Currently there is a national campaign underway to raise awareness of private fostering.

Private fostering is when a private childcare arrangement is made between parents and other adults who are not close relatives (ie not a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt) of the child or not formally approved foster carers and where the care of the child is to be undertaken for more than 28 days.

The law states that these arrangements need to be brought to the attention of the local authority Children's Services Department so that they can ensure the wellbeing of the child(ren) involved.

Additonal information and advice can be obtained on the Scottish Government website.