Private Fostering Week from January 19
A new drive to ensure the safety of children who go to live with friends or acquaintances is being launched by Children’s Services in Southampton from Monday, January 19.
It’s thought dozens of children throughout the City live away from home under ‘private fostering’ arrangements. Private fostering is when a child under the age of 16 (or under 18 if disabled) is cared for by someone who is not their parent or close relative. This is a private arrangement made between the parent and carer, with the intention that the arrangement is likely to last for 28 days or more.
This can come about for a number of reasons:
Because a parent is admitted to hospital
The child may want to live with friends because their parents are separating, or going through a divorce
The young person may experience a breakdown in the relationship with their parent and is looking for support through a difficult period
The child or young person may be completing their education, staying with you in Southampton, while their family live in another country
Southampton City Council, along with all other local authorities across the country, is required by law to try to find out where those children are and to visit them to ensure they are safe and well. This year the Council is stepping up its efforts to remind parents and private foster carers of their legal responsibilities in helping to achieve this.
Parents must inform Children’s Services if their child is placed with friends or extended family like cousins or great aunts (or neighbours and parents of the child’s girlfriend or boyfriend) and stays there for 28 days or more. The private foster carer must also inform Children’s Services before or when they start looking after somebody else’s child.
Councillor Peter Baillie, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Learning, said: “It is not uncommon for families who are experiencing difficulties - or who just need some short-term help - to ask their wider family and friends to look after their child for a short while, and occasionally even longer.
“Most of these arrangements are fine and work out really well for the children and the families involved. Local authorities do not have to formally approve or register the private foster carers, but we do have a duty to give advice and satisfy ourselves that children are being looked after properly.”
It’s thought around 10,000 children live in private fostering arrangements in England, yet local authorities nationally are only aware of 1,250.
Anyone who has made or is thinking about making a private fostering arrangement and would like to know more about their obligations and responsibilities, as well as what kinds of support are available, can contact Children First on 023 8083 3336.
Factsheets for children, carers and professionals are available online at www.southampton.gov.uk/privatefostering
It’s thought dozens of children throughout the City live away from home under ‘private fostering’ arrangements. Private fostering is when a child under the age of 16 (or under 18 if disabled) is cared for by someone who is not their parent or close relative. This is a private arrangement made between the parent and carer, with the intention that the arrangement is likely to last for 28 days or more.
This can come about for a number of reasons:
Because a parent is admitted to hospital
The child may want to live with friends because their parents are separating, or going through a divorce
The young person may experience a breakdown in the relationship with their parent and is looking for support through a difficult period
The child or young person may be completing their education, staying with you in Southampton, while their family live in another country
Southampton City Council, along with all other local authorities across the country, is required by law to try to find out where those children are and to visit them to ensure they are safe and well. This year the Council is stepping up its efforts to remind parents and private foster carers of their legal responsibilities in helping to achieve this.
Parents must inform Children’s Services if their child is placed with friends or extended family like cousins or great aunts (or neighbours and parents of the child’s girlfriend or boyfriend) and stays there for 28 days or more. The private foster carer must also inform Children’s Services before or when they start looking after somebody else’s child.
Councillor Peter Baillie, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Learning, said: “It is not uncommon for families who are experiencing difficulties - or who just need some short-term help - to ask their wider family and friends to look after their child for a short while, and occasionally even longer.
“Most of these arrangements are fine and work out really well for the children and the families involved. Local authorities do not have to formally approve or register the private foster carers, but we do have a duty to give advice and satisfy ourselves that children are being looked after properly.”
It’s thought around 10,000 children live in private fostering arrangements in England, yet local authorities nationally are only aware of 1,250.
Anyone who has made or is thinking about making a private fostering arrangement and would like to know more about their obligations and responsibilities, as well as what kinds of support are available, can contact Children First on 023 8083 3336.
Factsheets for children, carers and professionals are available online at www.southampton.gov.uk/privatefostering