Recognising Private Fostering as a Safeguarding Issue Presented on behalf of:

Recognising Private Fostering as a Safeguarding Issue Presented on behalf of: Local Safeguarding Children Board

To develop awareness of, and the ability to act on or ensure the safety and welfare of children and young people who may be privately fostered. Aim

By the end of the training participants should: Know what Private Fostering is Be able to differentiate between family carers and private carers Understand the Private Fostering Procedure Learning outcomes

The Children Act 1989 requires local authorities to identify those children in their area who are “in need”, and to target them for services. Children in Need

The Local Picture * Children in Care: Redcar & Cleveland – 153 Middlesbrough- 393 Children in need of protection (CP plan) Redcar & Cleveland – 151 M’bro- 242 Children in Need: Middlesbrough – 2,000 Redcar & Cleveland – 1,391 Only 6 of these were Private Fostering arrangements in Redcar & Cleveland and 3 in Middlesbrough that the Local Authorities were aware of!

So who and where are these Privately Fostered children? And what is a Privately Fostered Child?

Is He or Isn’t He ?Quiz

Is Private Fostering a Safeguarding Issue? • Victoria Climbie was privately fostered, but no one identified this until after her death. • Private fostering is a significant risk issue for children.

Guidance available on • www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/safeguarding • Tees Procedures: • www.teescpp.org.uk

Procedures must be consistent with: Part 9 of and schedule 8 to the Children Act 1989 Working Together to Safeguard Children: (Section 11) (2010) The Children (Private Arrangements for Fostering) Regulations 2005 Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 and section 175 Education Act 2002 – duties on organisations and individuals to safeguard and promote the welfare of children

A private fostered child is defined in section 66 of the Children Act 1989 as one who, being under the age of 16 (or under 18 if disabled), is cared for and accommodated by someone other than a parent or close relative (as defined in section 105 of the Act). Private foster carers may be from the extended family such as a cousin or great aunt/uncle. They may also be a friend of the family or other non-relative. Definition

They are being cared for by a grandparent, brother, sister, aunt or uncle and step parent (whether of the full blood or half blood or by marriage or by civil partnership) who under the Children Act 1989, is defined as a close relative. The person caring for him has done so for fewer than 28 days and does not intend to do so for longer than that. They are Looked After Children in terms of section 22 of the Act, and local authorities are not involved in the making of such arrangements. A child is notprivately fostered if:

BAAF DVD www.privatefostering.org.uk Someone Else’s Child

What Happens and What is Checked ? • When a Notification is received or Children’s Services becomes aware of a potential Private Fostering situation Social Workers must: • Follow robust procedures that include checklists at various stages – who to check with and what for. • Make a record of what they have or haven’t done • Make the first statutory visit to the premises within 7 days to undertake an assessment If there are any doubts as to whether it is a Private Fostering arrangement ASK the Private Fostering Officer or your line manager.

Assessment Any reports made to assess the situation must reflect the Framework for Assessment of Children and their Families. A completed assessment is approved by the team manager who will consider whether the situation will safeguard the child.

Basic Care. Health Education Ensuring Safety Emotional and Behavioural Development Emotional Warmth Identity CHILD Safeguarding and Promoting welfare PARENTING CAPACITY CHILD’S DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS Stimulation Family and Social Relationships Guidance and Boundaries Social Presentation Stability Self-care Skills FAMILY AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS Community Resources Income Housing Family’s Social Integration Family History and Functioning Employment Wider Family

Notification, Advice & Support Local Authorities have a legal requirement to make sure that parents, carers and children are provided with advice, guidance and any support they might need to make sure Private Fostering arrangements are meeting the regulatory requirements. Equally the adults making the arrangements also have a duty to notify the local authority of their intentions and actions. Teachers, health and other professionals should also notify the local authority of a private fostering arrangement that comes to their attention, where they are not satisfied that the local authority have been or will be notified of the arrangements.

It is an offence not to notify the Council of a Private Fostering Arrangement. Professionals as well as Parents and Carers have a duty to notify the LA of any potential or actual arrangements. Could you be breaking the law?

Telephone the Social Care Duty Team In Redcar & Cleveland this is the Access Team Seafield House Kirkleatham Street, Redcar TS10 1SP Tel 01642 771500 In Middlesbrough this is First Contact Wellbeing, Care and Learning PO Box 69Vancouver HouseGurney StreetMiddlesbroughTS1 1ELTelephone: 01642 726004 How to Notify the LA

Advise the LA of the private fostering arrangement at least 6 weeks in advance, or where an arrangement is made in an emergency, within 48 hours, and at the end of the arrangement Retain parental responsibility, participating in all decisions about their child Provide the prospective carer with as much information about the child as possible, including their health, dietary preferences, schools, hobbies, religion and ethnicity Birth Parent must:

Make adequate financial arrangements to ensure the well-being of their child Ensure the proposed private fostering placement is suitable for their child Birth Parent must:(cont.)

S/he will within 7 working days: Visit and speak to the carers and child (who should be seen alone) to assess the situation and confirm whether it is a Private Fostering arrangement. Speak to the Parent or record why this hasn’t taken place Evaluate the suitability of the PF Carers and other members of the Household. Arrange completion of CRB forms for all adult members of the household What will the Social Worker do?

Evaluate the suitability of the premises where a child is placed or to be placed under a PF arrangement. Start gathering information for the Core Assessment when it is determined this could be a Private Fostering arrangement The Social Worker should be satisfied that the welfare of a privately fostered child is safeguarded and promoted. What will the Social Worker do?Cont.

The school, G.P., H.V., and School Nurse should be advised of the placement. This is usually done by the Social Worker Regulated minimum frequency visits take place which during the first year are: a) One within the first week of placement b) Intervals of not more than four weeks thereafter. If there is cause for concern or the child is not seen, more frequent visits must take place. After the Placement is Confirmed

Placement Review • The Government expects Private Fostering cases to be reviewed in a similar manner to Children in Need Cases. • If a placement continues, as part of the Review CRB checks should be renewed every three years.

Requirements, Prohibitions, Disqualifications The regulations permit LA’s to impose certain requirements on Private Foster Carers e.g limits on the number of children or the installation of smoke alarms. They also allow for: Individuals to be prohibited from acting as foster carers, and Individuals may be disqualified from acting as a Private Foster Carer where they have been convicted of specified offences or they are the parent of a child who has or is the subject of a legal order.

If they intend or are (if it’s an emergency) providing accommodation for a child Of any person who becomes or stops being part of their household Any new conviction, disqualification or prohibition they have or that any person living or employed in their household has Private Foster Carers should notify the LA in writing:

Any change in their address If the child leaves their household or the placement ends The child dies Private Foster Carers should notify the LA in writing of:

Do you now feel more confident? • Could you recognise a Private Fostering situation? • Do you know how to make a notification? • Are you now aware that there are procedures for you to follow? • Do you now see that Privately Fostered children are particularly vulnerable and should be treat as a Child in Need? • Do you now recognise the safeguarding issues that need to be addressed?

Review your answers any queries? Quiz

Thank you for attending - evaluation

Recognising Private Fostering as a Safeguarding Issue Presented on behalf of: