JUST two families in Middlesbrough are registered as being private foster parents - and many more could be missing out on valuable support.

Middlesbrough Council said carers in the town looking after children for more than 28 days could get extra support if they are registered in a private fostering arrangement.

It is thought there might be many who are unaware of the issue due to the little-known law.

A privately-fostered child is an under-16, or under-18 if disabled, who is cared for by someone who is not a direct family member, or legal guardian, for more than a month in that person's home.

The arrangements are often made privately and the welfare and financial support of the child remains with the parents.

But under the Children Act 2004 it is a legal necessity that local councils are told of the arrangements so they can make sure the children are safe.

Samantha Addison, Service Manager for Safeguarding and Children’s Care Services with Middlesbrough Council, said: “It is completely understandable that through a lack of knowledge and awareness of Private Fostering that many people will be in this situation without knowing the need to notify.

“We would just like to ask that anyone in Middlesbrough who cares for someone else’s child asks themselves ‘is that us? Might we be in a Private Fostering arrangement?’.”

While there are no accurate numbers for children living in Private Fostering arrangements it is estimated that nationally there could be between 10,000 and 20,000.

In Middlesbrough, the local authority are currently only notified of two such arrangements, and in the last three years that number has only ever been as high as 10.