Private fostering

Sometimes your parents may need to ask someone else to look after you for a while. 

You're being privately fostered if: 

• you're under 16 (or under 18 if you're disabled) and

• you stay with someone who isn’t a close relative for more than 28 days 

The person you're staying with is called a private foster carer. They may be a cousin, a neighbour or a family friend.

If you stay with a close relative like a grandparent, brother, sister, aunt or uncle then this isn’t private fostering, and we don’t need to be told.

The law says that your parents and private foster carer must tell us where you are living and who with. The law also says that once we know about you we must make sure you're safe and that your private foster carer is looking after you properly.

When we know you are going to live with a private foster carer a social worker will visit you. Your social worker will ask you how you feel, and if there is anything you're worried or unhappy about.

They must come to see you every 6 weeks in the first year of private foster care. After that they may visit you less often.

You can contact your social worker at any time. You do not have to wait for your next visit.

Your private foster carer will make sure you:

• eat regular meals
• have a bed and get enough sleep
• are clean and have clean clothes to wear
• see a doctor, a dentist and an optician when needed
• go to school and do your homework
• keep in touch with your family and friends
• continue with your hobbies and sports

Your private foster carer cannot make big or important changes in your life unless your parents give their permission. Even though you live with a private foster carer your parents must still make all the important decisions about your life. For example, your private foster carer must not:

• ask you to change your name
• make you change schools
• send you to live with another family
• arrange for you to have medical treatment without asking your parents’ permission

Your private foster carer must respect the things that are important to you and your family, including things about your religion or customs.

If you're under 16 years old, you must go to school: this is the law. Your private foster carer must make sure that you go to school every day.

Most children and young people are very happy living in private foster care, but if there are problems we're here to help.