Private Fostering

An introduction

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Definition StatisticsWhy is it

important?

Whose responsibility

is it?

What safeguards

are in place?

Our procedure

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Frequently asked

questions

Knowledge check

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Introduction• Many children who are privately fostered are not

known to be privately fostered by the services, institutions and people working with them.

• Privately fostered children are much more vulnerable because of their invisibility, and because services do not always record and report information about them.

• Under new regulations identifying, recording and reporting children who may be privately fostered is everyone’s responsibility. The responsibility falls on all people or agencies whose work brings them into contact with children and young people.

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Definition

‘A private fostering arrangement is essentially one that is made privately (that is to say without the involvement of a local authority) for the care of a child under the age of 16 (under 18 if disabled) by someone other than a parent or close relative with the intention that it should last for 28 days or more…

The period for which the child is cared for and accommodated by the private foster carer should be continuous, but that continuity is not broken by the occasional short break.’National Minimum Standards for Private Fostering DfES 2005 Menu Next

Definition 2

What does this mean?

A privately fostered child is a child or young person looked after by someone other than a parent, step-parent, sibling, aunt, uncle or grandparent who has no parental responsibility for a period of more than 28 days.

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Definition 3

A private fostering arrangement is only legitimate if:

• the parent gives informed consent

•Devon County Council knows about, and agrees with, the arrangement.

It is not private fostering when children live with, and are cared for by, their aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, grandparents or step-parents.

Note For some older children, especially teenagers, their parents know where they are and, while not ‘consenting’, choose not to intervene. Effectively this may be classed as private fostering.

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Definition 4Examples of private fostering arrangements are:• a child or young person from overseas staying with a

UK host family for educational or health reasons

• a child or young person unable to live with their familyfor a period of time, for example due to ill health of parents, parental work commitments or care concerns

• a teenager temporarily estranged from their parents

• a child at boarding school who lives with another family in the holidays for more than two weeks

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Statistics

Key facts for year ending March 2011

• 1,649 children were reported as being cared

for and living in private fostering arrangements in England – an increase on previous years.

• 60% of privately fostered children were born in the UK – a decrease of 5% on 2010

• The number of privately fostered children born in Africa was 6% - a drop from 10% in 2010

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StatisticsPrivate fostering arrangements by place of birth March 2011

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Other includes Middle East, Oceania, Canada, Central America and South America

StatisticsPrivate fostering arrangements by age March 2011

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Source: Department for Education 2011

Why is it important?

Privately fostered children are often made more vulnerable by their living circumstances and by their status, as they are often not identified and made known to their local authority.

In his report on residential care services Lord William Utting said that: ‘private fostering is among the least controlled and most open to abuse of all the environments in which children live away from home.’

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Victoria Climbié was brought to the UK in April 1999 from the Ivory Coast by her great-aunt Therese-Marie Kouao. Victoria had been brought to the UK in a private fostering arrangement to have the opportunity for a good education. She died on 25 February 2000.

The Home Office Pathologist found 128 separate injuries on her body and stated that it was: “the worst case of child abuse I’ve encountered.”

In his enquiry Lord Laming highlighted concerns about children in private foster care. Subsequent guidance has emphasised the duty of local authorities to safeguard privately fostered children.

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It is the responsibility of everybody whose work brings them in to contact with children and young people to report private fostering arrangements.

That means you!

Whose responsibility is it to report private fostering arrangements?

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What safeguards are in place to protect privately fostered children?

We use The National Minimum Standards for Private Fostering

These say that:• all local authorities (like DCC) have a duty to assess the

suitability of a private fostering arrangement• all privately fostered children should have a named

worker who visits them regularly • the parent of the privately fostered child retains parental

responsibility during the private fostering arrangement• all services have a responsibility to:

� promote awareness of private fostering � actively identify and report privately fostered children � act to safeguard and support privately fostered children. Menu Next

Our procedures These are flowcharts of our procedures which must be followed

whenever we are notified about a privately fostered child.

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H4a Private Fostering Arrangement Process

H4c Private Fostering Visits Process

PF1 form and PF2 form

Frequently asked questions

I have concerns about the status of a child - what

should I do?

I don’t work for DCC – is this my responsibility?

I know a privately

fostered child, but they seem fine – do I need

to tell DCC?

What if an arrangement DCC knows

about changes?

Will telling DCC breach a young

person’s confidentiality?

