Private fostering - a guide for professionals in social care, health and education
The law governing private fostering
- Private foster children are safeguarded by the Children Act 1989 (Part IX)
- Children Act 2004
- Children (private arrangements for fostering) Regulations 2005
- Private Fostering National Minimum Standards July 2005
The regulations require that the local authority must satisfy itself that the arrangements for private fostering are acceptable and that the foster carers are suitable. The local authority does not register or approve private foster carers. They are required to visit the child in the private foster home and can prohibit private fostering in certain circumstances.
There are some people who are disqualified from private fostering because they or a member of their household are disqualified under the "Disqualification for Caring for Children Regulations" (England) 2004.