BRADFORD Council has started a campaign to encourage people who care for children who are not family members to provide more details about their set up.

Anyone who looks after a child under 16 (under 18 if they are disabled) and is not their parent, step-parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt and is going to be or has been looking after this child for more than 28 days qualifies as a private foster carer.

The council has called on these private foster carers need to contact them about this arrangement, so the council can carry out checks to ensure the child is being well-cared for. These include looking at the child's education, where they are living, Criminal Record Bureau checks on the household, and regular visits from officers.

The campaign runs from Monday 7 until July 11.

Coun Ralph Berry, Executive Member for Children's Services, said: "We are here to help and support carers and children, so no one should worry about coming forward, even if they have been looking after a child for some time."

Anyone who thinks they are a private foster carer or would like more information should contact the Children's Initial Contact Point on 01274 437500.