If you are looking after someone else’s child, or your child is being looked after by someone else, this may be private fostering.
You can find further help and information about fostering and private fostering on the Durham County Council website.
Private fostering is an arrangement where a child under 16 (or 18 if they have a disability) is cared for and lives with an adult who is not a close relative, such as a friend or neighbour. It is not private fostering if the person caring for the child is a close relative like a grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle or step-parent. Private fostering isn’t the same as fostering. There is no formal assessment and approval process. An arrangement is made between the parent and the private foster carer. There is no official financial support available and any financial arrangements are made between the parent and carer.