Are you caring for somebody else’s child? You may have to inform the council

People in Bristol who are caring for somebody else’s child are being asked to let Bristol City Council know.

This is to make sure the arrangements made are in the child’s best interests.

As part of the national campaign Somebody Else’s Child, the council is aiming to raise awareness about private fostering.

“Most people don’t know that if someone has a child under the age of 16 living with them for a month or more, who is not a close relative such as a parent, grandparent, brother or sister, there is a legal duty for them to tell the council,” says Private fostering co-ordinator for Bristol, Liz Osborn.

The kind of arrangements which would count as private fostering include children who are living with a friend’s family because of problems at home; a host family for a school term, school year, or during a holiday; children staying with extended family because of arguments at home, or while seeking asylum; or the unmarried partner of a parent continuing to care for a child when the parent leaves home.

The Department of Health estimate there could be as many as 10,000 children in England and Wales who are being fostered like this, but there are no official figures.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Clare Campion-Smith, said: “We all have a role to play in keeping children safe – whether you are a teacher, youth worker, neighbour, or chat to other mums at the school gate. In Bristol, we receive a steady stream of notifications about private fostering arrangements, but believe there are more children we don’t know about. If anyone does know of a child they think may be privately fostered, we urge them to let the council know.”

An adult who is not a direct relative must contact the council should a child under sixteen be in their care for 28 days or more.
Direct relatives are considered to be a parent, step-parent, grandparent, person with parental responsibility, brother, sister, uncle or aunt (whether blood-relation, or by marriage).

For more information on private fostering, visit the council’s website at www.bristol.gov.uk/privatefostering

or visit

www.somebodyelseschild.org.uk