What Will the Council Do?
If you are a Private Foster Carer:
Two different social workers will come and visit you and your
family to complete some forms.
One of them is a social worker for the child or young person and
will want to see the child you are looking after, probably on their
own, and find out why they are living with you.
The social worker will want to check what the arrangements are
for the child to go to school, and that the child is registered
with a G.P. and a dentist.
The other social worker will want to find out about you and your
family circumstances and complete other forms. These include a
request for a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) disclosure on all
adults living in the house, which will tell us about any
convictions, cautions and any other information the police decide
to include.
The subject of the disclosure will also receive a copy. You will
also be given a medical form that you fill in yourself - this is
then sent to your G.P. for them to sign and add any comments. This
social worker can answer any questions that you might have on
private fostering and give you advice on benefits and what help and
support is available to you.
When all the forms have been completed and returned, a senior
manager will make a decision on whether the private fostering
arrangement can be accepted and you will receive a letter
confirming this. The local authority can decide that a carer or an
arrangement should be prohibited and/or is not allowed to
continue, although this only happens rarely and in certain
circumstances.
If you are the Parent of a Privately Fostered
Child:
Your child's social worker will want to contact you to complete
some forms and find out what the plans are for you to have contact
with your child while they are privately fostered. The social
worker will also want to know what the financial arrangements are
for your child while they are privately fostered.
Once all the forms have been returned and a senior manager has
accepted the private fostering arrangement, you will receive a
letter confirming this.
If you are a Privately Fostered Child or Young
Person:
A social worker will want to come and see you within a few days
of you moving in with your private foster carer. This is to make
sure that you are being looked after properly and that you have no
concerns or worries about where you are living. The social worker
will probably want to see you on your own.
A social worker will visit you regularly while you live with
your private foster carer. This is to make sure that you are safe
and that there are no difficulties at school or with your health.
You should talk to your social worker about any worries you
have.
This page was last reviewed 4 October 2011 at 12:21.
The page is next due for review 1 April 2013.