Thurrock Council is hosting an online information session to raise awareness of private fostering arrangements and share why it is important to let us know if you are in one.
Private fostering is when a child under the age of 16 (or under 18 if they are disabled) is cared for by someone who is not their parent or a ‘close relative’ for 28 days or more.
Examples of private foster carers could include a family friend, a great aunt or great-grandparent, or a more distant relative.
Legally, any parent or carer who is in a private fostering arrangement must let us know of their intention to foster a child at least six weeks in advance, or in emergency cases within four hours of the child’s arrival. This is so we can carry out checks on the child's welfare and make sure all the necessary support is available to help care for them.
We are hosting a private fostering workshop on Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 15 April from 10am to 10:45am to share some more information and answer any questions you may have. To book a space, or if you need advice, please email our team at: privatefostering@thurrock.gov.uk
For more information on private fostering, visit: https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/private-fostering/