Agenda item

(To receive a report from Deborah Crawford – Head of Fostering and Adoption, which informs the Panel about the work of the broader Children's and Fostering Service in relation to Private Fostering)

Consideration be given to a report by the Head of Fostering and Adoption, which informed the Corporate Parenting Panel about the work of the broader Children's and Fostering Service in relation to Private Fostering.

The Panel was advised that as a result of the tragic circumstances surrounding the case of Victoria Climbié, legislation was introduced around private fostering, which sits under section four of the Children Act, 2004.

The Panel was referred the statement of purpose, which underpinned the Council’s responsibilities as an organisation and with oversite of privately fostered arrangements. It was important that the Council remained vigilant to those children who become subject to private fostering arrangements in order to ensure that the  child is legally right and suitable and most importantly that the carers identified as private foster carers were duly assessed not only by a child social worker but also by a fostering social worker.

The private fostering agreement was the authorised by a fostering team manager which would conclude that legally and morally, it was in the child's best interest to be placed with the private fosterer. The Head of Fostering and Adoption emphasised the difference in the definition of a private foster carer and those that were assessed by Lincolnshire County Council to care for other people's children.

As part of the Council’s safeguarding partnership, the role of a private foster was publicised to raise awareness of what a private fostering arrangement was and ensure that as many people as possible reported such arrangements to the Council. This included discussions with colleagues in schools and health establishments to ensure that those in paternal roles were also aware of the legal requirements.

The Panel was invited to ask questions on the annual report, in which the following points were noted:

·       Private fostering agreements were governed by statute and the sign-off of an agreement was carried out by the local authority. There was a specified time period to complete an assessment. Once all statutory checks had been completed by the relevant department and all departments were satisfied that a suitable arrangement was being made then agreements could be finalised. The Council monitored individuals placed in foster agreements until the age of 16, or 18 for those who had a disability, which is when legal arrangements would end.

·       Assurance was provided that once the Council were made aware of a possible private fostering arrangement, there was a clear policy to ensure that the child was visible.

·       There was no clear link between the arrangements for private fostering and other fostering agreements in which the Council was responsible for.

·       It was acknowledged that the term private fostering could be confusing to members of the public, and many people were not aware of the need to report a private fostering arrangement which is why it was important that Officers continued to communicate the message.

·       The definition of family used within fostering agreements was taken from UK Law.

The Head of Fostering and Adoption then set out the Private Fostering Statement of Purpose, which the Council remained committed to in terms of safeguarding children and promoting the welfare of children within Lincolnshire’s communities.

The council adopted high standards to ensuring that those arrangements were assessed, suitable and that we the Council acted within the powers that were given within statute.

The statement of purpose sets out what was considered good practice and could be used as a reference point for all professionals and anybody who considers themselves to be in a private fostering arrangement. Customers and members of the public within Lincolnshire could access information and through SharePoint and through the Council’s website.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the report be accepted as an accurate overview of the Council's function in their discharge of responsibilities in terms of private fostering.

2.      That a letter on behalf of the Chairman is sent to Foster Carers, thanking them for their efforts and continuous commitment throughout the pandemic be drafted.