Somebody else's child

How to spot a privately fostered child - checklist

Do you know a child being privately fostered? Sometimes it can be hard to tell. Whether you’re a neighbour, teacher, nurse or anyone else who has contact with children there are some signs to look out for. Try our checklist to see if you would spot them.

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What to do if you know a child is being privately fostered

If you know of a child being privately fostered please don’t ignore it. It is likely that everything is fine, but it is a legal requirement that the parent/carer inform their local council. If appropriate speak to the parent or carer. Alternatively you can contact the council directly. Find details of your local council’s private fostering department.

If you don’t feel comfortable calling the council straight away there are a number of independent charities you can talk to for advice.

Resources

Here is a list of books for anyone supporting or caring for privately fostered children and young people.

Legal requirements of private foster carers

To help us keep children safe and support families, all parents and private foster carers must notify the local council. If not, they miss out on essential welfare checks for the children, plus other support services.

These include:

Advice on claiming benefits and possible funding for some essential items
Parenting support and advice
Help in bringing families in crisis back together

If you know of a child being privately fostered please don’t ignore it. Speak to the child’s carer or inform your local council's private fostering team.

It is an offence not to notify the local council of a private fostering arrangement.