What is private fostering?

Private fostering is when a child under 16 (or under 18, if disabled) lives with someone who is not a close relative for more than 28 days, without involving a local authority.

Non-close relatives include cousins, great aunts and uncles and family friends. Close relatives, on the other hand, include parents, step-parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters and uncles and aunts, whether by blood or marriage.

What does the council need to know?

As a Local Authority, by law, we should be notified of a private fostering arrangement so that we can review and provide support to the child and carer. 

You can notify us by email: privatefostering@lbbd.gov.uk 

What to expect?

When the Local Authority has been notified we will:

• visit the private foster home and make an assessment of the safety and suitability of the arrangement 
• visit and speak to the proposed private foster carer and their household
• take medical and criminal record checks on any adult living in the home
• visit and speak to the child 
• speak to and if possible visit the parent/person with parental responsibility for the child
• ensure birth parents are kept informed and continue to be involved in the decision making for their child
• monitor the welfare of the child and continue to assess the suitability of the private fostering arrangement 
• offer support, advice and training opportunities to private foster carers 

The private fostering assessment will then be taken to an Independent  Fostering Panel who will make the decision whether the arrangement is appropriate or not, or if requirements/ conditions are needed to continue. 

Privately fostered children will have access to a social worker for advice, information, help and support. 

Carers will also be provided with advice and support to take care of the children they are fostering.

Private Fostering A3 Leaflet (PDF, 762.88 KB)

Private Fostering Statement of Purpose (PDF, 206.67 KB)

Translated documents

Albanian

ALBANIAN TRANSLATION for parents and carers (DOCX, 17 KB)

ALBANIAN TRANSLATION for professionals and neighbours (DOCX, 17 KB)

Bengali

BENGALI TRANSLATION for parents and carers (DOCX, 17 KB)

BENGALI TRANSLATION for professionals and neighbours (DOCX, 17 KB)

French

FRENCH TRANSLATION for parents and carers (DOCX, 17 KB)

FRENCH TRANSLATION for professionals and neighbours (DOCX, 17 KB)

Polish

POLISH TRANSLATION for parents and carers (DOCX, 17 KB)

POLISH TRANSLATION for professionals and neighbours (DOCX, 17 KB)

Portuguese

PORTUGUESE TRANSLATION for parents and carers (DOCX, 17 KB)

PORTUGUESE TRANSLATION for professionals and neighbours (DOCX, 17 KB)

Romanian

ROMANIAN TRANSLATION for parents and carers (DOCX, 17 KB)

ROMANIAN TRANSLATION for professionals and neighbours (DOCX, 17 KB)

Twi

TWI TRANSLATION for parents and carers (DOCX, 17 KB)

TWI TRANSLATION for professionals and neighbours (DOCX, 17 KB)

Urdu

URDU TRANSLATION for parents and carers (DOCX, 17 KB)

URDU TRANSLATION for professionals and neighbours (DOCX, 17 KB)

Yoruba

YORUBA TRANSLATION for parents and carers (DOCX, 17 KB)

YORUBA TRANSLATION for professionals and neighbours (DOCX, 17 KB)