Private fostering

Private foster care in Suffolk and your responsibilities, if you are related or not to a child, and the types of private fostering in Suffolk.
Suffolk private fostering logo

If you are concerned about the safety of a child or have safeguarding concerns, contact Customer First on 0808 800 4005.

What is private fostering?

  • When a child under the age of 16 years (or 18 years if they have a disability) is cared for by or is staying with someone who is not their parent or a close relative
  • A close relative is defined as a grandparent, sibling or aunt or uncle
  • When the arrangement is likely to last for 28 days or more
  • Private Fostering arrangements are made by families and not the Local Authority.

Private fostering could be:

  • A child living with a family friend
  • When a child remains living with their parents’ previous partner (when they have not been married)
  • Children who have come to the UK to study or who have been sent to the UK by their parents who live abroad.

The Private Fostering Act 2005 states that we need to make sure Privately Fostered children are properly looked after. If you know of a child who is living in a Private Fostering Arrangement, you must inform the Local Authority. You can do this by contacting the Kinship Team on 01473 265025 or by emailing the team at kinshipteam@suffolk.gov.uk. You can also contact the Kinship team for advice and guidance if you are unsure if the arrangement is Private Fostering.

What happens next?

  • A Social Worker from the Kinship Team will call and arrange a visit to the home where the child is living. This will usually be within 7 days.
  • It will be important for the Social Worker to speak to the Private Foster Carer, the child and other members of the household and complete relevant checks and an assessment. The checks may include, but are not limited to, a DBS, viewing accommodation and personal references.
  • The Social Worker will also speak to parents or those with Parental Responsibility for the child.
  • The Social Worker will offer advice and give information about what support might be available.
  • As part of the assessment, the Social Worker will help to create a plan of support which will be reviewed and updated whilst the arrangement remains in place.
  • The Social Worker will visit regularly (every 6 weeks) to make sure the child is safe, and the carer feels supported whilst the arrangement continues.

Informal arrangements

You may be caring for a child who is a close family relative. This may not be Private Fostering, but the Kinship Team can offer help and advice.

Each arrangement may look different, and we can help you explore options that might be available to you.

Parental responsibility

As a Private Foster carer, you will not have parental responsibility. Parental responsibility is a term that means a person has legal rights and responsibilities relating to the child’s upbringing. This means you cannot make major decisions such as travel abroad, school choices and non-emergency medical treatment. Parents can delegate day-to-day decision making to a Private Foster Carer but will need to provide consent for major decisions.

Some Private Foster carers make the decision to seek a legal order that would grant them parental responsibility for the child if the arrangement is long-term. Some examples of this include a Special Guardianship Order or a Child Arrangement Order. The Kinship team can provide information about what these orders are but we are unable to offer legal advice. More information can also be found on the websites in the ‘find out more’ section of this webpage.

Financial support

Parents maintain parental responsibility for the child and this means they remain financially responsible. There is no specific financial support available to Private Foster Carers from the Local Authority. You may be able to claim the same benefits as other parents including Child Benefit or Universal Credit.

More information can be found online:

Kinship Local Offer

More infomation about our Kinship Local Offer can be found online.

Here’s what some families in Suffolk say about their experience of Private Fostering:

I found the service good and good communication, very helpful and understanding. My child has thrived from the support given at a unsettling time.

Contact the Kinship Team

Phone number: 01473 265025

Contact the Kinship Team

For independent advice and information:

Raising awareness - information for professionals

It’s important to note that private fostering sits under the umbrella of Kinship Care, and as professionals, we have a duty to ensure these children are safe, supported, and that their carers are aware of the support available.

Download the private fostering leaflet and poster which are designed to be shared with professionals and families. You can print these to help us spread awareness.

Do you have contacts in organisations (such as schools, health services, community groups, faith organisations, sports groups or charities) who might benefit from knowing more about Private Fostering?

If so, we’d love to connect with them to help raise awareness beyond the Local Authority. Please drop us an email or give us a call to share their details or for a discussion.

Together, we can ensure that no privately fostered child goes unnoticed or unsupported.

Additional links