When children and young people can't live at home, they often find loving homes with relatives or friends. These arrangements can be informal or formal. Our team is committed to supporting carers and ensuring children feel safe, happy, and well-cared for.

Friends and Family Fostering

Private fostering

Private fostering is when a child under 16 (or under 18 if they are disabled) is living for 28 days or more with someone who is not a close relative,

This might be a family friend, a great aunt, a cousin or someone else known to the child. There are many reasons why a private fostering arrangement may be put in place, it could be that the parents are working long hours, the child is sent to the UK for education by their parents outside the UK or many other reasons. 

We will provide support, information and advice to parents, carers and children and young people, including:

• Visiting the child or young person to ensure they have settled in well with their carer.
• Offering peace of mind by carrying out statutory checks to make sure the child or young person is living in a safe and appropriate environment.
• Providing private foster carers with support, guidance and practical advice including details of benefits and financial support, which may be available to them.
• Advising parent’s on their rights and legal duties concerning the child or young person’s upbringing and wellbeing.
• Helping to facilitate and build relationships between parents, carers and children and young people if necessary.

To keep children and young people safe, by law parents and carers must let us know if they have a private fostering arrangement.

Do not worry if you have been providing private foster care, or your child has been living with a private foster carer, and you were not aware you needed to tell us. It is not too late to tell us and you will not be in trouble for not doing so already.

How to contact us

You can get in touch with our supportive and friendly team using the following contact details:

Tel: 01302 737789 Email: fosteringandadoption@doncaster.gov.uk

Useful downloads

Private Fostering in Doncaster - A guide for professionals

Download (224KB - PDF)

Private Fostering in Doncaster - A guide for children and young people

Download (241KB - PDF)

Private Fostering in Doncaster - Advice for parents and carers

Download (246KB - PDF)

Kinship Care

Kinship care is when a child lives full-time or most of the time with a relative who isn’t their parent, such as a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, or an older sibling.  

To make sure you are getting the right support, please let us know about your circumstances.

Getting support

You can find out more by getting in touch with our Kinship team by calling 01302 737 789 Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm or emailing fosteringandadoption@doncaster.gov.uk

Special Guardianship Orders (SGO)

A special guardianship order is usually someone with a close relationship with the child, such as a family member, former foster carer or family friend who has been legally appointed by the court to care for the child following a special guardianship order (called an SGO for short).

Why apply for a Special Guardianship Order?

Unlike adoption, a Special Guardianship Order will not remove parental responsibility from the child’s birth parent. The special guardian will have the responsibility of day-to-day decisions about the child, but they will need to consult with the birth parents at times were key decisions are being made such as changing their name, moving overseas or agreeing on adoption.

Who can apply for an Special Guardianship Order?  

Special guardians are normally a child’s relative, often this may be a grandparent, but it can also be other family members or the child’s current foster carer. 

You do not have to be related to the child to apply for a Special Guardianship Order and it will depend on your own situation. In some cases, you may need to apply to the family court for permission to apply for an SGO. You will need to care for the child or young person for a year before applying.

Apply for an Special Guardianship Order?

You will need to make an application to the court for a Special Guardianship Order. The court will tell the social worker to begin the process of your assessment as a prospective special guardian.

As part of this process, references will be needed from people you know, both personally and professionally. You will also need a Disclosure and Baring Service check (known as a DBS for short), along with anyone else in your household who is aged over 18 years.

Financial support  

If you are caring for a child who would otherwise have come into the local authority care, you may be entitled to financial support. A means-tested financial assessment will be undertaken to confirm the level of payments you may receive.

You will also be entitled to apply for child benefits and child tax credits when the child is living with you under an SGO. 

What support may look like? 

In addition to financial assessment, there will be an assessment of need undertaken and an SGO support plan created.

Support could include:

• Family support visits
• Tailored carer support – including the opportunities to complete courses
• Advice on new or existing contact arrangements
• Access to support groups
• Therapy services
• Help and advice if you are worried about home or education settings
• Access to all SGO activities and events

Getting support

You can find out more by getting in touch with the SGO team by calling 01302 735 551 Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm or emailing CYPF.SGOteam@doncaster.gov.uk

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