LOOKING AFTER SOMEONE ELSE’S CHILD? Contact The Family Rights Group or Grandparents Plus. The child is not getting along with someone who is living at their family home, and can no longer live there. CONTACT | But, they will only ask an approved foster carer to take on the role and the responsibilities of doing so. Children under 16 (or 18 if disabled) are classed as privately fostered when they are cared for on a full-time basis by adults, who are not their parents or a close relative, for a period of 28 days or more. If you’ve moved to the UK. Remember, the local authority is there to help and support you and to ensure the welfare of the child. ALL RULES | Usually a birth parent chooses and arranges private foster placements, which could take many forms. Provide the prospective carer with as much information about the child as possible, including health records, dietary preferences, school records, hobbies, religion and ethnicity. Parents might use one or a lot of-of the subsequent for the care of their children:. Being someone's carer probably only describes part of your relationship with them. You’re known as a family and friends carer if you’re a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister or family friend looking after a child who can’t be cared for by their birth parents. Local councils have clear responsibilities and accountabilities towards privately fostered children. Are you looking after someone else’s child or do you know someone who is? ~Brother or sister. The local council may 'officially' ask someone to look after the child of another person. Private fostering: looking after someone else’s child Find out what private fostering is and tell us about private fostering arrangements. Private Fostering Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden SM4 5DX Tel: 020 8545 4347 REF: 053854 MERTON COUNCIL www.merton.gov.uk Are you looking after someone else’s child? caring for someone else’s child who may or may not be looked after by Children’s Services (see above) and you may or may not be approved officially as a foster carer. Are you looking after someone else’s child in Islington? You need to know this. Every Mind Matters and One You can help with expert advice and practical tips. Private fostering is when a child under 16 (under 18 if they're disabled) lives with an adult who is not a close relative for 28 days or more. Are you not the child’s grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, legal guardian, or other person with legal responsibility? This leaflet explains what private fostering is, and what parents and carers need to tell us. This may include providing support to the carer, but may also, in some circumstances, mean taking the child into care. The child has been sent to this country by their parents to further their education and is being cared for by someone else while they are attending school. looking after someone else’s child Introduction From time to time, many families may have difficulties caring for their children. If you are looking after someone else’s child aged under 16 (under 18, if disabled) full-time for 28 days or more, and you are not the step-parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister of that child, then you may be a private foster carer. HD1 5JP. Huddersfield This advice sheet provides information about the social security support (e.g. Early Support – The Kirklees Early Support Partnership, corambaaf.org.uk/fostering-adoption/kinship-care-and-private-fostering/private-fostering, Special Education Needs & Disabilities (SEND), the suitability of the accommodation and of other members of the household. The local council may 'officially' ask someone to look after the child of another person. … PRIVACY | If they only provide care between 6pm and 2am on domestic premises (babysitting arrangements). Contact us . 10. As a rule, it would be an aunt or uncle, a brother or sister, a grandparent, or a trusted family friend. Feeling stressed, anxious, low or struggling to sleep? The purpose of home visits is to ensure that the children are well cared for in a safe and suitable environment. If you are caring for someone else’s child (under 16 or under 18 if disabled) for 28 days or more this is called Private Fostering. Start the fightback to a healthier you today. There can be lots of reasons why a child doesn’t live at home and their parent has arranged for someone else to care for them. Professionals must notify the Local Authority if you know that a child is being privately fostered. Children and Families Service needs to ensure that the child is safe and the best possible arrangements are in place for their care. Ideally, notification should come from the carer or parent, but professionals can also play an important role in identifying these arrangements and in getting key messages across to carers and parents who may be unaware of their responsibilities. Among the other benefits that parents can get, a child carer can also apply for Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit. If you agree to look after someone else’s child in a private arrangement, then you do need to tell us at least 6 weeks before the child moves in with you. Grandparents Plus 2. If you are looking after someone else’s child, planning to in the future, or if you are considering asking someone else to look after your child for more than 28 days, please contact us on: (01254) 666400 or email CYPReferrals@blackburn.gov.uk In some cases, you may also be able to apply for child adoption. About this advice sheet 1.1 What information will I find in this advice sheet? But, extra support and financial help is available from most of the local government authorities. You can also get extra help with schooling for a child with special educational needs (SEN). This means anyone who is not a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, or a step-parent. Children may be brought up by members of their extended families, friends or other people who are connected with them for a variety of reasons and in a variety of different arrangements. It is quite common for a carer to want to care for the child on a long term basis. Looking after someone else's child. There are many reasons why some parents can have difficulties looking after a child of their own. Looking after someone else’s child. Thus, you would need to apply for a special guardianship order or a child arrangements order. A guide for private foster carers www.islington.gov.uk. Stop the child from getting taken abroad without your permission. This could be because: their parents work very late and cannot look after them The Family Rights Group Are you looking after someone else’s child? Lloyd Mangram June 28, 2016 North East Life No Comments As part of Private Fostering Week, people across South Tyneside are being asked to notify their local authority if they are involved in a private fostering arrangement. These types of kinship carers are also known as a family and friends carer. are you looking after someone else’s child? Private foster carers may approach their local council for help and support with looking