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Home Parents & Carers Private fostering - looking after somebody else's child

Private Fostering - Looking After Somebody Else's Child

Private Fostering is when:

A child under the age of 16 years (under 18 if they are disabled) is cared for by someone who is not their parent or a close relative, for 28 days or more.
Children under 16 who spend more than 2 weeks in residence during holiday time in a school.

What is defined as a close relative?
Close relatives are defined as step-parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles or aunts. To be private fostering, the arrangement has not been made by the local authority, and the child or young person is not being looked after by an approved foster carer.

What if you are a private fosterer?
By law, the local authority has the duty to safeguard and protect children from harm, therefore by law the private fosterer should:

Inform the local authority as soon as possible that you are intending to or are currently privately fostering a child
Notify your local council within 48 hours of the child leaving your care, with the contact details of the person into whose care the child has moved.

How to notify the local council:

In Kingston please contact the Kingston Single Point of Access (SPA) on 020 8547 5008. For more information on Private Fostering in Kingston please visit the
Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames website
In Richmond please contact the Richmond Single Point of Access (SPA) on 020 8547 5008. For more information on Private Fostering in Richmond visit the
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames website

You may also find the following leaflets helpful - please click to download:

Private Fostering, A Short Film - Download

Private Fostering - FAQs for Parents

Private Fostering - A Guide for Children and Young People

Private Fostering - A Guide for Host Families

Private Fostering - A Guide for Carers

Kingston and Richmond Safeguarding Children Partnership
(KRSCP) Private Fostering Policy

Local Learning

In April 2018, a multi-agency group looked at some local Private Fostering cases.
Find out about the learning here: