Private foster carers 'may be breaking law'

By law, people who are privately fostering children in Rotherham must inform the borough council that they are doing so.

Rotherham Safeguarding Children Board is urging people to contact the borough council and register that they are caring for a child in private fostering arrangements.

These arrangements are situations where a child under 16 (or under 18 if disabled) is cared for on a full-time basis (for more than 28 days) by people who are not their parents or a close relative.

This could involve:

• children sent to this country for education or health care by birth parents livingoverseas.
• children living with a friend's family as a result of parental separation, divorce or issues at home.
• teenagers living with the family of a boyfriend or girlfriend.

The move to encourage families to contact the borough council is part of the town’s bid to keep children safe.

If they do they could access more support and assistance to look after the children in their care.

Alan Hazell, chairman of the Safeguarding Board, said: "There are different ways that people care for children under private fostering arrangements and most of those situations will be very positive for the children and young people involved and provide them with all the care and support they need.

"However, our concern is that in some cases there is no way of assessing the welfare of the children or making sure those carers have the support they require to look after the children in their care.

“We also don't want people to break the law which they will do if they don't inform the council."

For more information visit www.rscb.org.uk or contact 01709 823987.