Types of foster care
Private fostering
People confuse the difference between private foster carers and local authority foster carers.
Private fostering is different from local authority fostering. Private fostering is used when a parent or person holding parental rights and responsibilities places a child under school leaving age, for 28 days or more, in the care of someone who is not a close relative or an officially approved foster carer. There is a duty on the parent and the carer to notify us of the arrangement. While fostering panels do not approve private foster carers, we still have a duty to secure the well-being of every private foster child. They must carry out necessary checks and consider the wishes and feelings of the child about the placement.
If you think private fostering may apply to you or someone you know, you can email Social Care Direct.