Private fostering is when a child or young person under 16 years old (or 18 if they have a disability) is looked after for 28 days or more by someone who is not a close relative*.
*Close relatives include parents, brothers, sisters, step-parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents.
Private fostering is very different from approved foster care provided by the local authority. It is a private arrangement where a parent asks another adult to look after their child on a full-time basis.
Examples include:
A 15 year old boy goes to live with his friend’s family following relationship problems with his mum and step-father.
A 17 year old girl with disabilities goes to live with her mother’s friend following the death of her mother.
If you live in Oldham and are looking after somebody else’s child and think you could be a private foster carer, or you are a parent of a child who is living in Oldham with another family, you must inform Oldham Council as soon as possible.
If you are about to look after a child under a private fostering agreement or you are making arrangements for your child to be cared for by someone who is not a close relative, you must inform Oldham Council six weeks before the arrangement starts.
The 1989 Children Act gives Oldham Council a legal duty to make sure that any child under 16 years (18 years if disabled) who is living for long periods with unrelated adults is:
well looked after;
healthy;
receiving a proper education;
living with someone who can keep alive their own identity and background;
kept in contact with people important to them;
given encouragement to develop and grow to their full potential; and
properly supported when they move into independence.
Oldham Council will work in partnership with the child, the child’s parents and the private foster carers to ensure that the best possible arrangements are in place for the child.
We will:
keep in touch at regular intervals with the child, the child’s parents and the private foster carers, to make sure everything is going well;
offer support and guidance to both the private foster carers and parents, particularly when making plans for the child’s future and helping them keep in touch with their culture and background; and
offer advice on the welfare benefits the private foster carer may be entitled to.
As the child’s parent you have a duty to inform Oldham Council of any private fostering arrangement relating to your child.
When your child lives with private foster carers, you keep all legal rights and responsibilities.
This means that you should be:
involved in the planning of your child’s future;
involved in any decision made affecting your child;
expected to financial support your child; and
able to have your child home with you at any time if you wish.
If the private fostering arrangement changes you must inform Oldham Council within 48 hours.
As a private foster carer you have a duty to inform Oldham Council of any child you are looking after under a private fostering arrangement.
When you care for somebody else’s child, all legal rights and responsibilities remain with the child’s parents.
You will be expected to:
work with the child’s parents to plan the child’s care;
make sure the child is happy and healthy and their needs are met;
work with Oldham Council to discuss the child’s care and allow regular visits to your home; and
agree to police and other statutory checks being undertaken.
If the private fostering arrangement changes you must inform Oldham Council within 48 hours.
For more information, or to inform Oldham Council of a private fostering arrangement, please telephone 0161 770 3790/1 or email cat-duty@oldham.gov.uk
Alternatively write to us at:
Children's Assessment Team
Royton Town Hall
Royton
Oldham
OL2 6QJ