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6. Private fostering arrangements
6.1 It is important to distinguish 'private fostering' from 'public fostering'. Public fostering is the provision of fostering services to children who are looked after by local authorities and can be done by the local authorities or others on their behalf.
6.2 Private fostering is where parents make arrangements with people who are not close relatives 3 to care for their children. Parents have a duty to report the arrangement to the relevant local authority, who must inspect and monitor the accommodation and other aspects of the arrangements, although they do not assess and approve the carers as such.
6.3 The Department for Education and Skills in England reviewed and updated the Regulations governing private fostering in England in 2005, following the Victoria Climbié case, and undertook an awareness raising campaign. They have also issued National Minimum Standards for Private Fostering. In Scotland the Care Commission inspections cover the extent to which local authorities meet the relevant National Care Standards in Scotland and the extent to which local authorities meet the relevant regulations in overseeing private foster care in their area.
6.4 Here in Scotland, alongside the Care Commission inspection process, the Scottish Executive issued leaflets in CD-Rom format to all local authorities in 2005. The accompanying letter requested the local authorities to distribute the leaflets to schools and other premises to highlight the issue. 29 of the 32 local authorities gave feedback on their progress in identifying instances of private fostering in their area, with 1 authority identifying 11 such instances and 18 authorities giving nil returns. However, all authorities did comment that there were likely to be instances of private fostering of which they were not aware and that returns were likely to be underestimates.
6.5
- In relation to private fostering arrangements, do you think that there is a need for any additional action, by (a) the Scottish Executive, (b) Care Commission or by (c) local authorities?
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