Where do I get more

information?

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If you become aware of any private fostering arrangements, or an arrangement that you think may be private fostering, you should tell the DCC Private Fostering Team by calling 0845 155 1013 or emailing mashsecure@devon.gcsx.gov.uk

If you are not sure and would like to discuss the situation with a member of our team email privatefostering@devon.gov.uk

I have concerns about the status of a child, but I’m not sure if it’s private fostering arrangement, what should I do?

FAQ

I don’t work for DCC social care services

– isn’t it their responsibility to gather this information?It is everyone’s responsibility to report any circumstances which may be private fostering.

Victoria Climbié died because individuals, teams, agencies and systems failed to gather and share information.

DCC is responsible for following up reports and assessing the suitability of the arrangement and visiting the child regularly. FAQ

Yes, you do. We cannot assume that everything is fine without checking. DCC has a duty to assess the suitability of the arrangement to ensure that the child’s welfare and safety is being promoted and that the child’s needs are being met.

The death of Victoria Climbié while being privately fostered shows that if situations are not checked children may be in danger.

I know of a child being privately fostered, but they seem fine – do I have to tell DCC?

FAQ

DCC should be notified about any significant changes to a private fostering arrangement within 48 hours.

Significant changes include: � change of address � someone joining or leaving the household � any household member having a court conviction, a disqualification from fostering or any limits on how

many children they can foster � the child leaving the private foster carer’s address � the death of the child.

What if an arrangement that DCC knows about changes?

FAQ

You will not be breaching confidentiality by notifying DCC, you will be ensuring that the child or young person is safe.

If you believe a child is in a private fostering arrangement you must tell the DCC Private Fostering Team on 0845 155 1013 or email mashsecure@devon.gcsx.gov.uk

If it is appropriate you should tell the child or young person that you are contacting us.

I know about a young person in a private fostering arrangement – will telling DCC breach their confidentiality?

FAQ

Contact the DCC Private Fostering Team on 0845 155 1013 or email privatefostering@devon.gov.uk

If you think a child may be living in a private fostering arrangement email mashsecure@devon.gcsx.gov.uk

Visit http://dscb.info/children-and-young-people/ for a DVD on Private Fostering produced by BAAF

Visit www.devon.gov.uk/cyps-privatefostering for DCC information on Private Fostering

See also British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) www.BAAF.org.uk Rights 4 Me www.rights4me.org Somebody Else’s Child www.privatefostering.org.uk/profs

Where do I get more information?

FAQ

Lucy is 12. She has been spending a lot of time with her

friend Kelly’s family because her mum and dad are going through an unpleasant divorce and she finds the arguments unsettling.

Lucy has asked if she can live permanently with Kelly’s family. Lucy’s mum and dad think this is a good idea as the disruption is starting to affect her school work.

Would this be a private fostering arrangement?

Knowledge check 1

Yes No

Correct!

Lucy will be staying with someone who is not a close relative and the arrangement is likely to last for more than 28 days – so this would be a private fostering arrangement.

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That is not correct

You may want to re-read the private fostering definition slides

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Private fostering definition

Steven is 5. His mum has gone in to hospital for an

operation and the doctors have advised her that she will not be able to look after Steven for up to two months while she is recovering.

Steven will stay with his grandmother until his mum is well.

Would this be a private fostering arrangement?

Knowledge check 2

Yes No

Correct!

Steven will be staying with a grandparent so this arrangement would be kinship fostering and not private fostering.

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That is not correct

You may want to re-read the private fostering definition slides

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Private fostering definition

Baako is 15. He has come to the UK to study and learn

English. His parents have arranged for him to live with an English host family for the duration of his schooling.

He plans to visit his family every three weeks.

Would this be a private fostering arrangement?

Knowledge check 3

Yes No

Correct!

Even though Baako will be seeing his parents at intervals of less than 28 days, this would still be a private fostering arrangement because ‘continuity is not broken by the occasional short break’.

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That is not correct

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Private fostering definition

Carrie is 17 and has a mild learning disability.

She wants to move in with her boyfriend and his family and her parents have no problem with this.

Would this be a private fostering arrangement?

Knowledge check 4

Yes No

Correct!

Although Carrie is 17 this would still be a private fostering arrangement because she has a disability.

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That is not correct

You may want to re-read the private fostering definition slides

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Private fostering definition