The government last week issued figures showing a sharp rise in the number of privately fostered children, but David Holmes, chief executive of the British Association for Adoption & Fostering, said the true extent of such arrangements is still unknown.
"The challenge for local authorities is to find this out," he said. "But it's not just the responsibility of councils. Help is also needed from safeguarding boards and professionals working with children in care to understand the vulnerability of children in private fostering arrangements, so local authorities can reach them. This is a shared responsibility between statutory agencies and the public to make sure that children in these arrangements are protected."
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