There are many different types of kinship care, and the kinship care arrangements are grouped as either informal or formal.
Children are best placed within their family and should be supported to remain within their families where possible. Where this is not possible, we should then be considering a family arrangement as a potential care plan for the child.
Who can be a kinship carer?
A kinship carer is someone who looks after a child because their parents are unable to do so.
This is usually a relative, such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or older sibling, but it can also be a close family friend or someone with a strong connection to the child such as a teacher, childminder or youth worker.
Benefits of kinship care?
- Kinship arrangements provide children with stability without legally separating them for their birth parents
- It helps their mental wellbeing, including preventing trauma
- It promotes their identity and sense of belonging
- It allows children to continue with familiar routines (such as going to the same school or clubs) and see people they are accustomed to seeing
