What private foster care is

Private foster care is when a child's parents arrange for someone they know to look after their child.

Private foster care is different from:

• Foster care – when the council arranges for someone to care for the child
• Kinship care – when the child is looked after by a close relative or family friend, or is legally 'looked after'

A child is 'looked after' when the local council has a legal responsibility for their wellbeing.

Who can be a private foster carer

The private foster carer is usually chosen by the parents. The private foster carer does not need to have a relationship with the child already or be an approved foster or kinship carer.

A person cannot be a private foster carer if they've:

• been convicted of a crime involving a child
• had their own child taken into the care of the local council
• been refused permission to run a day nursery or to act as a childminder