Private Fostering

What is private fostering?

 

Private fostering is when you are under 16 years old (or 18 if you have a disability) and you stay with someone who is not your mum, dad, uncle, aunt or grandparent for 28 days or more.

 

Private fostering is not the same as being in foster care where social services have decided that a child will live with a foster carer.

 

Someone from Hertfordshire County Council will look into your arrangement to see that your needs are met and that you are healthy, happy and safe in your new home. You will also get a social worker.

 

If there is anything you are unhappy about it's very important that you tell an adult you trust, such as your parents, a teacher or a social worker. You can also get advice and support from Hertfordshire County Council by calling us on 01438 737 500 or 01923 471 500.

 

What is it like being privately fostered?

 

Your private foster carer will look after you and treat you as part of the family.

They will make sure you:

  • Go to school
  • Eat healthy meals
  • Have warm clothes to wear
  • Go to the dentist or doctor when you need to

They will also:

  • Help you:
  • Stay in touch with your family
  • Do the things you enjoy like playing football or dancing

 

There are many reasons why children are privately fostered. Here are some examples:

 

  • I'm not getting on with mum and dad at the moment so they agreed I can stay with my friend and her family for a while.
  • I used to live in Ghana in Africa. I came here to stay with my great aunt. I talk to dad on the phone and we write to each other.
  • My mum and dad had to go away for a while because of their jobs. They will be back soon and I will live with them again.
  • My mum is unwell and could not look after me. I'm staying with my mum's friend until she is better.

 

Your parents will still make important decisions about your life and you will usually stay in contact with them. If you have moved here from another country, it might be difficult for your mum and dad to see you but they will still talk to you on the phone.

 

You need a social worker to make sure you are happy, safe and well looked after. Your social worker will visit you every six weeks in your first year of being privately fostered to make sure everything is alright and you are being looked after properly. After a year your social worker may come to see you less but you can ask to see them if you need to talk about something.