A feature of working with neglect is understanding how the trauma/life events experienced by parents impacts on the quality of care they are able to provide for their children. Sometimes, when the pressures can feel too much, families might arrange for their children to stay with someone who is not a close relative. If these arrangements go beyond a certain timescale, then it is called a Private Fostering arrangement.
In responding to neglect it’s important we understand what private fostering is and our responsibilities when we become aware that a family has organised for their children to live somewhere else.
What is Private Fostering?
As mentioned above, private fostering is when a parent organises for their child to be looked after by someone who is not a close relative. A close relative is defined as a grandparent, brother or sister, uncle or aunt or step-parent. The local authority are not involved in making these arrangements and parents retain parental responsibility for the child. Private fostering applies to children up to the age of 16 or up to aged 18 if disabled.
Timescales
Private fostering applies when the arrangement lasts for more than 28 days in a row. Because of the nature of neglect families can experience times where things are going really well followed by periods of decline. Consequently, we might see that children stay with others for regular patterns but never meet the 28-day rule. If you notice these patterns, then think about what this is telling you about the child’s situation and is this worrying or not.
Our Responsibilities
All professionals have a responsibility to notify the local authority of a private fostering arrangement. Parents organising for their child to stay with someone else also have a responsibility to tell the local authority as does the carer who has agreed for a child to live with them.
A parent/carer could tell you that an arrangement has been made but we must also be alert to other signs that tell us a child is living in a private fostering arrangement. For example, you are told about a change of address and adult contact details, being collected from school by someone new, a child may be unsure when asked who they are living with, or a young person may say they are staying with friends.
There could also be a link to exploitation for children and young people who are consistently not staying within the family home.
How Do I Notify The Local Authority and What Happens Next?
Contact the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub on their Professionals Consultation Line (01752 304339) saying you would like to inform the council of a private fostering arrangement. You must also complete the MASH Contact Form with all the written details of the arrangements and your understanding of why the private fostering arrangement has been made.
This notification triggers the council’s statutory duty to assess the suitability of the existing or proposed arrangements. A social worker will link with you to gather and explore all the information you have shared/submitted.
The social worker will also visit the families and children involved in the private fostering arrangement to make sure it is a safe place for the child to live and offer advice and guidance on support available.