Help needed to identify Devon’s privately fostered children

Devon County Council is asking people across the county to help them identify children living under private fostering arrangements, so can they offer support and advice.

The call to action is part of Private Fostering Week starting on Monday 8 July. Run by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering, the week aims to raise awareness of private fostering.
Children living with someone who isn't their parent or close relative  for more than four weeks are classed as being privately fostered. Although this is a private arrangement, legally the parent and the carer must notify the County Council where the child is going to live.
This is to ensure the private foster carer is not missing important information and support, such as financial advice about benefits to which they may be entitled, as well as making sure the child is being properly looked after.

Examples of a private fostering arrangement could be:

• A student living with host family whilst studying.

• A young person living with another household if they have fallen out with their own family. This could be with a boyfriend or girlfriend’s family. 


• A child living away from home to be closer to a school or to receive medical help.



Councillor Will Mumford, Cabinet Member for children said: "We are hoping that this week will help raise awareness of private fostering, in particular in a county where there are a lot of language schools. We are asking parents and carers to let us know if their child is living with someone outside their immediate family, or they are in the process of arranging this, to let us know.

"If we do not know about these children, we are unable to help and advise the carers, and ensure the young person is being properly looked after."

There has been a 60 per cent increase of private fostering arrangements in Devon over the past two years, and from April 2012 to March 2013, the county recorded 173 children and young people living in a private fostering  arrangement.

To find out more about private fostering and how to notify Devon County Council of a private fostering arrangement visit  www.devon.gov.uk/cyps-privatefostering or telephone 0845 155 1013.