Private Fostering

Private Fostering is when a child or young person under 16 (or 18 if disabled) goes to live for 28 days or more with someone who is not a: Parent (including step parent) Close relative (grandparent, aunt or uncle or brother or sister) Guardian or person with parental responsibility) Private Fostering is different from public fostering, where a child is accommodated by the local authority, and is usually arranged by the parent and carer.

Examples of private fostering include:

• A teenager living with a friend’s family because of problems at home
• A child living with the unmarried partner of a parent, when the parent leaves the home
• Children from overseas who come here without a parent for a holiday exchange, educational course or to seek asylum
• Children with parents whose study or work involves long or unsociable hours

If your child is going to be privately fostered or you are a private foster carer the law says that you must tell us about it six weeks beforehand, or immediately if the arrangement has already begun. It is an offence not to do so.

The law also includes any third party involved in making the arrangement, for example a language college, and any organisation, for example a school, in contact with a child or young person who is privately fostered if that organisation believes that we have not been told by the carer or parent.

To notify us of a private fostering arrangement please contact the Access Centre:

By Phone: 0845 607 2000
By Email: childrensservices@worcestershire.gov.uk
By Post: Children’s Services, PO Box 585, Worcester WR4 4AD