What happens next?

The private fostering officer will arrange a visit with the carers to discuss private fostering.  

They will then look at the suitability of the placement, including finding out how the child feels about it, and carrying out necessary checks. The parents will also be contacted with the aim of enhancing communication.  

In most cases, the private fostering officer finds placements to be suitable. However, if the child is found to be at risk or there is not an appropriate level of commitment towards the child's care, the placement will be stopped. The parents will be contacted and urged to take action to safeguard the child.  

If the placement has been ongoing for at least three years, a Residence Order may be possible and the council is currently considering how to support applications.

This page was last updated on 17 December 2010