Monday 3rd October marks the beginning of Kinship Care Week 2022, a week to raise awareness of both families and individuals who are involved in kinship care.
Kinship care often arises when parents are unable to care for their child and another relative or family friend steps in to offer that care. This could be an informal arrangement or an agreement in place as a result of care proceedings within the family court. Kinship carers could be siblings, grandparents, aunts or uncles or a friend to the family.
Kinship care is often beneficial for the child being cared for as they are able to remain within a family placement as opposed to being placed in the care of the Local Authority. It also provides security and stability for a child who may have experienced trauma in their life.
Kinship Care Week 2022 is therefore a week to both celebrate and recognise those who are kinship carers and to help provide support for those families who often feel unrecognised and unsupported. This year’s theme is ‘Kinship Memory of the Year’ aimed at encouraging kinship carers to share their best kinship memory from the last year. Kinship care can be challenging for the carers involved so Kinship Care Week 2022 is aimed at developing further understanding of the role and support needed.
Within the care team we regularly see family/friends putting themselves forward to care for a child, if that child cannot remain in the care of their parents. These carers usually put themselves forward without a second thought because they want to try and help the child to remain in the family. It is a huge commitment for any carer to take on and it is important that the right support is in place to ensure that child’s placement is maintained. Many kinship carers are not aware that support can be offered to them (including financial support) or alternatively they are too afraid to ask for support as they fear it could risk the child’s placement with them.
The Local Authority has a statutory duty to promote and safeguard the welfare of any child within their area by providing a range and level of services appropriate to those child’s needs. If a child moves to live with a family member/friend, support offered could include purchase of necessary items of furniture such as a bed/wardrobe/chest of drawers. In addition, it could include a financial weekly allowance for the child, help with transport to/from nursery/school and respite care. The services/support offered will depend on the individual child and carer circumstances.
In addition, if the Local Authority is considering a Special Guardianship Order, the Local Authority will also usually prepare a support plan. This will set out what support is available to the Special Guardian for the duration of the Special Guardianship Order. The support services available must include:
- Counselling, and giving advice and information
- Financial support
- Assistance and mediation services with regards to contact
- Therapeutic services for the child
- Assistance (for example, training) to secure the relationship between the child and the Special Guardian
- Advice and assistance for your people aged 16-21 years old, who were looked after children and aged between 16 - 18 years when the Special Guardianship Order was made
- Assistance by giving cash on a non-means tested basis
- Respite care
The exact package of support will depend on the child and carers individual circumstances. If there has been a positive Special Guardianship Assessment, the Local Authority will usually provide financial support to a prospective Special Guardian to obtain legal advice on the Special Guardianship assessment and Support Plan. It is important that you seek legal advice on the support that is being offered and whether a Special Guardianship Order is the most appropriate order in the circumstances.
If the Local Authority or a family member/friend is asking whether you would take care of a child of the family, we would recommend that you seek independent legal advice before that child is placed in your care. You can then have discussions with an experience legal professional as to what support you may need and/or be entitled to, to ensure that child’s placement with you meets his/her needs.
If you are considering kinship care and need any advice in respect of this, please call our dedicated Child Law team on 01924 431 774, or send an email to care@ramsdens.co.uk. We are here to help.