
An extended family member offering a home to a child from overseas
A carer for children from overseas attending a private school
A parent of the child's friend with a vacant sofa
Please be aware of the ‘Hidden People’!
It is extremely important to work with both partners/ everybody in the family.
JUDI
JUDI TO MENTION AW
KAYLEIGH TO MENTION MH (KINSHIP)

5. Other Privately Fostered children might include:
Children subject to illegal adoptions
Immigration then abandonment by parents
Trafficked into the UK for exploitation purposes.
JUDI

6. How does PF fit into the Child Protection Process?
If a child is accommodated (or looked after) by the Local Authority then this child is NOT privately fostered. Children who are accommodated may be cared for by Mainstream Foster Carers or by their own family members, such as grandparents or an aunt or uncle. These are called Connected Persons Foster Carers. Children in Need (S.17) may be involved in a TAC/CAF process. They may be living in private fostering arrangements. All arrangements may apply for a Child Arrangements Order (CAO) or Special Guardianship Order (SGO).
KAYLEIGH
HAVE PF FLOW CHART IN PACKS for how PF may fit into the CPP

7. Why does the Local Authority need to know about Privately Fostered children?
To enforce the Children Act 2004 and The Children (Private Fostering) Regulations 2005.
Private Fostering National Minimum Standards are issued under S.7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act.
Private foster carers do not hold parental responsibility, which affects the range of decisions they can make for the child.
The Local Authority has a duty to secure the welfare of every Privately Fostered child.
May bring families back together!
KAYLEIGH

8. DVD running time is 9 minutes.
CoramBAAF (formerly BAAF) is the UK's leading membership organisation for agencies and individuals that have an interest in adoption, fostering and the well-being of children.

9. Case Studies
L has a hearing impairment. Ms S explained that L’s mother is a friend of hers and has gone abroad for work. Ms S says she agreed to care for L until her mother is able to return to the UK. There has been no contact with L’s mother for the past 4 years.
A couple returned from Bulgaria with an 8 year old child who they said they had adopted in Bulgaria through a church agency to which they had paid a sum of money.
A young person aged 13 years came to the UK on a student exchange programme to study at an International Comprehensive School and stayed with a host family after the scheme had ended and continued to attend school until the age of 16.
K’s mother died in a house fire and K was left in the care of her step-father Mr S, who had never been married to her mother. K’s biological father did not have parental responsibility for her.
JUDI

10. Responsibility of the Local Authority
The LA has continuing duties of visiting the child every 6 weeks and must carry out checks on the PF carer and their household.
Visits to the child’s parents/ guardians.
Ascertain child’s wishes and feelings.
The Local Authority does not fund any Private Fostering arrangements. Advice on how to access child related benefits can be given to the PF carer.
KAYLEIGH

11. Local context
In 2013/14 there were 21 new notifications of Private Fostering Arrangements in Telford & Wrekin. This represented a decrease in the number of notifications in T&W compared to 2011/12 when we received 34 notifications.
2013/14
2014/15
2015/16
2016/17
2017/18 21 13 19 2
JUDI

12. Privately Fostered children and young people
The majority of the Telford children remain being white British, years old and female.
National figures show half of all privately fostered children are of non UK origin, years old, gender not recorded.
JUDI

13. What can you do next?
Make colleagues aware of their duty to notify Private Fostering arrangements.
If you identify or think a child is in a Private Fostering arrangement contact: Family Connect, Darby House, 5th Floor, Lawn Central, Telford, TF3 4JA Tel:
For areas outside of Telford and Wrekin please contact the Local Authority’s Children's Safeguarding Department.
KAYLEIGH

14. Private Fostering Week 3rd – 7th July 2017
Private Fostering Week offers local councils an opportunity to highlight the vulnerability of children in private fostering arrangements who remain unknown to the local authorities.
In keeping with the Government’s focus on safeguarding children at risk, the key objective of the awareness raising initiatives is to increase the number of notifications by encouraging professionals to contact the local authority, especially if they suspect a child is being trafficked, has experienced FGM and sexual exploitation.
CoramBAAF has been advocating on behalf of local authorities to give children in private fostering arrangements the recognition they justly deserve.

15. Contacts Family Connect 01952 385385 Kayleigh Millett – Social Worker
Jan Bright – Family & Friends Team Leader
Sara Powell – Family Assessment Case Worker
Fostering Team, 2A Darby House, Lawn Central, Telford, TF3 4JA.
Telephone:
KAYLEIGH