Are you caring for someone else's child?
If you have a child or young person under the age of 16 (under 18 if they are disabled) living with you for 28 days or more and they are not a close relative, this could be a private fostering arrangement.
Private fostering arrangements are made between the parent(s) and private foster carer. Many families and individuals do not know that they are in a private fostering living situation but, by law, the council must be notified 6 weeks in advance. If the child or young person is already in a private fostering arrangement, the council must be notified immediately.
Notify the council of private fostering
Examples of private fostering
The child or young person living with you:
- was sent to this country for education or health care by their birth parents from another country
- has birth parents from another country who work or study long, anti-social hours
- is experiencing their parents' separation, divorce or arguments at home
- is attending language schools
- is attending an independent boarding school and does not return home during the holidays.