Kinship care – what you need to know

While many children who cannot be looked after by their parents enter foster care, there are some who are raised by other family members.

This is known as kinship care, or family and friends foster care, where a child is under the guardianship of a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or even a family friend.

Here’s some key information from us at Beacon Fostering about kinship care.

Types of kinship care

Kinship care can take place in different forms, which impacts the support that carers can receive from local authorities. Children may be living with relatives in an informal arrangement, be under a child arrangement or Special Guardianship Order from the local courts, be privately fostered or awaiting adoption by a relative or family friend.

Assessment for kinship care

Kinship carers must be recognised as a connected person by the local authority, which is defined as “a relative, friend or other person connected to a child.”

The Children Act 1989’s Section 105 defines a relative as:

“A grandparent, sister, brother, aunt or uncle (whether full-blood or half-blood by marriage or civil partnership) or stepparent.”

Like foster carers, potential kinship carers also undergo assessment to ensure their suitability. They are also allocated a social worker who will visit them regularly.

The benefits and impacts on children

Living with family as opposed to unrelated foster carers or a residential setting can give children a greater sense of belonging, as they are with people who they will already be familiar with. This typically means they will be able to settle more easily and retain some sense of normalcy.