Private fostering

By law, we need to know about all privately-fostered children and young people in Liverpool.

Private fostering often works well but sometimes it can end tragically, as it did for Victoria Climbié. Since Victoria’s death, the focus is on safeguarding these children and giving them the right care and support.

What is private fostering?

A privately-fostered child or young person is someone who:

• is aged under 16 years or under 18 if they are disabled and 
• is cared for by someone who is not their parent or close relative for 28 days or more

A close relative is one of the people listed below:

• step-parent
• grandparent
• brother or sister
• uncle or aunt - full blood, half blood or by marriage

Get in touch

You must tell us if you agree to privately foster someone else’s child and are not their close relative.

If you work with children - a teacher, childminder or health visitor, for instance - you have a legal duty to tell us.

To tell us about a child who is being privately fostered, please contact children's social care.

What we will do

A social worker will be assigned to the carer and child to help safeguard their welfare.

Further information

If you would like to know more about how we support privately-fostered children please contact children's social care.