The Children (Private Arrangements for Fostering) Regulations 1991

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations provide for the arrangements for fostering children privately. Such arrangements were previously governed by provisions of the Foster Children Act 1980 (c. 6). The main difference between the provisions under the 1980 Act and the Children Act 1989, under which these Regulations are made, is that much of the detail concerning notification, visiting and the local authority’s welfare duty towards privately fostered children which was contained in the 1980 Act is now contained with modifications in these Regulations rather than the 1989 Act.

The Regulations make provision for the matters as to which local authorities are required to satisfy themselves regarding the welfare of privately fostered children (regulation 2); for the occasions on which officers of the authorities are to visit privately fostered children (regulation 3); as to notifications by prospective and actual foster parents (regulation 4) and by former foster parents (regulation 5); and as to other notifications (regulation 6) and to the form of notifications (regulation 7) (failure to comply with the provisions for notification may be an offence under section 70(1)(a) of the Children Act 1989).