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Private foster care

If you're a private foster carer

Last updated
9 Dec 2024

Before you privately foster the child

Your local council will check that you are able to look after the child.

The checks are different for each council. They will explain these checks to you before they make them. They will normally check:

  • with the police
  • with your referees (character witnesses)
  • the home where the child will be living
  • your existing family – such as the number of other children already living with you

Tell your local council about a private foster care arrangement

If you plan to look after a child for someone else who is not a close relative for more than 28 days, you must tell your local council.

You need to tell the council at least 14 days before the child starts living with you. This is to give them time to check that you are suitable to look after the child.

Aberdeen City Council Aberdeenshire Council Angus Council Argyll and Bute Council Clackmannanshire Council Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries and Galloway Council Dundee City Council East Ayrshire Council East Dunbartonshire Council East Lothian Council East Renfrewshire Council Edinburgh City Council Falkirk Council Fife Council Glasgow City Council Highland Council Inverclyde Council Midlothian Council Moray Council North Ayrshire Council North Lanarkshire Council Orkney Islands Council Perth and Kinross Council Renfrewshire Council Scottish Borders Council Shetland Islands Council South Ayrshire Council South Lanarkshire Council Stirling Council West Dunbartonshire Council West Lothian Council

If you're looking after the child as an informal kinship care arrangement, you do not need to tell your council.

When you privately foster a child

You do not have parental responsibilities and rights for the child as a private foster carer. These responsibilities and rights remain with the child's parents. You should agree with them about what decisions you will be able to make about the child.

To get parental responsibilities and rights, you need to apply to be the child's guardian.

Your local council will visit regularly to check the child is being cared for. They can remove the child from private foster care if they have any concerns about the child's safety.

The child's parents can decide to end the private foster care arrangement at any time.

Help for private foster carers

Speak to the child's parents or your local council to get help and advice for looking after the child.

Financial arrangements

You should make financial arrangements needed for looking after the child with their parents. You will not get financial help from your local council.

You may be able to claim Child Benefit as a private foster carer. This is paid to anyone raising:

  • a child under 16 years of age
  • a young person under 20 years of age who is in approved education or training

Only one person can get Child Benefit for each child. If you want to claim Child Benefit, the parents will need to stop claiming for the same child. There is no limit for how many children you can claim for.

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