Are you looking after someone else’s child? If so, you need to let the council know as it means you are fostering privately. 

If you are currently caring for someone else’s child who is under the age of 16 years (or 18 years if disabled) for longer than 28 days or more at any one time, you are privately fostering and must inform the council immediately unless you are a close relative. Close relatives include step-parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles or aunts.

“The council has a duty of care and we want to make sure that all children are being looked after in the right way.”

Once the council is aware they will be able to support you through the process and be on hand to provide you with any advice.

Councillor Maureen Worby, Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration said: “People who foster privately play an important role in caring for our young people, but it is important that they let the council know. 

“The council has a duty of care and we want to make sure that all children are being looked after in the right way.”

Figures show that approximately 20,000 children up and down the country will be living away from home in private fostering arrangements, but less than 50% are registered with the local authority.

By law, both the parent of the child being cared for and those providing the child’s care must inform the local council of the arrangement at least six weeks before it begins.

If you don’t let the council know, you could be prosecuted. 

Find out more about private fostering.