Kinship care support in Wakefield
What is kinship care?
Kinship care is when a child lives full-time or most of the time with a relative or close family friend. This is usually because their parents are unable care for them. In the UK, there are more than 180,000 children in kinship care.
Grandparents are the most common kinship carers. But older siblings, aunts, uncles and people who know the child well can also take on the role.
If you are new to kinship care, you may find it useful to read advice on preparing for being a kinship carer.
Why children need kinship care?
Most children are in kinship care because their parents are unable to look after them.
Research shows that around half of children are in kinship care because their parents have had problems with drugs or alcohol. Children may also need kinship care if their parents:
die
go to prison
are abusive or neglectful
are unwell
Many children in kinship care will have experienced trauma. A kinship carer provides a stable home life where they can grow and develop in a safe, positive environment. They also get to stay in their existing family network. This helps them maintain their sense of identity and family relationships.
Types of kinship care
There are different types of kinship care. You may become a different type of kinship carer as your situation changes over time. Your rights, responsibilities, and the support you can get will depend on your circumstances.
Informal arrangements
An informal kinship care arrangement is where you look after a child, but you do not have parental responsibility. And they are not in the care of your local council’s children’s services department. The child’s parents will usually help make and agree how the arrangement works.
Special guardianship orders
A special guardianship order (SGO) is a legal order given by a family court. When you become a special guardian, the child will live with you permanently until they are 18 years old. Special guardians share parental responsibility with the child’s parents. But they can make nearly all major decisions about the child without asking for their permission.
Child arrangements orders
A child arrangements order, previously called a residencies order, is a legal order given by a family court. They usually last until the child is 18 years old and you share parental responsibility with their parents. You can make day-to-day decisions without needing their parents’ permission. But must include them in any big decisions about the child.
Kinship foster care
Kinship foster care is when a family member or friend becomes a child’s official foster carer. You must be assessed and approved before the child comes to live with you. The child is considered ‘looked after’ by the local authority, which shares parental responsibility with the child’s parents.
Private foster care
Private fostering is when a child lives with someone who is not their parent or a close relative for 28 days or more. This could be a great aunt, cousin, family friend, or neighbour.
Private fostering arrangements are agreed by the parent and private foster carer and not the local authority. However, the Local Authority must assess these arrangements to ensure the safety and welfare of the child. As a private foster carer, you may be asked to make day-to-day decisions for the child. But you do not have parental responsibility.
Adoption
Adoption is not appropriate or recommended for most kinship carers. When you adopt a child, the link between the child and their birth parents is legally and permanently broken – it changes family arrangements forever. As an adopter, you gain complete parental responsibility for the child.
Advice and information
Becoming a kinship carer can be overwhelming and there’s a lot of information to take in. Whether you are new to kinship care, already caring for a child or supporting a family member or friend, we’re here to help. For advice and information, call the Wakefield Kinship Care team on 01924 302160 or email kinship@wakefield.gov.uk