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Private fostering

Private fostering is when a child under the age of 16 (or 18 if disabled) is not looked after by a close relative such as a parent, grandparent, older sibling, aunt, uncle or step-parent so their mum or dad give permission for them to live with another adult full time. 

Situations classed as private fostering include:

  • Children sent to this country for education or health care by parents still living overseas
  • Children living with a friend’s family 
  • Young people living with the family of a boyfriend or girlfriend
  • Children who’s parents have to be admitted to hospital for long periods   

As a local authority, Warrington Borough Council has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of privately fostered children and young people

You MUST inform children and young people's services if someone else is looking after your child – it’s the law 

How to inform children and young people's services

 
The parents and the private foster carer must, by law, tell Warrington Borough Council about the arrangement if it is for longer than 27 days. Teachers, doctors or school nurses can also tell the council.

If the arrangement is already in place you must tell us immediately by contacting the children’s duty and assessment team telephone: 01925 443400, email: childreferral@warrington.gov.uk. If you are in the process of planning an arrangement you must give us six weeks written notice.

The information you need to tell us
You will need to provide us with detailed information about yourself, your child, the private foster carers and the arrangement you are planning such as:

  • Your child’s name, date of birth, religion, racial origin and language
  • How long you expect the child to stay with the carers
  • Why the placement is needed
  • Your name, address and the details of anyone else who has parental responsibility for your child
  • The date you expect the placement to start (or when the placement has started if the placement has already begun)
  • The carers’ previous addresses for the last five years
  • If you are aware of any criminal convictions the carers may have
  • If the carers have applied to privately foster before and been refused 

If the placement ends
If your child leaves the private foster carers’ care, you must inform Children and Young People's Services within 48 hours.

Related documents:



Date modified: 18/04/2012
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