A private fostering arrangement is an informal arrangement made by parents, for a child (up to the age of 16, or 18 if the child is disabled) who is not a 'looked after child', to be cared for by people who are not immediate family members, for a period of more than 28 days.
An immediate family member is defined in the 1989 Children Act as a ‘grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt (whether full blood or half blood or by marriage or civil partnership) or step-parent'.
As the person caring for the child is not an 'immediate family member', the local authority must be informed of the private fostering arrangement. They will visit the carer's home and meet with the child, the carer, and the parent, to make sure that the arrangement meets the needs of the child. Parental responsibility for the child will remain with the birth parent(s).
Private foster carers are not usually eligible for financial support to care for the child, but may be able to apply for benefits, depending on their situation. It may be helpful to contact Citizens Advice for further advice. Private foster carers can also request a Child in need assessment from the local authority if they feel they need additional services to meet the needs of the child in their care, but any financial support is at the discretion of the local authority.
