Can private fostering arrangements be ended?

A private fostering arrangement should end through a planned decision that protects the child’s welfare and makes clear who will care for them next. The child’s parent or another person with parental responsibility, the private foster carer, and the child themselves may all raise concerns or ask for the arrangement to change. The local authority should be informed before the move wherever possible.

There is no general statutory notice period that applies to every private fostering arrangement. However, a carer should not simply send a child away or transfer them to another household without involving the parent and the local authority. The proposed change should take account of the child’s views, their relationship with the carer, education, health, belongings and any risks linked to the move.

If the carer can no longer continue:

• They should tell the child’s parent and the local authority as soon as they know there is a problem.
• They should explain the reason, such as a change in circumstances, difficulty meeting the child’s needs or a breakdown in the arrangement.
• They should not arrange an alternative placement without checking that the parent agrees and that the new arrangements are safe.
• They should continue caring for the child until a safe handover is agreed, unless remaining in the household would place someone at risk.

If the parent wants the arrangement to end: they will usually need to agree where the child will live next and how the change will take place. A parent’s responsibility for the child does not remove the need to plan the move carefully, particularly where the child has lived with the private foster carer for a substantial period or has expressed a different view. If a court order regulates where the child lives or who may care for them, that order must also be followed.

The child’s wishes are important. A child may say that they no longer want to remain with the private foster carer, or that they do not want to return to a parent. The local authority should consider their age, understanding and reasons, alongside the wider safeguarding information. A child’s view does not always determine the legal outcome on its own, but it should not be dismissed.

The local authority can intervene if it considers that the placement is unsuitable or that the child is not being properly safeguarded. It may impose requirements on the arrangement or prohibit the child from being privately fostered by that person. If the child cannot safely return to a parent or move to another suitable adult, the local authority must consider what protection and accommodation are needed. This could include accommodation by agreement under section 20 of the Children Act 1989 or, where the legal threshold is met, an application to court. A child does not automatically become looked after simply because a private fostering arrangement ends.

In a planned ending, the local authority may help the adults agree the practical steps, record the child’s views and identify any continuing support. Relevant information should be passed to the child’s school, health professionals or other services where this is necessary and lawful. The child should understand what is happening, where they will live, who will care for them and how they can raise concerns.

If the arrangement is ending because of an immediate safeguarding concern, the priority is to keep the child safe rather than wait for an ordinary handover. Contact the local authority’s children’s services team, and use emergency services where there is an immediate danger. Anyone who is unsure whether a proposed move is safe should seek advice before the child changes home.

Ending the placement does not remove the duty to notify the local authority about a new private fostering arrangement. If the child moves to another adult who is not a parent or close relative within the legal definition, that new arrangement may need to be notified and assessed separately.