| Private Fostering Arrangements concern children under the age of 16 (under 18 if disabled) who are living with an adult who is not a close relative for more than 28 days. Close relatives are described as grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles or step parents. Cousins, great aunts, great uncles and family friends are not close relatives and children living with them will be considered privately fostered. The law states that the local authority, where the private foster carer lives, must be notified of any arrangement. Appropriate assessments and checks must be undertaken and Children’s Services must maintain a private Fostering Register for all children living with a private foster carer. The Local Authority must visit the private foster carer and child to ensure the child’s needs are met in the placement and the child is safeguarded. The local authority must visit in the first week of placement and then every six weeks.
Private Fostering Notification: Any notification of private fostering arrangements or concerns must be passed to the Duty and Assessment Team at Pinner Road (Tel 020 8863 5544). Children in these arrangements are particularly vulnerable and there may be safeguarding concerns. It is important that all agencies work together to ensure their welfare is protected.
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