Is your child living with someone else?
Have you arranged for someone else to look after your child, or are you looking after someone else's child, full-time for 28 days or more? If so, you could be one of many people in the UK making a ‘private fostering’ arrangement, and Islington Council needs to hear from you.
Private fostering is different from foster care organised by the council, as it is an arrangement made directly between parents and the carer.
It is estimated that more than 15,000 children in England and Wales are privately fostered – but many people are unaware that they are involved in an arrangement, which the law says they must notify to the council. For instance, teenagers living with friends because they are not getting on well with their parents, or children living with carers whilst parents are in hospital, could be classified under the law as being privately fostered.
In most cases where a private fostering arrangement is made, it is entirely in the child’s best interests and works well. However, the council has a legal requirement to make sure that all children in the borough not living with their parents, for whatever reason, are safe and that they are receiving the services and protection they need and are entitled to. Carers providing private foster care may also be missing out on advice and support.
Cllr James Kempton, Executive Member for Children & Young People said: "We want to make sure that all privately fostered children is Islington are being properly cared for. We do not want to interfere with private fostering arrangements that areworking well – but we arein a position to offer support and advice to ensure that the private arrangement goes as smoothly as possible.
“In many cases though, people involved in these arrangements simply don’t realise that they have to tell us, which is why we are having a major push in Islington at the moment to find out just how many children are looked after in this way. It is important we are told and a legal requirement and I would urge anyone who is involved in such an arrangement, or who plans to do so in the future, to contact us as soon as possible."
For further information about private fostering or to download a notification form log onto www.islington.gov.uk. To speak to a social worker about your situation or to notify the council of a Private Fostering arrangement call the Assessment Service on 020 7527 7400.
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Notes for editors
The Children Act 1989 defines a child as being privately fostered if they are under the age of 16 (18 if disabled) and cared for by someone who is not a parent or relative for a period of 28 days or more. A relative is defined as an aunt, uncle, grandparent, step-parent or sibling.
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008