Private fostering is when a parent arranges for a child under 16 to be looked after by an adult who is not a close relative or an approved foster carer for more than 28 days.
Examples of private fostering may include stepping in to look after a child for a friend who is unwell; agreeing to care for a child from overseas who is studying in Scotland, or continuing to care for the child of a partner after separation or bereavement.
The Be Safe, Be Sure campaign aims to improve understanding of private fostering and increase notifications of private fostering arrangements to protect the wellbeing of children who are not officially accounted for through the current system.
Minister for children and young People, Aileen Campbell said:
“The Be Safe, Be Sure campaign is another step in our efforts to get it right for every child and make sure that every family has the support it needs to thrive.
“Often private fostering arrangements become necessary in very difficult circumstances – a couple may be splitting up, there may be illness or death or a young person may be very far from home. These are exactly the times that we need to make sure that advice and help is available. Just as important is that the carers in these situations know where to turn for that.
“Many carers may not be aware that they are obliged to notify or have any idea who they need to inform so the Scottish Government’s new private fostering webpage will provide the details of who to contact in every council area in Scotland. There is a huge amount of information out there for carers and parents, but it is worthless unless the people who need it know it is there and I hope that this campaign will help many more families be safe and sure.
Doctors, teachers, social workers, dentists, police officers and those working for children’s charities will receive leaflets telling them about where to access the new contact information to pass onto parents and private foster carers.
The two leaflets encourage parents, carers and also services in contact with children to notify local authorities of private fostering arrangements they have made or are aware of.
The campaign will also create new Guidance for council children’s services staff.
Parents and carers who wish to find out more or report a private fostering arrangement should see: www.scotland.gov.uk/privatefostering.
Background:
As so few council records of private fostering agreements were available for the 2010 Care Commission (now Care Inspectorate) report, Private fostering – the unknown arrangement, the report suggested that many more may exist – leaving some children in need of support or in potentially vulnerable circumstances.
Parents or carers involved in private fostering have a legal responsibility to inform local authorities. It is thought that families and carers may not be notifying professionals or agencies simply because they are not aware they are obliged to do so.
Examples of private foster care may include:
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children from overseas where parents are/are not resident in this country
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children from abroad who attend language schools or mainstream school in this county and staying with host families
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adolescents estranged from their parents
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children at boarding schools who do not return to their parents in the holidays but stay with education guardians.
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children on holiday exchanges
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children (sometimes very young) where a parent is in prison or where a parent is unable to care for them because of chronic ill health or where there are alcohol or drug issues
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children whose parents are undertaking a course of study and are unable to care for the child while they progress their course
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children in services families where parents are posted overseas
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children who are left residing with partners of their birth parents following a death or separation.
Once notified of a private fostering arrangement, local social workers carry out a series of assessments to determine the suitability of the placement, including disclosure checks on adults within the household, health checks on the child and private foster carer, and checks to ensure the child’s social and educational needs are being met.
To find out more see: www.scotland.gov.uk/privatefostering.