Published: Tuesday, 9th October 2018
The Royal Borough of Greenwich will be providing drop-in surgeries about private fostering as part of its awareness week running from 22 to 26 October 2018.
When a child lives with someone who is not their close relative this could be a private fostering arrangement - and the Council needs to know to make sure the child is safe and well looked after.
The drop-in surgeries are for professionals, parents, private foster carers and anyone who needs advice.
What is private fostering?
A private fostering arrangement is when a child, under the age of 16, (18, if it is a child with disability) goes to live with someone, for more than 28 days, who is not their birth-parent, step-parent, sibling, grandparent; or blood uncle or aunt.
'These children are a particularly vulnerable'
As Councillor David Gardner, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, explains: "These children are a particularly vulnerable - they could be trafficked, unaccompanied asylum seekers, runaways or teenagers estranged from their parents and living with family friends.
"By law, parents and carers must notify the Council of any private fostering arrangement, but many private foster carers do not realise that they should do this even when the child’s parents made the plan directly with them. We need to know so we can make sure that the children and carers receive the right support, and that the children are safe."
Support available during Private Fostering Week
Advice-stand at Woolwich Centre Library - 22 to 26 October (staff will be on hand on Tuesday and Wednesday)
Advice-stand at reception in The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London SE18 6HQ - 22 to 26 October (staff will be on hand on Tuesday and Wednesday)