Private fostering

Private fostering

Are you looking after someone else's child?

If you are looking after a child in your home for 28 days or longer and you are not the child’s parent or close relative, this is known as private fostering. 
You may be providing private foster care for a child because:

• Of separation, divorce or arguments in the child’s family
• The child is the girlfriend or boyfriend of one of your children
• The child is in this country for health care or education but his or her parents are overseas
• You are providing full time care because unsocial work hours mean the child’s parents cannot use day care   

To help keep children and young people safe, the government has made it the law for anyone looking after someone else’s child to tell their local council. If you live in Hammersmith & Fulham you can do this by contacting the assessment team. In return, the council has a duty to ensure that you are provided with any support or advice you need whilst you are looking after the child. 

What does the law say?
The private fostering law applies to anyone looking after a child who is not the child’s mother, father, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt. A child means anyone under the age of 16 (or a disabled young person under the age of 18).
The law says that you must tell us at least six weeks before the child comes to live with you, although if you are already privately fostering a child or in an emergency situation you should let us know within 48 hours.

What can I do to support the child?
To give the child the best support, you should try to find out as much as you can from the child’s parents about their health, eating preferences, school, hobbies, religion and ethnic or cultural background. 

What support can I get?
We will arrange to make regular visits to see how the child you are looking after is getting on. We may be able to provide practical help, advice and information about benefits. 

What if the child leaves my care?
You must tell us within 48 hours that the child is no longer in your care. You must give us the name and address of the person who will be caring for the child.

How can I find out more?
Contact one of the offices below:

If you live in the north of the borough (Hammersmith, Shepherds Bush)
Assessment Team
145 King Street, London W6
Tel: 020 8753 5391

If you live in the south of the borough (Fulham)
Referral and assessment service
Barclay House, Effie Road, London SW6 1EN
Tel: 020 8753 5842