A professionals quick guide and
checklist to Private Fostering
and your responsibilities

A Private Fostering Arrangement is…

  • When a child/young person is being cared for by somebody other than a parent or close relative as defined by Children Act 1989
  • The child is under the age of 16 years, or, 18 years if disabled
  • The arrangement is made between the carer and child’s parent or person with Parental Responsibilitywithout the involvement of the Local Authority

NB.If a young person, without the consent of the parent is staying with someone else e.g. friends family, it is the responsibility of that parent to make every effort to return the young person to their care. If they do not make every effort to return the young person to their care then WE, as LA with view as consent by default and treat as we would all other private fostering notifications.

  • For a period of 28 days or more

NB.If the child has not yet been with carer for 28 days or more but we have been advised that the intension is for the child to remain there for 28 days or more, then the assessment process can begin.

A Private Foster Carer can be…

  • Extended family such as…

Cousin

Great Aunt/Uncle

Great Grandparent

  • Others such as…

Friend of family

Parent of child’s friend

Someone previously unknown to the child’s family

Host Family

Parent’s ex-partner

Private Foster Carers are not…

Grandparent

Brother/sister (whether by full or half blood)

Uncle/aunt (whether by full or half blood, or by marriage)

Step parent(by marriage)

Someone with PR (parental responsibility)

As a Professional if you know of a proposed or existing Private Fostering arrangement it is YOUR responsibility to…

  • Advise parent or carer that it may be a private fostering arrangement and, of the requirement for them to notify Wirral Local Authority’sCADT(Central Advise Duty Team)
  • Where possible encourage and support parent/carer to contact CADT to notify of the arrangement
  • To ensure notification you should also notify CADTon 606 2008
  • You should still notify CADT of an arrangement when it hasn’t been possible to inform the parent or carer that you are doing so

On receipt of notification CADT (central advice duty team) will launch to the appropriate district team for allocation to a social worker who will…

  • New cases…visit within 7 working days of notification and speak to the child and the carer
  • Carry out SWAN assessment and if identified as private fostering arrangement progress to a Private Fostering Arrangement Assessment (PFAA)
  • PFOtoask carers to complete Carer Enquiry Consentform to give permission for checks to be undertaken and confirm arrangement
  • DBS’schecks will be completed on all adults in the household and health & safety checks on premisesalong with any additional checks as agreed with social worker
  • Completed assessment to be authorised by Practice Manager and decision on suitability of carer and arrangement to be made by District Manager; timescales of complete process is 45 days from date of notification
  • Visits (REG.8) to be undertaken no less than every 6 weeks until arrangement ends or child reaches 16 years
  • Arrangement to be reviewed every 6months in line with CIN

Quick Checklist

It is a private fostering arrangement if…

  • The child is under the age of 16, or 18 if disabled
  • The child is living with someone other than a close relative (see ‘Private Foster Carer can be’)
  • The child has been living or the intension is for them to live there for 28 days or more
  • It is arranged and agreed by parent and carer

NB. If a young person, without the consent of the parent, is staying with someone else e.g. friends family, it is the responsibility of that parent to make every effort to return the young person to their care. If they do not make every effort to return the young person to their care then, as LA, we will view this as consent by default and treat as we would any other private fostering notification.

  • If there is no Local Authority involvement in making the arrangement (we have not placed the child)

If the answer isYES to these questions then Wirral Local Authority needs to be notified.

If you are NOT SURE you should still notify the Local Authority and let them make the decision

For further information and support contact:

Carol Bannon

Private Fostering Officer

Central and West Office

Pensby Children’s Centre

Fishers Lane

Pensby CH61 8SD

Tel: 0151 666 4721

Mob: 07826 877 229

Email:

OrCentral Advice Duty Team 606 2008

Children and Young People’s Department