From 1 July 2005, the government introduced new legislation and guidance on private fostering.
Private fostering is when a child or young person aged under 16 (or 18 if they are disabled) is cared for and provided with accommodation for 28 days or more by an adult who is not a close relative.
It is normally a private agreement between a parent and another adult. Private foster carers may be from the extended family such as a cousin or great aunt, a friend of the family, the parent of a friend of the child, or someone previously unknown to the child’s family.
It is not a private fostering arrangement if the child is living with a close relative such as an aunt, uncle, step-parent, grandparent or sibling.
There are many private fostering situations. These can include:
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children or young people who are sent to this country for education, health care by their birth parents from overseas
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teenagers living with a friend’s family because they do not get on with their own family
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children living with a friend’s family because their parents’ study or work involves unsociable hours, which makes it difficult to use ordinary day care or after school care
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children staying with another family because their parents have divorced or separated
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a child from overseas staying with a host family while attending school or overseas students at boarding school who stay with a host family during the holidays
How private foster carers can get support
Dudley Council has a legal duty to ensure that any child or young person is in a suitable and safe private fostering arrangement. We will make regular visits to your child and his/her private foster carer, and are able to provide advice and support where necessary.
Private foster carers can approach Dudley Council for help and support in looking after the child/children in their care. This can include:
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in certain cases there may be financial help available
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information about any local support networks for carers
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carers may be able to claim additional benefits from the benefits agency
The Children Act 2004 requires that Dudley Council is notified of any proposed private fostering arrangement six weeks prior to it starting. If the arrangement is starting within six weeks or is already an existing arrangement then you should notify us immediately.
If you are aware of a child or young person who may be in a private fostering arrangement or who may be potentially placed in a private fostering arrangement you should contact us immediately.
It is a legal requirement to notify Dudley Council of a private fostering arrangement
If you wish to notify Dudley Council of a private fostering arrangement you can do so by completing the form below:
For further information & advice contact:
Sarah Whitehouse
Private fostering
7th floor Falcon House
The Minories
Dudley
DY2 8PG
01384 818570
Private fostering awareness week 20 - 26 February 2012
Download the poster in the related documents section below.
