There can be instances in a child’s life when they may need to live elsewhere, away from the family home where they are cared for by someone else who is known to the family.
This could be a short term arrangement to support the family or it may be more long term spanning many months or years. Depending on the circumstances of the arrangement, this could be defined as private fostering.
Bradford Children and Families Trust (BCFT) has launched a new campaign to inform and educate Bradford residents and those working with children and their families of private fostering and the importance of notifying BCFT of the arrangement.
Private fostering is a term used when a child or young person under the age of 16, or 18 if the young person has a disability, lives with and is cared for by an adult who is not a parent or close relative for longer than 28 days. The carer in a private fostering situation would not be a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, stepparent through marriage or civil partnership or a sibling. The agreement very often is an informal one decided privately between the parents of the child and the intended carer and generally doesn’t involve children’s services.
There can be lots of different reasons why a child cannot live at home, for instance as a result of their parents breaking up or conflict at home, a young person wanting to live with their girlfriend or boyfriend, or perhaps a child has been sent to live in the UK without their parents for medical or education reasons. Private fostering also applies to children who attend a residential school and stay either at the school or with a host family during the holidays for over 28 days.
The campaign aims to highlight these reasons as they are often common circumstances that we can relate to and may know someone in this situation. BCFT urges anyone who is aware of a family member, neighbour or friend who has agreed to look after someone else’s child for a while or if they themselves have decided to care for a child of someone they know, to inform Bradford Children and Families Trust.
Since the Children Act 2004, it has been a legal responsibility for a Local Authority to know about children and young people who are Privately Fostered. Since April 2023, Bradford Children and Families Trust (BCFT) has delivered children’s social care on behalf of Bradford Council. BCFT have a duty to assess and monitor arrangements to make sure the child or young person is safe, they are happy and their needs are being met.
BCFT will also support the families and people involved to ensure the arrangement is a healthy one for all. We can also advise on financial benefits that the carer may be entitled to, to support them for the duration of the agreement.
Professionals in health, social care and education play an important role as they are often the first people to become aware of a private fostering arrangement, but BCFT wants everyone to understand the term private fostering and to recognise when a child may be being cared for in this way.
BCFT’s private fostering campaign will be reaching the people of Bradford District through social media, schools, GP surgeries, religious and community settings, libraries and sports and leisure venues across the district.
Charlotte Ramsden, CEO of Bradford Children and Families Trust said,
“We know that most people don’t realise there is a term for looking after a child that may be a distant relative or belongs to a friend. Maybe they thought they were just helping out for a little while, but it is really important that we know of these arrangements to ensure that everyone involved is happy and the child’s welfare needs are being met.
This is why we have launched this campaign to raise awareness of Private Fostering. Whether you are a child, a parent or a carer in this situation or you work with children, we need everyone to understand Private Fostering. Even if you are not sure, speak to us. As part of our commitment to support the children of Bradford District to thrive and reach their full potential, we will make the right enquiries on their behalf and put the necessary support in place.”
To find out more information on private fostering, please visit the Bradford Children and Families Trust website Private fostering | Bradford Children and Families Trust (bradfordcft.org.uk).
A parent or the carer of the child can notify BCFT themselves at least six weeks before a private fostering arrangement starts or as soon as possible if it is already in place. A professional working with a child can also make a referral to notify BCFT of a private fostering arrangement, call 0800 953 0966.