Children's services
Are you caring for somebody else’s child? Walsall Council is here to help
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People living in Walsall who are caring for children who are not their own are reminded of the need to inform Walsall Council's Children’s Services.
Caring for a child who isn’t your own, or isn’t a close relative, is known as private fostering.
Private fostering means:
- the child/children are under 16 years old or under 18 years old with a disability
- the carer is not a close relative (parent, step-parent, aunt, uncle, or grandparent)
- the child/children are away from the home for more than 28 days
For various reasons, children may live with other relatives or carers due to their circumstances. Since 2021, Walsall has seen an increase of children who were reported as living in private fostering arrangements.
By law, if you are caring for a child who isn’t your own or if you become aware of a child who you think could be living in a private fostering arrangement, you must inform children’s services at the local authority. Once reported, Walsall Council will carry out an assessment which determines if the private arrangement is the best placement for both the child/children and the carer(s) and provide any support that is required.
“ We really want to raise awareness of private fostering in the borough, to make sure children and young people who are being fostered privately are in the best place for them, and have access to the support available.
It’s important, and a legal requirement, that we’re informed of children who may be living in a private fostering arrangements, so we can carry out an assessment.
We understand that in some cases, carers who are privately fostering may think the placement is entirely appropriate and safe, but it’s important the local authority are still informed, regardless of the situation.
We can offer a wide range of support for children and carers, including things such as parenting support, help in bringing families closer together, finance, child benefits, support networks, filling in forms and administration and more.
We’re working together with our partners to stress the importance of reporting private fostering arrangements, but would also like to remind residents in communities to help spread the word too. “
You can read more about private fostering, what it is, and what to do if you if you or someone you know may be being fostered privately on the Walsall Council website: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/safeguarding/child-safeguarding/private-fostering
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