after the child(ren) in their care. Looking after someone else's child (private fostering) ... Email: contactandreferralteam@southtyneside.gov.uk. LOOKING AFTER SOMEONE ELSE’S CHILD? This may be for a whole range of reasons, for example a family bereavement or the parent/carer having health problems or overwhelming personal difficulties. If you know that a child is being privately fostered, and you think that the Local Authority is unaware, please notify the Local Authority or encourage the carer or parent of the child to do so. According to Grandparents Plus, the national charity (England and Wales) which champions the vital role of grandparents and the wider family in children’s lives, one in four working families depends on grandparents for childcare. What it means and when it happens. Email: marat@trafford.gov.uk Telephone: 0161 912 5125 If you are caring for someone else’s child (under 16 or under 18 if disabled) for 28 days or more and you are not a close relative then this is called Private Fostering. Do you know someone under 16 who is living away from their parents or a close relative? You will not be breaching confidentiality, and may help to secure the welfare of the child(ren) concerned. They will confirm what services and financial support they can provide for your particular area. Lewisham is in National lockdown: Stay at home restrictions The child is under 16 and you are looking them for more than 28 days in a row (under 18 for a disabled child). © 2021 | Brian Jackson House Private fostering is an arrangement that is made privately – that is not involving the council. Or is someone looking after your child? There are two recognised arrangements for this kind of child care: The first step towards getting help is contacting your local council. Is the child going to be living with you for longer than 28 days? • Providing advice on benefits and other community or local services. Children may be brought up by members of their extended families, friends or other people who are connected with them for a variety of reasons and in a variety of different arrangements. Although the primary responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child rests with the parent, the regulations are intended to help protect vulnerable children who are likely to be cared for longer term in households other than their own. If you are looking after someone else’s child aged under 16 (under 18, if disabled) full-time for 28 days or more, and you are not the step-parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister of that child, then you may be a private foster carer. The law says you must tell your local council if you care for a child Is your child living with another family? Private fostering is very different from the care of children provided by local councils through approved foster carers. If you are already caring for someone then please let us know straight away. What will happen if I fail to notify the Social Work Department? What is Private Fostering? This page has information for people who want to manage someone else's affairs. in the UK, the system in which ... A child who is looked after in someone else’s home for a period of time is called a foster child, and the people who look after the child are called foster parents . Relatives. You can get financial help caring for a disabled child. All councils are legally required to make sure children who are privately fostered are being cared for by a suitable carer in an appropriate environment. guardian noun. Private fostering - Looking After Someone Else's Child. You may also be a parent, partner, sister, brother, child, friend or other family member. You can also get further help and advice about giving full-time care to a child. Private fostering is when a child under 16 years old (or 18 if they have a disability) is living and being cared for by someone who is not a close relative or parent for more than 28 days. Most children are brought up by one or more of their parents, but where this isn’t possible some children and young people are being cared for full time by a relative or friend. Private fostering is when a child aged under 16 years old (or up to 18 years old if they have a disability) is looked after full time for more than 28 days. Looking after someone else’s child. Children and Families Services have a legal requirement to ensure these children’s welfare is being safeguarded and to check on the suitability of the adults looking after them. Are you looking after someone else’s child? Private fostering describes the situation when a child lives with a person who is not a close family relative for 28 days or longer. A child or young person can be removed from a private foster placement if there is reasonable cause to suspect that the child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm. Children may be brought up by members of their extended families, friends or other people who are connected with them for a variety of reasons and in a variety of different arrangements. Enquiries should be made to the carers’ local Benefits Agency Office. Managing someone else's affairs can mean a number of things, including: looking after their bank accounts, … If you're looking after someone else’s child who is not a close relative then the law says you need to let the local authority know know. believe a child or young person is being cared for under a private arrangement you must tell us. Privately fostered children are protected by the Children Act 1989 (Part IX) and associated regulations. The child would not be one that is looked after by the local council under the Children Act 1989. If you are caring for someone else’s child (under 16 or under 18 if disabled) for 28 days or more this is called Private Fostering. In 2020/21, people in the UK with caring responsibilities can get £67.25 per week in Carer's Allowance to help with costs if they care for someone 35 hours a week. The local council would class you as a private foster carer if both of these apply to your situation: Note: If this type of arrangement applies to your situation you must inform your local council about it. Looking After Someone Else’s Child? The child would not be one that is looked after by the local council under the Children Act 1989. About this advice sheet 1.1 What information will I find in this advice sheet? The benefit is not based on your income or savings but there are some requirements. Lloyd Mangram June 28, 2016 North East Life No Comments As part of Private Fostering Week, people across South Tyneside are being asked to notify their local authority if they are involved in a private fostering arrangement. 2 Private fostering Information for Carers 3 Private Fostering – ... uk at least six weeks before the arrangement is due to start. If you would like this information in any other language or format for example large print or audio please contact ‘The Children’s Hub’ 01429 284284. The service also has to be satisfied that the private foster carers are suitable and ensure that the carers receive any support and guidance that they may need to help them care for the child.