PEOPLE are being asked to help officials identify children living under private fostering arrangements.

Children living with someone who is not their parent or carer for more than four weeks are classed as being privately fostered.

Legally the parent and the carer must notify the county council where the child is going to live so it can ensure the foster carer is not missing information and support and the child is being properly looked after.

Examples of a private fostering arrangement could be a student living with host family while studying, a young person living with another household if they have fallen out with their own family or a child living away from home to be closer to a school or to receive medical help.

For more information or to notify Devon County Council of a private fostering arrangement, visit www.devon.gov.uk/ cyps-privatefostering or telephone 0845 1551013.