Private fostering - a guide for professionals in social care, health and education

The parent

• Notify the local authority of the intended arrangement in writing or within 48 hours of it taking place, giving written permission for medical treatment in an emergency.
• Talk to the foster carer to ensure he/she will care for your child as you would wish.
• Maintain your child; make appropriate financial arrangements with the carer.
• Agree the arrangements for seeing and talking to your child.

The private foster carer

• Notify the local authority of the intended arrangement in writing or within 48 hours of the arrangement taking place.
• Allow a social worker to visit the private foster home and see the child. Provide information as required. Allow the social worker to inspect your premises and make reasonable recommendations. Report any changes in your household.
• Comply with any legal requirement. For example Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are done on all those in the household aged 16 and over, not just adults.
• Make an agreement with parents about their expected level of involvement in the day-to-day care and decision-making about their child.
• Promote the child's welfare in your home.

The local authority

• Visit and make an assessment of the suitability and safety of the home placement.
• Carry out Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks on private foster carers and any person aged 16 and over the household.
• Keep birth parents informed about the outcome of the assessment, DBS checks and visits.
• Monitor the child's welfare and any changes in the household composition.
• Offer carers the opportunity to get involved in local foster carer training and support.

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.