It’s Private Fostering Awareness Day! Who are the children?
Private Fostering Awareness Day is dedicated to raising awareness about private fostering. The objective is to inform the public about what private fostering entails and its significance.
In 2015, the Department for Education stopped collecting data on private fostering arrangements, leaving the number of privately fostered children unknown. They stated that the data collected was of limited value as it was numerical only and did not offer any information about the quality of the arrangements, thus not contributing to child safety.
The hope was that improved future analysis of child-level data in the children in need census would identify children in need or those requiring protection living in private fostering arrangements. This data would help provide more information and insights into the profiles of harmful private fostering arrangements, leading to more effective policies and practices in identifying privately fostered children in the longer term. However, it remains unclear whether this has been achieved.
CoramBAAF aims to support a better understanding of this often hidden group of children.
What is private fostering?
Private fostering is a private arrangement made between a parent and a responsible adult for the care of a child under the age of 16 (under 18 if disabled). The person looking after the child is not a parent or close relative, and the arrangement is planned to last for at least 28 days. As defined by the Children Act 1989, a close relative includes a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, stepparent (including through civil partnership), or sibling.
Private foster carers may be extended family members such as a cousin or great aunt, a family friend, the parent of a friend of the child, or someone previously unknown to the child’s family who is willing to privately foster the child. The period for which the child is cared for and accommodated by the private foster carer should be continuous but can include occasional short breaks. The local authority where the private foster carer lives must be notified of the arrangement.
Why do we need this data?
Practitioners across the sector are concerned about the lack of data. Without data on numbers or characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity, languages spoken, or duration of arrangement, it is difficult for policymakers to effectively consider the needs of privately fostered children.
Local authorities also want to compare their data on privately fostered children with geographical and statistical neighbours, as this could indicate their success in identifying, assessing, and supporting children in private fostering arrangements.
The National Kinship Care Strategy (2023) now includes children who are privately fostered by individuals, as opposed to those fostered by organisations such as language schools and football academies. Children in private fostering arrangements and their carers are now eligible for universal support available to kinship carers, including training and support commissioned by the government and delivered by Kinship, as well as the extension to the Virtual School Head role. Available data could help ensure these policy initiatives appropriately reach privately fostered children and their carers.
To improve the current scope of information, CoramBAAF created an online survey and publicised it through our membership communications and channels over a four-week period in July. We received 45 responses, though some duplicates and non-identifiable test responses were not usable. We will be sharing the survey results in this afternoon’s webinar.
Private Fostering Awareness Day is a great opportunity to learn more about private fostering and how you can help. Whether you’re a professional in children’s services or someone who wants to make a difference, your involvement can help ensure that privately fostered children receive the support they need.
We have created a range of resources – including fact cards, posters, banners and templates – to help you spread information about private fostering. Download now and start raising awareness today!