Luton Council has launched a campaign to raise awareness of private fostering and to clear up confusion about what the term means.
Private fostering is when a parent arranges for a responsible adult to care for a child under the age of 16 – or under 18 if the child is disabled – for 28 days or more. The carer is not the child’s parent or a close relative such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling or step-parent.
Although the council is officially aware of very few such arrangements in the town, it believes the number is higher. Luton has one of the youngest populations in the country and the council says ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children is a key part of its ambition to make Luton a child-friendly town.
The term private fostering is not connected to traditional fostering, where a child is placed with an approved foster carer by council social workers. In private fostering, parents make the arrangement themselves and the carer does not have parental responsibility.
The council is reminding residents that the law requires them to notify the local authority when a private fostering arrangement is made. Officials say this is not about removing a child from the situation, but ensuring both the child and the carer are supported.
When the council is informed, the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) will assess whether the arrangement qualifies as private fostering and explain the next steps. This could include getting to know the child and offering training and advice to help the arrangement succeed.
The council is urging anyone who is unsure to contact MASH for guidance and is asking the public to be alert to possible signs of private fostering, such as a child living with someone who is not a parent or close relative, staying with a host family for sports or education, or living with family friends due to parental work commitments.
Councillor Umme Ali, portfolio holder for children’s social care at Luton Council, said: “We want to make sure that every single child in Luton is protected and safeguarded by the adults they are living with. By being aware of private fostering arrangements, our teams can ensure that the child or children involved are in a safe, nurturing environment where they can thrive.
“It is our responsibility to look out for the children and young people of Luton, but we can’t do this alone. Please keep an eye out for private fostering arrangements, especially if you’re in a profession where you work with children regularly, such as a teacher, a GP or other health and social care professions.”
More information is available at luton.gov.uk/privatefostering. The MASH team can be contacted on 01582 547653 or by email at mash@luton.gov.uk. Anyone who believes a child is in danger should call 999.
